What I should put in this Filter?

[Alastar]

Just a thought if you really want to put macro algae in get a second aqua clear and use it for just the macro they are cheap anyways.

That's what I was thinking, and I'm using lr and ls for cycle, and what macro algae is good for soft corals?

 

[rambler67]

well your macro algae helps reduce nutrients in the system and grow pods. personally on a tank that size i would just stick to weekly water changes. you will most likely be better off putting carbon or gfo instead of macro algae.

 

[Alastar]

Well, here is how my setup is so far. Its a 10 Gallon tank, using Nova Extreme 24inch T5HO Fixture, 10k White and 640 Antic with a total of about 5 Lbs of LR and 20 Lbs of LS.
The filter is an modified AC70 with a AC20 propeller, glass glued to the side to force all water down, and the filitration is currently for debris only since the sand caused a lot of silt to float around; sponge filter, polishing pad, polyster, and LR. In a week or 2, after I get more LR in a couple days, the filtration will be a 1 inch sponge, 1/2 inch polishing pad, ChemiPure Elite, then LR, with either a LED light or a 6700k compact bulb for some algae growth.

I have my lights running on 7-8 hours a day, from 10 to 7 on a 5$ timer. I don't plan to carry damsels or angelfish but I'm going to throw my damsels in for the cycle in a couple weeks also. I think my beginner fish will be a Royal Gramma and a yellow clown goby.

Picture below is with 10k bulb only.

 

[rambler67]

a couple this to think about. 1 you dont need to run the light while it cycles. 2 you dont want to put damsels in just to cycle the tank. cycle it then put fish in that you plan on keeping.

Cycling the tank. Unlike a freshwater tank, it takes time for a saltwater tank to be ready for a new fish or other creature. Once your tank has been set up, you?ve added your sand, filled it with saltwater, turned on the heater, started the filters, now you can add your live rock. What your tank needs is bacteria, and you need to breed it before your new pets are added. A very easy way to do this is to buy one or two uncooked cocktail shrimp from the deli at the supermarket. Just throw them in the tank and let them rot. As they do, bacteria will grow as a result. Ammonia levels will rise in the tank over the period of a week or 10 days, then it will suddenly drop (you?ll observe this with your Ammonia test kit), and Nitrites will rise quickly over a period of another few days. Finally, the Nitrites will drop off completely (reading 0 with your Nitrites test), and Nitrates will begin to register on your Nitrates test kit. As soon as your Ammonia and Nitrites tests both read 0 on the matching test kits, it is safe to add the new fish. http://www.melevsreef.com/tanks.html

other wise just remember patience.

 

[Alastar]

I worded it incorrectly, i meant after cycle in a couple weeks too see how fish do in the water.

 

[rambler67]

imo i wouldn't put fish in that you wernt planing on keeping.

 

[Alastar]

A question guys, is it a good idea to shift the sand so all the dust comes up? I just did it and now it ALMOST looks like the day I put it in, but not as cloudy...

Just curious, never really researched about shifting sand.

Edit: Guess it doesn't matter anymore, it all cleared up now, took less then an hour.