starting new reef tank

[Clown79]

Every cycle is different.

 

When I've set up my tanks, it all depended on the rock I chose.

 

My first 55g, the liverock wasn't very clean and the tank took 6 weeks to cycle.

 

My 20g took 4 weeks

 

My 15g took 10 days, the rock was really good rock.

 

My 10g was 80% dry rock and 20% live. It took 4 weeks.

 

I test mine every other day during a cycle, just so I don't miss any changes.

 

During the cycling time is when you do more research and planning.

 

Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby and patience is needed

[Subsea]

5 minutes ago, Clown79 said:

Every cycle is different.

 

When I've set up my tanks, it all depended on the rock I chose.

 

My first 55g, the liverock wasn't very clean and the tank took 6 weeks to cycle.

 

My 20g took 4 weeks

 

My 15g took 10 days, the rock was really good rock.

 

My 10g was 80% dry rock and 20% live. It took 4 weeks.

 

I test mine every other day during a cycle, just so I don't miss any changes.

 

During the cycling time is when you do more research and planning.

 

Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby and patience is needed

 

I liked your last point about patience the best.  To put it differently, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

[owen2121]

So I've got live rock and some established water from my LFS they gave my some snails and hermit crabs after about a week what do I next?

 

[luckie1966]

Regulate your lights with a timer 10- 12 hrs. on , Critter's like regularity . You need or should have a test kit for a marine tank. And a thing to check salinity lol sry..

Keep your salinity,ph and temp around .124 , 8.1 and  for me 78 degrees for next week or two. oh and keep you crab alive then get your Clown.  I also suggest reading up

on Marine tanks if it's your first tank. 

[Clown79]

Are you testing during your cycling? Testing daily is important. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

 

After cycling you need to test alk, ca, mag, and phos

 

Using water from another tank does nothing for the cycle, it just adds possible nasties from the other tank. 

 

Keep lights off during your cycle.

 

Once cycle is completed, you do a decent size waterchange(depends on nitrate levels)

 

Then add a small cuc. Let the tank go for a few weeks, then add a fish if all Params are good.

 

Do a lot of research, it's the key to success