help setting up saltwater tank

Is your live rock cured already ?

 

Yeah, it should be cured then. There may be some die off but not much.

 

Well... I installed a UV Sterilizer really soon after setting up my tank. I also used Bio Spira though so my tank was cycled instantly.

This is a 150 gallon tank correct ? You're going to need a total of 150-200 pounds of live rock in that tank. Personally, I'd add all the rock before anything else. If you can't get Bio Spira then you should let the tank run for a few weeks before adding any fish.

 

Yep, just in my 30 gallon tank I have 50 pounds of live rock.

Bio Spira is the only product that contains live beneficial bacteria found in established systems. It's used to instantly cycle freshwater and saltwater aquariums. You add it at the same time you add fish and avoid the cycling process.

 

Ohh no. The lights must be on a cycle. Never leave lights on for 24 hours.

 

That would just be live rock with coraline algae on it. To get it to grow and spread you're going to have to upgrade your lighting. You can use T5's or PCs (Power Compact) lights. You'll probably want an Actinic and then a 6700 Daylight combo.

 

lights on for 6 hrs. a day to start then 8 hrs. a day....don't setup the uv sterilizer until your tank has matured - it can kill beneficial bacteria......power compact lighting is a good start for soft corals but you will want the t5's or mh's later on anyways...so i would save money for that.......if you have a sump you don't really need the canister filter - it will raise your nitrates if you don't keep it clean all the time......to grow coralline you need to have your calcium and alk. levels in check without making the ph flucture all the time....
i know i'm just rambling on but these are just key words so you can look into it more and read up on these things.......

 

haha....pic of what?

 

The lights maybe ?

 

yeah i kind of went off there...typing off the top of the dome.....i don't think i have pics of my lights yet....i can get some up tomorrow though.

 

I don't have any actual pictures of my lights either. Here's Drs Foster and Smith's pictures of the lights I have.