Ya, your cycle time will vary depending on how much live rock you use; just watch the water parameters and wait for the ammonia & nitrite to go away.
Need Some Schooling!
- Thread starter g_morin
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Ya, your cycle time will vary depending on how much live rock you use; just watch the water parameters and wait for the ammonia & nitrite to go away.
I would use SeaChem Purigen in there; it really helps to keep the water clean plus it can be "recharged" and used again. Be sure that you have a filter bag for it, though, because it consists of small granules.
Be sure that you maintenance the filters on a frequent basis; canister filters can turn into nitrate factories for saltwater if they're no cleaned frequently.
X2
I had no luck trying to filter my salt with a XP3. I switched over to sump. Also good call on the purigen. I run 2 cups of activated carbon per month in my sump, in the last chamber.
You can drop in hermit craps and snails also to help cycle. They are cheap and fun. Esp the hermit crabs. They are 1.99 each. Crabs will clean the algae off the sand, snails the rock and glass.
X2
I had no luck trying to filter my salt with a XP3. I switched over to sump. Also good call on the purigen. I run 2 cups of activated carbon per month in my sump, in the last chamber.
You can drop in hermit craps and snails also to help cycle. They are cheap and fun. Esp the hermit crabs. They are 1.99 each. Crabs will clean the algae off the sand, snails the rock and glass.
Order your cleaner crew from LiveAquaria.com; you can get a pre-built one or a custom one for way less than what you'll pay at a pet store. For example, order $60 or more in invertebrates from the "Build Your Own Reef Cleaner Package" and shipping is free; shipping is free on all other options if you order $225 or more. Their invertebrates are super cheap, too; for example, it's $0.90 for a dwarf blue leg hermit crab.
Thanks. I buy most of my invertebrates from them now because of that pricing; I'd spend four times as much if I bought everything at a pet store! Also, their policies are great; just report a DOA the same day that they arrive or any further losses that occur within the first 14 days, and they refund your money for whatever died.
