Paligues 50 Gallon

[ThePaliga]

So it finally happened! I acquired my new 50 gallon tank this summer and started dreaming of all the things I was going to do with it. I built my stand, got back on here, and then life happened. But after this long wait, it's finally in position and has water in it. I am going to be adding more live rock shortly from an established tank (should be next to no die off as its going to be out of water for less than a minute). Then I get to wait. Another koralia or two won't hurt and then once the cycle finishes (should be a small one with the established LR), my fish friends will be introduced.

Current equipment:
Nat Geo LED track hood with 18 pods
Koralia Evo 1050
100w heater
Overflow to 20 gallon sump
Coralife super skimmer
Mag drive 3 return pump
40+lbs of dry rock
20 lbs of live rock (will be transferred to new tank over next week or two)

If there are any thoughts, feel free to comment. A lot of this gear I had lying around from my old system and will be upgrading as I come closer to moving over from fowlr to reef (lights especially)

 

[Nonuser]

The decent into madness begins....welcome friend.

 

[Joshbrookkate]

Welcome!

 

[Kyle1970]

What a long, strange trip it will be!
and costly (but rewarding)

 

[ThePaliga]

Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to it. Any thoughts on if I'll even get an ammonia spike with the established LR?

 

[Joshbrookkate]

Use an ammonia badge to alert you to ammonia problems in between testing. Keep Prime or something similar handy just in case. I would think you're going to be fine, but better to be prepared.
Michelle

 

[ThePaliga]

I appreciate all the advice from everyone. It seems like I went through a mini cycle as the ammonia jumped a little and there seems to be the beginnings of a diatom bloom on my sand and rock. But alas, we all go through it. The three residents seem to be ok with their new home (came from my neighbors tank that was being shut down along with the extra live rock) and things are looking up. I know it's a heavy stock for the beginning weeks of a tank, but it was that or them getting shipped off to the lfs. I figured hell, why not. Parameters are looking good and I'm checking them every two days just to make sure. Any tips on clean up crew? What to get and how many?

 

[zoomster]

Hey Paliga,

How long has your new tank been up for now?
In my opinion,....
You don't want to put a big ( if any ) CUC in the tank right away as there needs to be something there for them to feed on so they don't starve. When ready, I personally would start off with just a couple of snails and a few crabs then slowly work up the amount of cuc in your tank in direct relation to your systems needs as it matures.
Also of value for helping keep the sand clean are sand sifter starfish, Nass snails and conchs.
Once again bud, just my opinion and I hope it helps you out.

 

[BigReefer]

good start ... welcome