Saltwater Tank Setup * Tank size: ~75 gallons * Live sand: ~60 lbs * Live rock: ~60–70 lbs * Filtration/Equipment: * Reef Octopus Classic 2000 HOB skimmer * Auto top off (ATO) * Live rock + live sand biological filtration * Water appearance: Crystal clear during cycle Cycling Timeline April 23, 2026 Added: * Saltwater * ~60 lbs live sand April 28, 2026 Added: * ~60–70 lbs live rock April 30, 2026 Added: * Fritz TurboStart / bottled bacteria Afterward: * began ghost feeding with fish food to keep the bacteria colony alive during the fishless cycle. Water Parameters Most recent ranges: * pH: 8.0–8.2 * Ammonia: 0 ppm * Nitrite: 0–0.25 ppm * Nitrate: 0–5 ppm also tested after adding fish food and waiting 24 hours: * Ammonia remained at 0 * Nitrite stayed very low * Small nitrate reading present