"Ralston88" wrote in message
om...

The tank has 2 powerflo pumps feeding an under-gravel tray, plus an
Aquacleer 300 carbon filter running continuously. The plants are
fake, and the gravel was purchased new. The tank came with large
corals that had been used by the previous owner, though they had been
sitting dry in the garage for several years.


I just started a new tank, too, and I put Cycle in to condition the water.
This is a concentrated solution of bacteria that consume the nitrites. It
sounds to me from reading the advice in here that you should get a nitrite
and ammonia tester and be sure to change water frequently enough to keep the
levels down, plus maybe use some extra Cycle. I'm sure others will give
good (ie better) advice.

I just wanted to mention one thing, though. It is my understanding that you
should not mix coral with tropical fish. I thought that it can rip the
scales off of them. Maybe a wives' tale? I have a box of coral from when
this was a salt water tank years ago (also 55 gal), but I wouldn't use it
for tropical fish for that reason, plus it isn't native to their habitat, so
it looks kind of strange to me.

dwhite