Hello I am new to this forum page and new to saltwater, I am very familiar with freshwater but saltwater is something I'm extremely eager to learn . I'm sorry if this post is long but I'm worried about my first tank. Long story short I bought this second hand from a guy in my area that didn't offer much help. I am worried I have done something wrong , firstly I'm concerned about the water level it doesn't seem like my water is cycling through the skimmer and media boxes and I general the first chamber efficiently.
Second: In regards to the first chamber there was nothing included so I put filter sponge but it seems like alot of things linger ontop of the water in the first chamber and aren't being pulled down to the second chamber .
Third: the upgraded skimmer has been running for about a week now ( post 1 month cycle without it ) and water just seems to collect in the cup. And the move to the media baskets
Fourth: what should the water level be in the media baskets chamber ?
Fifth: I don't think the return pump was the one that originally came with this tank and I found the newer V2 skimmer on their website but not a replacement return pump . The water level is almost identical to the other chambers , it was originally coming out of the return chamber what seems like to me very fast and too aggressive ? If that makes sense so I adjusted it to be a little slower but in both instances the water level was high.
And lastly I now have this oranges colored stuff growing within the tank sand and rocks I have attached some pictures and I am worried . I have tried to research this setup and haven't found much . Thank you very much for any help I'm extremely excited to get this adventure going in the right direction .
![20210430_191654.jpg 20210430_191654.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083038-ddc672a99796497d21cceef0cb1fa67e.jpg)
Second: In regards to the first chamber there was nothing included so I put filter sponge but it seems like alot of things linger ontop of the water in the first chamber and aren't being pulled down to the second chamber .
Third: the upgraded skimmer has been running for about a week now ( post 1 month cycle without it ) and water just seems to collect in the cup. And the move to the media baskets
Fourth: what should the water level be in the media baskets chamber ?
Fifth: I don't think the return pump was the one that originally came with this tank and I found the newer V2 skimmer on their website but not a replacement return pump . The water level is almost identical to the other chambers , it was originally coming out of the return chamber what seems like to me very fast and too aggressive ? If that makes sense so I adjusted it to be a little slower but in both instances the water level was high.
And lastly I now have this oranges colored stuff growing within the tank sand and rocks I have attached some pictures and I am worried . I have tried to research this setup and haven't found much . Thank you very much for any help I'm extremely excited to get this adventure going in the right direction .
![20210430_191634.jpg 20210430_191634.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083034-7974fd0ad6bfdd292c0b24a17bd465f5.jpg)
![20210430_191628.jpg 20210430_191628.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083035-566510bb6ca81de04a359a56d530ebcd.jpg)
![20210430_191638.jpg 20210430_191638.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083036-65e42d8145cfcc98894eb0fb856a0e0d.jpg)
![20210430_191646.jpg 20210430_191646.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083037-d148543f37f5c84644013d7521364fcd.jpg)
![20210430_191654.jpg 20210430_191654.jpg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2083/2083038-ddc672a99796497d21cceef0cb1fa67e.jpg)