Starting a 75 gallon

nevar71 · Feb 9, 2023

Hello,

I‘ve gotten back in to SW after about 10 years away. Lots of changes, especially in lighting (and prices,). Anyway, I bought a used set up from someone who was upgrading. It’s a 75 with, HMI full spectrum LEDs, Aquaclear 110 HOB and Octo 2000 skimmer. I added two 800 gpa powerheads and heater.

When I bought it, he still had it running to preserve the LR but had moved his livestock out. We broke it down and packed it up. I bought 60 lbs of new live sand and added appx 10 lbs of dry rock. I’ve had it running for 5 days. I’ve been running the lights because a mushroom and frag of xenia (I think) made it through the trip. All if my test kits have not arrived yet, but this is what I have:

temp: 77
1.023 sg
8.4 ph
Nitrates: literally off the charts! (Salifert)

Did a 20% water change yesterday but it didn’t seem to change anything. I ditched the old foam in the HOB as I thought that might be the source. Any ideas?

Hopefully, my ammonia test arrives today as I’m curious about cycling, or “skip cycling” as I’ve read about here.

Got some nice hair algae springing back and some cute little aiptasia I guess I’ll be battling. I’m really hoping the corals will make it through.

what would be your next step? More water changes?

WavyAquatics · Feb 9, 2023

Welcome back to the hobby!

nevar71 said:
Hello,

I‘ve gotten back in to SW after about 10 years away. Lots of changes, especially in lighting (and prices,). Anyway, I bought a used set up from someone who was upgrading. It’s a 75 with, HMI full spectrum LEDs, Aquaclear 110 HOB and Octo 2000 skimmer. I added two 800 gpa powerheads and heater.

When I bought it, he still had it running to preserve the LR but had moved his livestock out. We broke it down and packed it up. I bought 60 lbs of new live sand and added appx 10 lbs of dry rock. I’ve had it running for 5 days. I’ve been running the lights because a mushroom and frag of xenia (I think) made it through the trip. All if my test kits have not arrived yet, but this is what I have:

temp: 77
1.023 sg
8.4 ph
Nitrates: literally off the charts! (Salifert)

Did a 20% water change yesterday but it didn’t seem to change anything. I ditched the old foam in the HOB as I thought that might be the source. Any ideas?

Hopefully, my ammonia test arrives today as I’m curious about cycling, or “skip cycling” as I’ve read about here.

Got some nice hair algae springing back and some cute little aiptasia I guess I’ll be battling. I’m really hoping the corals will make it through.

what would be your next step? More water changes?

Welcome back to the hobby!

To be quite honest, you are returning to the hobby with rocks that will cause you issues. It's too early to be battling aptasia, high nitrates and high phosphates. I would personally nuke those rocks and start clean!
You already have live sand, just need to seed the tank with some Microbacter Start XLM.

nevar71 · Feb 9, 2023

I’m not nuking any rocks. That would kill the bristleworms I forgot to mention!

WavyAquatics · Feb 9, 2023

nevar71 said:
I’m not nuking any rocks. That would kill the bristleworms I forgot to mention!

That is the path you have chosen, good luck to you my friend! As far as Nitrates go, keep doing 20 percent water changes, you should see a change soon. The hair algae you have mentioned probably means the previous owner had high phosphates. I would check your phosphate levels and if those are high as well, you would need to consider either implementing GFO or carbon dosing.

nevar71 · Feb 9, 2023

Good ideas. You gotta stay positive. I can kill two birds with one stone by attacking the aiptasia with a vinegar filled syringe that will also dose the tank. This is the fun stuff I missed!