[jones2270]

OK, just wanted to thank everyone who helped me get started. Here is an update: Finally got the overflow to work but it was loud and kept fizzling out, so I bought a C-siphon continuous overflow.(Works great by the way). I also, at the suggestion of someone on here, bought a mag 5 pump for the return.(Also a great suggestion). Everything is now set up and running, so I guess there is nothing left to do but let it cycle for the next 4 to 6 weeks! If there are anymore suggestions please feel free to give them to me.

[WILLIAM1]

Pics would be great and by the way congrats on the tank completion.

[unclejed]

Hi Shane, cool! Glad every thing is finally starting to roll. Not sure if we touched on this but I suggest adding some live bacteria. Cycle is a good brand, but most are good. Add double what it tells you for the first dose and then the regular dose once a week for four weeks. This will give the tank a real good start on creating a massive base of bacteria for the biological filtration aspect for your tank. Have fun with your new adventure!

[spanko]

Another opinion on the purchase of live bacteria from Bob Fenner:

"There are stock inoculations of bacteria cultures for sale in spades for the purpose of initially establishing biological cycling. Sometimes they work; too often they don't. The reasons for this are many. Most cultures are feeble, too dilute, and/or made up of inappropriate species of microbes. Way too many times, the hobbyist is to blame. They put the "bugs" in a chemically hostile, non-nutritive medium; or alternatively over-poison the water with an ammonia feeding stock. Watch out for these chemical solutions to "feed" your system; read and follow the directions provided to the "T"; the ammonia provided is concentrated.

The saddest thing about utilizing these commercially prepared cultures is not that as modern marvels instead of waiting thirty-sixty days, now it only takes one or two months; but that there are other safer, faster and inexpensive methods. What I'm hinting at is simply transplanting the beneficial microbes from an established system to the new one. In actual practice, some of a stabilized, pollutant and parasite free source's gravel, rock, filter media is carefully placed in a sterile new-one of close temperature, specific gravity and pH. Voila! Instant bacteria benefits. A "conditioning period" of time with careful feeding, testing and sparse livestock population must still be observed of course."

I think you will find, if you ask around, that most reef keepers will forgo the addition of "bottled" live bacteria in favor of the addition of live rock and sand to inoculate the system. Maturity in a system only comes with time and the additional time it takes to inoculate are really a benefit to the longevity and stability of the tank.

This is my opinion and just meant to keep the knowledge base flowing. Ultimately you will choose what to do in your system.