Just starting out and need help

[wpspfan]

I bought a 100 gallon acrylic tank off ebay "never used" It came with a blue tower that skims the top of the water, the tower goes to a trickle filter that goes onto some orange balls, to a chamber were my heater is, to a Iwaki Magnet pump model #40rlt-115, to a Rainbow Af-94 Mechanical Filter, to a Af-93 Chemical Filter w/Chemi-pure medium in it, to a cut off value then back to the tank.

I bought a Corallife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe Linear Strip PowerCompact Fixture.
48" 2 65w 10,000k Bulbs 2 65w Actinic Bulbs 4 3/4 Lunar Lights.

The person I bought it from gave me some rocks she had in her attic that came out of a marine aquarium she had bought about 70 lbs on rock and dryed corals. We put some of those in the tank and bought crushed coral for the bottom about 4 inches deep. We used Reef Crystals Salt and mixed it with our well water in the tank "that we have checked at the local fish store". We got the tank going and put 1 Table spoon full of "Weiss Organic Sand Boost" in the water per day, For a week, then we bought three Blue Damsels and put them in the tank They have been in the tank for two weeks tommorrow Sat- Jan, 5. One died which we think it was kill by the agressive one. I have checked the ammonia every other day and no change have occured it test .25 everytime, Today I checked The nitrite which was 0 and the Nitrate Which was 0 The ph has dropped to 7.8 and the Phosphate is 0.5. About three days ago brown spots started growing on some of the rocks they have gotten worse everyday. I run the lights on a timer about 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of moonlight, I need some help on how the go from here. I would like to do reef aquarium, I know my lighting is not the best so where do I go from here and what do I do about the brown alge spots taking over my tank. Also the Damsels seam to be eating the alge.

What water temp. is a range?

Thanks, for your time

[maxfischer]

the people on this site will help you with may of your questions, i have this for you read, read, read. It killed me to spend over $200 in books alone but well worth it. I would suggest you buy The Reef Aquarium by delbeek & Sprung. i have Vol. 1, 2 & 3 they are great. kinda reed like school books. Good Luck

[Reef_Angel]

I hear you got some good help in the Captive Reefing Chat Room! I hope everything is going well for you as your Reef matures, and you see all the beautiful life you see growing in it. Getting setup is not easy. There's a lot to absorb, and there's always more to learn when you think you have it all down pat! I've always got wet arms, and my shirts are always damp. Dakar always knows what I've done all day just by giving me a hug! Good Luck, and welcome to CR! ....Angel

[butterfly_babe4200]

Sounds like you have quite a project going. I have just set up a 12 gallon and have the same brown algae it will go away but it's best to get some snails and crabs to eat some of it for you. I got rid of most of my algae when I got a UV sterilizer. Kills parasites and algae. Good luck!

[davejnz]

Proper reef temp is 80 degrees IMO/IME.Although anything from 78 to 82 is acceptable.
Here's alink to a thread that might shed some insight on some of your questions.
http://captivereefing.com/viewtopic....542&highlight=

[wpspfan]

This can be deleted "please"