One of the happiest days of the year:biggrin:

Ooohhhh can't wait for clear pics.. :mrgreen: Looks great.

On Saturday I added the water and rocks that have been cooking in semi dark for the past 5 - 6 months. On Sunday I added a bag of Carib Sea Ocean Direct Live Sand. I'm pretty sure that it's "live" benefit ended a long time ago, but I liked the type of sand it was. This morning I notice a couple of little pods running when the flashlight caught them.

Today I did the following tests using Hagen test kits:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: less than .1

So I figure that the cycle has not even started yet. I have a rock in another tank loaded with Anthelia and sponge patches. I was thinking that if I tried to pick off the Anthelia and the sponge patches get a little air, this might be enough to start the cycle.

You could also try adding a raw table shrimp or ghost feed the tank with mysis once or twice. That should kick start things.

love the tank and stand. man that makes me want to start another tank. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm nawwwwwwwww but i will bookmark this thread thou. I remember some one had a sps tank like that awhile back eposer was his name from Calgary sexy looking tank...

p.s where sis you get that tank....

Here's some pictures of the preliminary aquascaping. Due to my camera skills I cannot get a picture that shows the depth of the tank. From the front glass to the overflow it's 28".

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_0165.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/p...chDec10-08.jpg

This is a picture of the 20 gal holding tank. These will go in when the tank has finished cycling.
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/IMG_0153.jpg

Looking good! I like your aqua-scaping.

Did testing on the water this morning and here's my results:

Hagen test kit:
Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0

Seachem test kit:
Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 (did reference test: 10)

Same results as Wednesday morning. Wednesday night I added a couple of rocks from an existing tank with many blue mushrooms, 2 blue clove polyps and a devils hand. Had to add the corals, as I needed the rock and couldn't remove the corals. Also threw in a little filter pad I had stuck in the back of the 50 gal to collect bacteria for the past 2 months. The corals are thriving, in fact the devils hand has never looked so good.

Thursday morning I threw in half a tablespoon of frozen mysis shrimp in hopes to get a cycle going. Do you think that I'm going to see any sort of a cycle here?

Also know it's a ways off, but here is my fish wish list (in the order I plan on putting them in, 4 - 6 weeks apart). Comments on this list are always welcome.

1. Royal Gramma Basslet
2. Pajama Cardinalfish
3. Barletts Anthias
4. Sixline Wrasse
5. Copperband Butterfly
6. Yellow Tang
7. Cinnamon Clown (with or without anenome - not sure yet)
8. Some sort of jawfish
9. Some sort of Hawkfish or other red colored fish
10. Of course, the Mandarin fish

I wouldn't put a mandarin in for quite some time. They require a well-established tank with lots of pods, etc. Also be wary of the Hawkfish, they can be little buggers. They may eat any shrimp, crabs, even small fish. Basically, anything they can get their mouths around.

Of course the Mandarin will be my Christmas present next year. I'm not sure of the Hawkfish, but more interested in something red. The colors of the Flame Hawkfish really cought my eye.