[jrm68]

Hi,

I had as 45 gallon bow front setup with about 60lbs of live rock in my old home for over a year. It was a nice little setup. When we moved I gave away my fish and critters and broke down my tank. The now dead rock was dry in a tote in the basement for 2 years. I left some salt water in the tank and e-heim filter system and protein skimmer. I cleaned the protein skimmer and put it aside. The e-heim was still full of old water so I rinsed the sintered glass beads in the 2 trays and thoroughly cleaned all the tubing. I rinsed the still salt water covered crushed coral in the tank thoroughly. I set everything back up and sprinkled in 7 lbs of live crushed coral I bought from an 11 year old tank setup. 2 days ago I saw a live worm living in a piece of previously dead live rock. It has to be from the live crushed coral right? Things like that don't re-animate like sea monkees when you reassemble a tank do they? I have about 10ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites, 20ppm nitrates and a PH of 8.2. Anyone out there have any advice on my next conditioning step before adding a few animals to get it to cycle properly? I was thinking of zebra or domino damsels as they are very hardy. Other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have a few spots of red and a small area of brown green algae so far. After 2 weeks the protein skimmer is down to almost nothing being removed. Sorry to sound like an idiot but I have never re-started a tank before and was amazed that the worm was staring at me 1 1/2 weeks after re-filling .

Thanks!!

[WILLIAM1]

The worm could have come from the sand you got and just transferd without dying. I dont think it came from any part of the old set up. As for the rock that dried out I would put it in the tank as soon as possible so it can cycle as well. once you have the rock and sand in the tank the way you would like it its time to wait. The old rock needs to cycle as well to get off the old dead debre. So hook up a couple of power heads to make sure you have good flow. Let the tank cycle dont do any water changes. The live crushed coral should help jump start your cycling period. Check your parameters every couple of days and watch for them to start zeroing out.
Phosphate 0.0
Ammonia 0.0
nitrite 0.0
nitrate 0.0
P.H. should be 8.4
After this happens in about 2-6 weeks you should think about adding some stuff.

[jrm68]

Thanks for the post! I don't have any powerheads. I have a 90 gallon rated e-heim salt water filter on a 45 gallon tank and a large protein skimmer. I think I have the flow covered ok. The protein skimmer has been cleaning 2-3 loads of muck out daily but is now down to almost nothing. The dead rock and all else have been up for 2 weeks, the live crushed coral has been in for 1. I will recheck my levels tonight. I guess I need a better test kit. My set does PH, nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. I want to check the calcium level and hardness too. Do you think I should I run my lighting while cycling or not? So far it has been off. I have 2 full spectrum and 2 actinic bulbs plus LED "moon lighting". I have not done any water changes in the 2 weeks it has been set up. I am in no rush to add any animals. It looks kind of cool as a dead tank. Perfect for Halloween. Maybe I'll start with a crab or 2. I don't know. I just want to build what will live well in a 45 gallon tank.

Thanks!!

[120gallons]

Unless you plan on keeping the damsel which can be an agressive pain in the butt, there's better alternatives for cycling.

[dhboyd1]

Leave your lights off for now and put a dead raw shrimp in the tank. Let is finish cycling then you can add a couple of chromis, put them in in odd numbers,3,5,7 whatever. Chromis are a type of damsel that are real passive. You will have a mini-cycle after adding the fish. You might consider adding some live rock too. Just take your time and it will all stabilize. The work probably came from the coral.

[WILLIAM1]

I dont think it matters on lights whether they are on or off. You dont really need any fish during the cycling stage. maybe in 2 weeks or so start adding a clean up crew to the tank and then start running your lights. Just make sure you bulbs are ok since you have had them for awhile. they should be replaced every 8 months or so. You can always pick up a few extra test kits to add to the collection. Lighting should probly be run about 12 hours of atinics and 10 hours of day lights. Make sure your using RO water too just a reminder you might already be.

[jrm68]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I bought my lights about 2 weeks before I shut the whole thing down so they are 2+ years old but virtually unused. I have had green Chromis in the past but they always got whacked by the more aggresive damsels. Alone they would be a good bet. What else would you recommend for the clean up crew that will not hurt he finished tank? Also, ultimately I would like a coral beauty, yellow tang, long nosed butterfly and a few clowns. Can a 45 handle that? What corals could I have with that assortment?

Thanks All!!

[dhboyd1]

The best rule of thumb I have heard for reef tanks is 1 inch of fish for every 4-5 gallons. So a 45 gallon would support 10 inches of fish or 5 2 inch fish. I know this may be very conservative but for reef tanks you have a lot of other things putting bio-load on the tank. For a fish only or FOWLR that number is much larger like 1 inch for every 3 gallons or 15 inches of fish. Again my numbers are very conservative and your mileage may vary.