Todd's 125g reef

[bangaicardinal]

Hey guys I'm new to this hobby (have a 6 month old 14g biocube)
Just set up a 125 gallon reef tank
I was hoping for some input, tips, advice etc.
I've been using this site almost exclusively and it has been an invaluable resource (as I'm sure everyone knows).
Anyways, here are some pictures
I'm about 1/2 way through the cycle (low phosphates, high nitrites, low nitrates).
I'm not sure how many gallons my sump is, as I bought everything used, but it's a decent size. I've got a large aquamedic protein skimmer in at as well as the return pump (i've got it in a tupperware with the lid off to try and keep debris away from the filter sponge), a filter sock is in the first compartment, with my refugium. I've put a peice of egg crate down to seperate chamber 1 and chamber 2, and a bunch of large peices of live rock at the bottom. then I put a sheet of lexan (about 4" off the bottom) to above the water line. These are materials I had lying around, so from chamber one where the water comes in from my DT into my filter sock, with my refugium basically beside it and under it in the same compartment, then the water goes through the large rocks (I had the rocks & egg crate there to try and keep my chaeto from going into the compartment with the skimmer and return pump, like a porous wall of sorts).

I'd appreciate some feed back as to if this set up will be acceptable.
The sump is a decent size, If need be I will go to the lengths to build a seperate refugium. The flow in the refugium chamber doesn't look like it will be an issue (gentle flow)

Here's some photo's if they actually upload

Thanks

[dt204]

Does the skimmer chamber remain at a constant level?

[bangaicardinal]

The sump as a whole remains at the same level... I've noticed it drops an inch or 2 every 2 or 3 days from evaporation and requires a 5g top up
Will this pose a problem? Will I constantly be fighting with adjustments? Right now the skimmer isn't producing much
I attribute that to a clean system, however when I start adding livestock in the coming months it will be a different story
So to answer your question, No because evaporation occurs in the sump

[bangaicardinal]

I think the sump is E-Shopps brand
But, like I mentioned, I bought it used and it didn't come with any of the stock dividers or anything. Basically just an open box with the main divider in the middle. It looks like there are slots that used to house sheets of lexan or something as baffles. I don't have any micro bubbles in my DT, so I don't think I need baffles

[dt204]

Sounds legit to me. I'm no pro, but I don't see any problems. I'm not sure if the skimmer thing is a problem. Mine wants the water to be within an inch or so for optimum performance.
An ATO would handle the evap issue if that's an option. Nice looking tank!

[bangaicardinal]

Thanks dt204
So when I set up this tank I used about 100 pounds of dead live rock, 100 pounds of live rock, 100 pounds of dead live sand, and 100 pounds of live sand.
My temp is 78
salinity is 1.025
Phosphates are 2.0
Nitrites are 5+ (API test card only goes up to 5)
Nitrates are 10

These measurements were true on March 26 (when I completed setting my tank up), and I tested yesterday and found the same readings.

Is it possible that the tank started at half way through the cycle?

The last tank I set up I actively observed the cycle in it's 3 stages

I never added anything other then what is mentioned above to kick start the cycle either

I'm getting a heavy diatom bloom right now as well

Is this to be expected? Anyone have any input?

[homer1475]

Phosphates 2.0? Thats extremely high. Sure its not .02?

Whats your ammonia reading?

[bangaicardinal]

Your reading it right homer
2.0 with an api test kit
I have a $250 ro/di filter
Tds 0 ppm
As for ammonia i'm waiting for amazon to deliver the test kit
I'll get back to you as soon as I can receive it
Could the high phosphates be from die off of this rock?