L2 on my 55gal mixed reef

Hello all! New to the forums. Just got my L2 a few weeks ago. I'm not necessarily new to the reef game, but definitely new to using an ats. My last build was about 10 years ago, n somehow I ended back up in it. here's my build ...so far.

My filtration will be ATS only. I built some mounts out of acrylic to countersink the ats about 1/2" below the rim of my sump, so I have just enough room to service it. It's definitely a tight fit.

 

Already done I trimmed the pipe after the pic. It was slightly gurgly at that length

 

Just an update: two weeks into my new build. everything is still in the middle of fishless cycle. ive had a bottle of dr tims one n only on day one. dead shrimp in my sump, plus have been ghost feeding a fat pinch of pellets in my tank daily since day one. my ammonia sat at about .25ish for the first 10 or so days. i decided to "jump the gun" a few days ago and dose some doctor tim's ammonium chloride to bump my ammonia levels in hopes to speed up my cycle(im trying to be patient, but you know.... ). i added two drops/gal(directions say 4/gal), and my ammonia shot to 1ppm/0nitrite/0nitrate.

so then yesterday, i had 1ppm ammonia/.5 nitrite/0 nitrate.
this morning- same.
this evening- this evening 1ppm ammonia /.5 nitrite /10nitrate - WHOA!

no growth on my ATS just yet. but i am hoping that the presence of nitrate will finally get the ATS going. i havent turned on any lights on the main display yet either. at this rate, i will likely order my pods at the end of this week, and dump them in with some phyto. first fish in maybe a week after that(wont go directly into display, but will go through qt process for at least a few weeks.

oh with that being said, BUD- what is your take on having a filter sock in the sump? i know that once the ATS is going, it tends to act as a the breeding area for pods. i am concerned about my pods getting trapped in my filter sock.

 

One month in from starting my cycle. All parameters are good to go. About 4 days ago, I noticed a very small spec of green on my ATS screen. It's definitely grown in size since I noticed it. Here is a picture of it.

 

Scrubber put into operation around Jan 4th 12 on, 12 off. Intensity at the 6 o clock poaitiop

 

I came to realize a few days ago that my timer had gone bad, and it was not turning off. I'm not sure how long it has been like this, but I'm assuming its been around a week or so, because I do remember it being off last time I had a day off, which was about 10 days ago

 

I have since installed another timer, and I have been seeing some hints of growth all over the screen now.

 

It's been about a week since i put in the new timer. Growth has definitely increased quite a bit. Settings are still 12 on, 12 off at the 6 position.

I've also added some new inhabitants in the past 10 days. A bonded pair of Black Snowflake Extreme clowns, a yellow watchman goby, a Randalls Pistol Shrimp, and a Leopard Wrasse. All are quite tiny- about 2" n below.

 

Weekly update- growth is nice and steady. Also added another guy to the tank- A Mcosker Wrasse.

Bud- would you recommend me cleaning the screen at all? Or should I just allow the growth to continue?

 

Weekly update.
My current parameters:
Ammonia 0. Nitrite 0. Nitrate: ~10-20. Cal: 450. Mag: 1320. Phosphate: .11

 

Current update: I cleaned off my screen this past Saturday night. I checked on my screen today, and noticed these kinda dark stringy growths. I've included a pixture.

Current tank parameters, taken just an hr ago:
Ammonia/nitrite: 0
Nitrate: .5
CA: 460
Dkh: 8.6
Mag: 1320
pH 8.2
Phos: .10

Scrubber is still @ 6 o clock position, running 12 on, 12 off

Any ideas?

 

It's actually going great! My parameters have remained extremely consistent. Nitrates hover between 5-10. Phosphates around .04

It took a number of months for the ats to really start getting good growth, but then again, my tank wasn't heavily stocked in the beginning. Now I'm feeding a frozen cube a day + reef roids/reef chili 2-3x a week. Sometimes I'll have my autofeeder feed pellets on days I know I'll be out of the house for prolonged times, but it's working out great.

I'm currently running a 14hr on/10off schedule on the ats, and a 11hr light schedule on my display.