New Tank Progression

[RPuffer]

So thanks everyone for helping out on all the equipment questions i asked. I wanted to start another thread on the progression of my first SW tank. I traded my red devil cichlid today at the lfs for credit and picked up some salt. My hydors came in today so heres the first shots mixing the salt (sorry they're so bright). First ones with the old cheap lights and the second ones with my leds from my other tank. Lighting will be upgraded eventually.

[callen]

Nice start!! Looking forward to seeing more.

[ralphie]

Nice start!! Looking forward to seeing more.

Ditto..... Love the progression pictures...

Is that a hang on the back filter? What are you using that for?

[KDodds]

Nice to see the ball rolling... keep us updated.

[RPuffer]

yeah its a HOB from when i had the tank setup with FW. I took it off and cleaned it up good and just put it back with no media to help circulate the water when i added the salt. Not really counting on using it as any kind of filteration when the tank is up and runnin with livestock. Going today to see if i can get half of the LR im goin to be using. Let me ask this...I havnt added any kind of ammonia to start the cycle process, so if i go get about 25 lbs of cured LR that is already established, will it create a little mini cycle. Im also going to get some of the lfs substrate the use on theyre tanks and put it in some stocking and put in the back of the HOB filter i have.

[ralphie]

You may want to throw in a bag of carbon in that filter. I recommend running carbon 24/7 and changing it frequently.

If the live rock is from an already running established tank, it may not cause a cycle at all. How much total rock are you getting? How much of the total rock is coming from an established tank?

[RPuffer]

Someone had mentioned that to me and thats probly what ill do....So i picked up about 20 lbs of some LR and will gettin about 30 more next week. Heres pick with the base of my wall...

[callen]

How's the new rock doing? Did you have much of a die off?

[KDodds]

Some nice base pieces there. It sure doesn't look like much when you add a bit at a time, does it? I mean, you hear 20lbs or 40lbs, and those lbs sure don't go a long way, do they? Maybe just over a half dozen rocks tops and you're shelling out for another box. Any nice (or not) surprise hitchhikers yet?

[ralphie]

Just remember, just because you may think it is a nasty hitchhiker, somebody else may actually want it.

This is not true for all "evil" hitchhikers but for some of them it applies. For example, lots of people have set up a tank for a single critter such as a large crab or a mantis shrimp. So, if you find any "evil" ones, you may be able to trade or even sell it.