I'm planning to slowly transition my 55 gallon tank into a reef tank and I could really use some advice from any experienced reefers out there who would like to help. Here is where I'm at...
I've got my 55 gallon setup with some sand that was originally in an established saltwater tank. I'm not sure that the sand qualifies as "live" because it had been dry for a looooong time. I've got the sand in the tank and my water has been treated with prime and brought to the proper salinity using Instant Ocean salt. The filtration I have running is a Penguin 350 Biowheel HOB filter (rated for up to 75 gallon tank). Here are some question that have already arisen....
#1- My bio-wheels are seeded with bacteria from my freshwater 180 gallon. If I use these freshwater bio-wheels in my filter will they properly start the cycle in my saltwater tank??
#2- For the time being, I have regular fluorescent lighting that is not strong enough to grow coral. Will live rock still flourish and properly cycle under this lighting if I add it to the tank now before getting stronger lights??
#3- I have ammonia to cycle the tank. Should I cycle the tank before adding the live rock, or is having liverock in the tank during cycling part of the process??
#4- If I have a LOT of live rock in the tank, is there really a need for a sump...or will the rock, the HOB filter, and a protein skimmer be enough to keep a reef tank going for good?
#5- My tapwater has no nitrates and a phosphate reading of 1.0 ppm. Will this water always be safe for a reef tank without using an RO unit or is the phosphate reading too high?? Is it even safe for just a FOWLR tank??
I know there is a lot to learn when it comes to maintaining a reef tank, which is why the first three of these questions are really just pertaining to starting off with just a FOWLR tank only which will eventually be converted to reef.
Sorry for the long read and thanks in advance!
I've got my 55 gallon setup with some sand that was originally in an established saltwater tank. I'm not sure that the sand qualifies as "live" because it had been dry for a looooong time. I've got the sand in the tank and my water has been treated with prime and brought to the proper salinity using Instant Ocean salt. The filtration I have running is a Penguin 350 Biowheel HOB filter (rated for up to 75 gallon tank). Here are some question that have already arisen....
#1- My bio-wheels are seeded with bacteria from my freshwater 180 gallon. If I use these freshwater bio-wheels in my filter will they properly start the cycle in my saltwater tank??
#2- For the time being, I have regular fluorescent lighting that is not strong enough to grow coral. Will live rock still flourish and properly cycle under this lighting if I add it to the tank now before getting stronger lights??
#3- I have ammonia to cycle the tank. Should I cycle the tank before adding the live rock, or is having liverock in the tank during cycling part of the process??
#4- If I have a LOT of live rock in the tank, is there really a need for a sump...or will the rock, the HOB filter, and a protein skimmer be enough to keep a reef tank going for good?
#5- My tapwater has no nitrates and a phosphate reading of 1.0 ppm. Will this water always be safe for a reef tank without using an RO unit or is the phosphate reading too high?? Is it even safe for just a FOWLR tank??
I know there is a lot to learn when it comes to maintaining a reef tank, which is why the first three of these questions are really just pertaining to starting off with just a FOWLR tank only which will eventually be converted to reef.
Sorry for the long read and thanks in advance!