[seaseeker]

Alright, so we set up a large Rubbermaid to start cycling rock, and getting ready for a display reef.
I've always loved large refugiums.
I used tap water and just cycled it with a ~450gph pump for the first few months, and didn't do any testing except for SG.
Then I decided it was time to get going, and the first thing I wanted to get rid of was the cyano
image2_zpseoxjsv8e.jpeg Photo by zfhubbell | Photobucket

image1_zpsfqtdbnje.jpeg Photo by zfhubbell | Photobucket

So the first thing I did was get a 100gpd RO/Di unit (premium unit with TDS meter), and a 2 stage media reactor from Bulk Reef Supply.
Very exciting delivery!
image3_zpsukvvtske.jpeg Photo by zfhubbell | Photobucket
Got the Premium GFO and premium carbon running, and using 000 ppm RO water now for about 3-4 weeks. Once I verified that pH has been right on at 8.3, and salinity has stayed fairly stable, fluxuating from about 1.026 to 1.028 at the most, I added 6 red and blue legged hermits (6 total, a mix), and 6 astrea snails. then I added a decorator crab, a XL hermit ( not a halloween hermit, but something like that, I forget what the LFS called it, its orange with red stripes, about the size of a golf ball) and I got a Large African Red Knob Star that had been healthy at the LFS for about 2 months before I bought it.
I know ideally I should have more hermits and proabbly some substrate sifting snails. My trepedation has been that I have a good source to order bulk from, and I cant bring myself to pay 2-2.50/hermit/snail around Toledo when I know I can get them for like, a .25-.50 each, but I don't want to order bulk until I have my display set up, and I dont want to set up that until the cyanos gone.

Any suggestions on what to try?

Thanks!!!

 

[seaseeker]

After doing some research, I've cut my lighting schedule down to 9 hours, instead of 12 on, and I'm considering getting a new bulb. I was pretty sure that the bulb I have is a reef bulb, but I don't know for sure because I got it used. Its a 150W mogul base halide, so that's the next thing I'm thinking about since I don't know its age or spectrum?

 

[weimers75]

You should probably get a new bulb since you don't know its age and you have cyano.

Why are you running GFO? Have you even tested for phosphates? If you don't have any (which you probably don't at this stage of the game) then you don't need it. Same with the carbon.

What are your parameters at?