Thank you so much for responding.
h
1. tell us what kind of lighting you are using. (metal halide, power compact, T5, VHO, freshwater light fixture w/normal bulbs)
8 T5 54W
2 aqua medic reef white 54 w -10 k
1 Current ho 10 k
3 Current ho Actinic
2 ce ie Actinic
As bulbs wear out (12months-18months), replace all but 2-3 with pure or super actinic. Stick with geismann, ATI, UVL. There are other options, but this is just getting started.
2. how long are the lights kept on?
Need some suggestion
how about start with 6hrs a day(i'm running 12 hours right now, but fully intend to cut it back to 6)
3. is there any livestock(fish/coral)? (I see 1 blue damsel)
only 1 Blue Green Chromisis
6. how thick is that sand bed? What's it made out of?
2 "
I would consider increasing the depth of the sand bed (for nitrate reduction) http://www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm
7. how many total gallons in the display tank?
around 135
8. any specific desires in the types of fish you want to keep later on? Coral desires?
3-5 Green Chromisis , 3-5 Anthias , 2 Clownfish,Hawkfish , and some easy care coral. need suggestion.
Get your hands on some zoanthids & blue mushrooms. I think you'll enjoy those. http://zoanthids.com/
9. are you adding any chemicals to the tank other than fresh top off water? (calcium, iodine, prime, pH buffer, phytoplankton, purple up, zooplankton, ANYthing really)
Not yet. need some suggestion
Pick up a bottle of "Purple Up" ($16 @ petsmart)and throw in 2 capfuls every other day roughly 3-6 hours before lights come on. Just as a trail run. Purple Up contains a lot of beneficial stuff that help things with hard shells grow. Later you can get something a little more reasonable in price. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12799
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