Another Newby Question

[shadowbearwv]

I asked this before but since I'm so close to actually doing it I wanted to see what people think.

I'm planning on moving my TBS inhabitants from the 20g to the 75g. The 20g has been going since the first of the year.

When should I do this? Between parts 1 and 2, or after part 2 of the 55g package I ordered?

I'd like to have the 20g setup as a QT, so if I do get any fish with part 2 I can have it going when I get them. I have a HOB filter with sponge and poly-filter in it that I was hoping to use since they will have bacteria growing in them.

I still have my old 12g nano that is currently cleaned out so that is another option as well but I would have to put the bioballs and ceramic beads in for bacteria housing.

So to make it simple.

Should I use the 20g as a QT and put the inhabitants in after part 1 has cycled?

Should I use the 20g as a QT but wait until part 2 is cycled and not worry about the fish that come with part 2?

Or should I use the 12g and hope to have it cycled before part 2 comes?

I'm open to other options as well. Hopefully this isn't too confusing.

SB

 

[noahm]

I personally wouldn't have too much problem putting them in as soon as part 1 is done cycling. If anything, the established stuff from the 20 will help ease any minimal cycle from part 2. Use the 12 for qt if you want, but heck, I didn't QT anything. Too much hassle with so much stuff. Most of the fish Richard ever sends are pretty tough buggers.

It is good to have the 12g, 20g and a bunch of containers though just to help hold stuff/water while you are making decisions and to throw crabs, acclimating snails/stars etc.

 

[divemonster]

Re: Another Newby Question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14906659#post14906659 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shadowbearwv
Should I use the 20g as a QT and put the inhabitants in after part 1 has cycled?
SB

Yes. Then let the tank cycle again, which should be minimal, before getting the 55g part 2.

You have been bold with the frags and softies you added to your existing reef (nice pics in your gallery!) It would probably be a good idea to let the inhabitants being transferred get accustomed to the new reef before introducing more rock and creatures. The question is would the inhabitants be less stressed if introduced to part 1 big tank first by themselves, or less stressed if introduced with all of part 2? From what I've read when cycling crappy mostly dead LR you do it in batches. Since TBS rock is such excellent quality it might be okay to do everything at once. If it were me, I'd move the 20g inhabitants to the 75g and watch the h2o parms before getting part 2.

After a week or so, if everyone looks fat and happy then let Richard know you are ready for part 2 (more like part 3 in your case).

 

[noahm]

Heh, ... Newbie....good one

 

[shadowbearwv]

The real fun of this process will be to acclimate everything. I have the Salinity and temp exactly the same between the two tanks but I'm still going to drip everything. I have two 16g tubs I'm going to stick everything in and drip em. Hopefully this will help with them staying healthy.

What I'm really happy about so far is having the refugium set up in advance. So far I've just seen a spike in Nitrite but nothing like I saw with the orginial 20g setup.

The real reason I want to have the 20g QT setup is that I lost the tiger goby after a temperature spike and he got ick. He was so awesome and I don't want any fish I get to have to go through that. I was able to catch him and put him in the 12g but I was only able to treat him with "reef safe" treatment. I had my refugium rock in there at the time and couldn't treat him like he needed.

Lesson learned!

SB

 

[shadowbearwv]

Update on how things are going.

First off can I say large tanks rock, the stability is amazing. Going small first is great learning experience but all I can say is; This big tank is 100x's easier.

So on to the question.

I put the 20g package in on Saturday after all my water param's were 0, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

I have since been testing and had a spike in nitrates Monday, probably cause I measured after feeding. It is now down to zero again.

When should I send in my request for the second half of the 55g package?

SB

Oops forgot to add I will have new pics this weekend!

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14957101#post14957101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shadowbearwv
Oops forgot to add I will have new pics this weekend!

WOOT! New pics yeah baby, bring them on. hehe

 

[Yogre]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14957101#post14957101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shadowbearwv


When should I send in my request for the second half of the 55g package?

SB

SB,

While Richard is the best one to have respond, I'd have to say that if you haven't gotten any significant ammonia by tomorrow (Thursday) I don't think you're going to. And, you know as soon as you send in your request Richard's gonna have your stuff on a plane, so be ready!