Tank is Cycling So Where To Start?

[saltynoob]

Hi all this is my first time in the salty world and would like to do things right the first time around. I just filled my 125 gallon tank and started the cycle, it has a 23 gallon sump which houses the skimmer, return pump etc. It also has a 35 gallon tank that I was going to setup as a fuge with chaeto and live rock rubble but you have me interested in the algae scrubber. My future goal is to have a full blown reef with as many fish as I can. The 35 gallon is sitting empty awaiting my decision, so the six million dollar question is? Scrubber or fuge? or scrubber + live rock rubble?

[itzrulez]

scrubber + live rock.
fishes releases ammonia.
the live rock contains microorganisms that convert ammonia in nitrite and nitrate.
scrubber (algae) absorb nitrite and nitrate to grow up.

I'm not sure about phosphate...
I have a question too:
Would be good to have in sump some ceramic rings?(to elevate the bacterial population)

hope I helped some...

[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

Assuming you eventually want photosynthetic corals instead of non-photo, the long-term life of your tank (and how many fish you can have) will be determined by how strong your scrubber is. You could have rock rubble with critters, but not macros. But if you have enough rock in your tank, you won't need rock rubble unless you are trying to grow lots of pods. And even then, pods love to eat green, so the more scrubber you have, the more pods.

I would just do LR and a shallow sand bed, and a double scrubber where you can clean one each week. They would be totally separate and could operate by themselves.

You can also start off with no skimmer or anything else, and see how it goes. You just need lots of CUC in the tank and sump to break up waste so the food particles can flow back around to the corals and small fish.

[saltynoob]

Yes photosynthetic corals for sure! I have 120lbs of man made "live rock" with a 2" shallow sandbed and have 20lbs of live rock rubble being delivered that I intend to put in the 35 gallon fuge. You said a "double scrubber" I am asuming they would only have light on one side? I found a piece of plastic screening left over from another project that is 8x13 , lit from both sides would this be big enough?


Thanks...Peter

[Garf]

Same size as my screen, and looks after this ok;
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj597/Garf1971/7b8efbef047b322991fe9c8d8ab32fba_zpscf385c12.jpg

[SantaMonica]

I mean two scrubbers, each one 2-sided with it's own lights, plug, etc, so if one breaks you can use the other. You have the option of doing it this way since you are setting up from scratch and have the room.

[saltynoob]

So if I use the 8x13 with 23 watts per side is that enough?

[SantaMonica]

I would do two scrubbers, each one 4 wide X 6 tall, with a 23w CFL 2700k bulb on each side (total 4 bulbs). Start with just one scrubber for a few months, then turn on the second.

[saltynoob]

Will give it a try great info thanks!