Great Reef in [less than] 7 days

- clean new Utah Oolitic Sand

- different sizes of clean but previously used larger particle and crushed coral sand

- a little Live Sand(LS)

- several pieces of live rock(LR) with many animals and algae attached

- Caulerpa Macroalgae on the LR

- Soft Coral: Green Sinularia, Mushroom Leather, Zoanthids and Xenia

Circulation is a Maxijet 1200 powerhead sitting on the sand in the back center pushing a stream of water straight up.

Lighting is a black box LED with Blue-red ON at ~25% from about 8AM to 9PM and White-green On ~20% from about 9AM to 8PM.

All of the above, I set up in one hour last Friday (4/22). Came back on Tuesday to check it out, add more LS and pieces of LR. Upon arrival, the water was clear and all the coral were fully hydrated and looking great. The Xenia was pulsing happily. The additional LR was then added first because adding LS makes the water cloudy again from bacteria laden detritus floating around. That clears up by settling out on surfaces within a couple hours. I'm sure it looks great now. I need to take a pic when I next see it, to share with y'all.

Aloha,

Mark 

When I'm able to get pics up, it won't blow anyone away. Like Adam said, adding coral should not be rushed unless those coral are expendable. Softies only, no LPS coral for a couple weeks or more, watching and waiting until the biological processes catch up. SPS need even more time, like 2 months minimum.

Bacterial and algal populations grow fast but not as fast as we would hope. Repeating what I wrote in the Reefkeeping Tips thread, the more LS, LR and Macroalgae is put in to a new tank, the sooner it will be ready for a population of fish and more delicate coral. I'm planning to add a mob of Shaun's young Clownfish to this tank. That will create a lot of waste so I'm going to wait another week, at least, and before I do, I will ensure the Macroalgae is on a growth fast track.

Aloha,

Mark