90 gallon reef setup and chemistry

[Emmdmd]

I have been keeping a Bicube 29 for the past 2 1/2 years with the normal ups and downs that seem to be all too common in this hobby. I am now in the process of setting up a 90 gallon reef tank with the hopes of starting the cycling process in about a week.

I have a couple questions in regard to initiating balancing of chemistry. When during the cycling process should I start to add products to balance chemistry? Is there any particular sequence to follow (I.e., magnesium followed by calcium, followed by.....)

Thanks for your help.

[bertoni]

[welcome]

Generally, the order of supplements doesn't matter much unless the magnesium parameter is extremely low. In that case, I'd dose magnesium back up to 1275 ppm or so, and then add calcium and alkalinity.

[Emmdmd]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

Generally, the order of supplements doesn't matter much unless the magnesium parameter is extremely low. In that case, I'd dose magnesium back up to 1275 ppm or so, and then add calcium and alkalinity.

Thanks!

[bertoni]

You're welcome. Good luck!

[dkeller_nc]

If you're cycling a tank with dry rock, then there's really no reason to check and supplement calcium, alkalinity or magnesium unless it's just for familiarity with your test kits and dosing in general. The only things you need to maintain during cycling is temperature and specific gravity.

On the other hand if you cycling with live rock, then keeping calcium and alkalinity within reasonable ranges may assist with the growth/maintenance of coralline algae.