Anyone up for another 135 Thread?
- Thread starter tsquad
- Start date
paulpp187
Registered Member
new sand new water the only thing you have is the lr and how was it maintained during the travel how long without being submerged you are gonna have die off and you will have a spike sometimes systems will spike 3 or 4 times before it is done i would't add live stock for awhile don't rush it rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a reef take your time and do some research
tsquad
Premium Member
I have researched, since December '03 actually. I'm not planning on adding fish until mid-April at the earliest, unless my test results prove otherwise. The cycle is really confusing me though, because my zoanthids are thriving; they started out with 5ish open, and now there's at least 10. What should I make of that?
tsquad
Premium Member
Ok test results so far:
NH3: .25 - .50ppm
NO2: 0 - 5ppm
NO3: 0 - 5ppm
pH: 8.4 Time to add a little vinegar
I have others, like Ca and Alk but I will do those later; these are the primary tests
These are also old tests, so I'm looking into getting some new ones. But it looks like my cycle is underway.
Question:
I have all these furry little sprout things growing all over my sand...I couldn't get a picture of them, but the word that popped into my head was diatom. I don't think they are, seeing as they usually come at the end of a cycle right?
NH3: .25 - .50ppm
NO2: 0 - 5ppm
NO3: 0 - 5ppm
pH: 8.4 Time to add a little vinegar
I have others, like Ca and Alk but I will do those later; these are the primary tests
These are also old tests, so I'm looking into getting some new ones. But it looks like my cycle is underway.
Question:
I have all these furry little sprout things growing all over my sand...I couldn't get a picture of them, but the word that popped into my head was diatom. I don't think they are, seeing as they usually come at the end of a cycle right?
tsquad
Premium Member
PICTURES
PICTURES
My zoanthid "colony":
My terrible closeup:
As you can see, my picture taking abilities are lacking a bit, but I will get better; I discovered the Macro button today, so there is lots of room for improvement. The first picture...the zoo on the upper right isn't looking so good right now; sometimes it opens fully and looks great, other times it looks like it is now. That is what really confuses me...how can I be going through a cycle, and be able to support corals? I thought the were extra sensitive
. I think I need new test kits...
And one last picture, that would be awesome if the coral skeleton didn't have algae or diatoms or whatever is growing on my sand and some rocks:
I wish that thing was real...All in good time
PICTURES
My zoanthid "colony":
My terrible closeup:
As you can see, my picture taking abilities are lacking a bit, but I will get better; I discovered the Macro button today, so there is lots of room for improvement. The first picture...the zoo on the upper right isn't looking so good right now; sometimes it opens fully and looks great, other times it looks like it is now. That is what really confuses me...how can I be going through a cycle, and be able to support corals? I thought the were extra sensitive
. I think I need new test kits...And one last picture, that would be awesome if the coral skeleton didn't have algae or diatoms or whatever is growing on my sand and some rocks:
I wish that thing was real...All in good time
InsaneClownFish
New member
Tyler, a few things. Patience. Paul is absolutely right. I used the cocktail shrimp along with my semi-cured live rock, and I left it in there. Most of my cycle was over in two weeks.
I would hold off on the crabs. Really. Your tank is cycling...and WILL cycle. Remember, inverts, especially snails have highly sensitive, and complex, endocrim systems.
Look at the edging, color, and underneath of those zoos. Look at the closed ones. They are definately hurtin a bit. They're feelin the effects of the ammonia. Remember, zoos are hardy. But that doesn't mean they're happy when conditions are not optimal.
What happened with your plumbing? I'm not concerned at all you won't be skimming, but that one pump is nothing for cycling. How big is it? You need to at least snag a bunch of powerheads to keep that flow up.
I would hold off on the crabs. Really. Your tank is cycling...and WILL cycle. Remember, inverts, especially snails have highly sensitive, and complex, endocrim systems.
Look at the edging, color, and underneath of those zoos. Look at the closed ones. They are definately hurtin a bit. They're feelin the effects of the ammonia. Remember, zoos are hardy. But that doesn't mean they're happy when conditions are not optimal.
What happened with your plumbing? I'm not concerned at all you won't be skimming, but that one pump is nothing for cycling. How big is it? You need to at least snag a bunch of powerheads to keep that flow up.
InsaneClownFish
New member
Also, keep in mind that many of the "suggested ammounts" for invert packages you will see online are grossly overrated. Each condition is unique, and your inverts should be added accordingly,
Snails poop. No...really...they POOP. A LOT. Go slow. If you have algae on that rock now, you will lose quite a bit as you cycle. Your nutrients will fluctuate, and you will not be feeding the tank. Adding 4-5 snails at one time and seeing how they do is far better than adding a cleanup package of 40-130- with crabs on top.
You'll always want to add down the road, so error on the side of too few rather than too many.
Snails poop. No...really...they POOP. A LOT. Go slow. If you have algae on that rock now, you will lose quite a bit as you cycle. Your nutrients will fluctuate, and you will not be feeding the tank. Adding 4-5 snails at one time and seeing how they do is far better than adding a cleanup package of 40-130- with crabs on top.
You'll always want to add down the road, so error on the side of too few rather than too many.
tsquad
Premium Member
Tomorrow night I will be getting new plumbing pieces. Basically, the plumbing I measured, decided not to fit into other pieces once I had it glued. VERY frustrating.
I figured that's why some of the zoos were closing up. I am being very patient, right now I'm just bugged that the algae is all over. I guess it's just natural though. I don't think I will use the cocktail shrimp, as the ammonia is rising nicely on it's own. The emerald crabs will come way later, I asked Benny to hold some for me at the Puppy Center for a month or so, so I will be ready for them.
I didn't understand when you said this:
I figured that's why some of the zoos were closing up. I am being very patient, right now I'm just bugged that the algae is all over. I guess it's just natural though. I don't think I will use the cocktail shrimp, as the ammonia is rising nicely on it's own. The emerald crabs will come way later, I asked Benny to hold some for me at the Puppy Center for a month or so, so I will be ready for them.
I didn't understand when you said this:
Will I lose a lot of the algae as I cycle, or a lot of the snails?InsaneClownFish said:
InsaneClownFish
New member
Tyler, I can't stress enough the importance of strong circulation as you cycle.
What I meant by the snail comment was that snails themselves can create a significant bioload. If added in disproportionate numbers(something that shouldn't be a huge issue in such a large tank if you don't add gaggles at once).
Some people will say you will go through a "mini-cycle" each time you add any type of bioload. However, if you do it slowly, there should be no mini-cycles at all(or there will be one, but your bacteria , detrivores, micro-infauna/filtration will have developed to the point that they will quickly erradicate the waste- nitrite and nitrate should remain 0 in this condition.
You have algae because you are using rock out of a tank that had algae. You should develop diatoms somewhere around week 4-5 of of your cycling. The algae that you have may be a bit prolific while you cycle, but it should die off significantly as your nutrients go down. In essence, you won't need to feed the tank...at all...for a number of weeks.
In other words- don't put in too many snails and crabs too quicly....you'll just have unhappy snails and an increased bioload on an already cycling tank...it will actually make your algae worse...and your diatom stage will probably take longer to dissipate.
PS- great tip you gave me on the Aiptasia at the meeting. Using a turkey baster instead of a syringe actually worked better as it was able to get the heavy salinity/calc solution deep into the rock..
What I meant by the snail comment was that snails themselves can create a significant bioload. If added in disproportionate numbers(something that shouldn't be a huge issue in such a large tank if you don't add gaggles at once).
Some people will say you will go through a "mini-cycle" each time you add any type of bioload. However, if you do it slowly, there should be no mini-cycles at all(or there will be one, but your bacteria , detrivores, micro-infauna/filtration will have developed to the point that they will quickly erradicate the waste- nitrite and nitrate should remain 0 in this condition.
You have algae because you are using rock out of a tank that had algae. You should develop diatoms somewhere around week 4-5 of of your cycling. The algae that you have may be a bit prolific while you cycle, but it should die off significantly as your nutrients go down. In essence, you won't need to feed the tank...at all...for a number of weeks.
In other words- don't put in too many snails and crabs too quicly....you'll just have unhappy snails and an increased bioload on an already cycling tank...it will actually make your algae worse...and your diatom stage will probably take longer to dissipate.
PS- great tip you gave me on the Aiptasia at the meeting. Using a turkey baster instead of a syringe actually worked better as it was able to get the heavy salinity/calc solution deep into the rock..
tsquad
Premium Member
I've now got an Aquaclear 802 and two Aquaclear 402s running on the tank. It looks better already.
I've come to terms with my cycle, and realized it is going to cycle, regardless of what I want it to do (cycle fast) :lol:
I guess my plan of a first fish mid-April is gone
We will just play it by ear from now on.
And yes, the turkey baster strategy worked excellently on my tank. I haven't seen another aiptasia since. Just make sure you suck the aiptasia out with the turkey baster; that's what I did, and I think they can reproduce with just a few cells :eek2:
I've come to terms with my cycle, and realized it is going to cycle, regardless of what I want it to do (cycle fast) :lol:
I guess my plan of a first fish mid-April is gone
We will just play it by ear from now on.And yes, the turkey baster strategy worked excellently on my tank. I haven't seen another aiptasia since. Just make sure you suck the aiptasia out with the turkey baster; that's what I did, and I think they can reproduce with just a few cells :eek2:
InsaneClownFish
New member
buahahhahaaaaaaaaa!!!!
I secretly dumped a bunch of flatworms in your tank last night...
Hey are you SURE those are zoos? I forgot to mention this before...and it's definately hard to tell whether that is just a huge macro shot, but they look more like Palythoa. If they are, be very very careful. They're loaded with Palytoxin- the most powerful vasoconstrictor, and the most deadly organic toxin, known to man.
I would suggest gloves and goggles if you need to handle them...and especially gloves in the tank...doubley so if you have small cuts on your hands...wrists...forearms....just be wary.
Remember, zoos also carry Palytoxin in varrying amounts...read up on it....oh wait this is you...you probably already have..
I secretly dumped a bunch of flatworms in your tank last night...
Hey are you SURE those are zoos? I forgot to mention this before...and it's definately hard to tell whether that is just a huge macro shot, but they look more like Palythoa. If they are, be very very careful. They're loaded with Palytoxin- the most powerful vasoconstrictor, and the most deadly organic toxin, known to man.
I would suggest gloves and goggles if you need to handle them...and especially gloves in the tank...doubley so if you have small cuts on your hands...wrists...forearms....just be wary.
Remember, zoos also carry Palytoxin in varrying amounts...read up on it....oh wait this is you...you probably already have..
tsquad
Premium Member
Hmm, I've been thinking the same thing too; all the zoo pics I've seen have fat little tentacle things, and these are really stringy.
I do have gloves, but I'm looking for some longer ones that go all the way up my arm...the ones I've got get water in the when I reach too far. I have few cuts on my hands from sports and such, and I have reached into the tank without gloves once or twice. Luckily nothing happened. I will be sure to keep my hands covered in there from now on.
And yes, I did know about the toxins. I've been bragging about "my poisonous coral" to my friends . My friend Sam likes to call them "zobras;" he wants to genetically combine a cobra and a zoanthid (that's what I told him it was) to make a supreme poison machine. :lol:
I do have gloves, but I'm looking for some longer ones that go all the way up my arm...the ones I've got get water in the when I reach too far. I have few cuts on my hands from sports and such, and I have reached into the tank without gloves once or twice. Luckily nothing happened. I will be sure to keep my hands covered in there from now on.
And yes, I did know about the toxins
. I've been bragging about "my poisonous coral" to my friends . My friend Sam likes to call them "zobras;" he wants to genetically combine a cobra and a zoanthid (that's what I told him it was) to make a supreme poison machine. :lol:
tsquad
Premium Member
I spoke far too soon :mad2:
And the little bugger had the nerve to be right in the front of the tank! Must kill...:strooper:
Here is a shot, displaying my macro skillz
At least my tang will have something to eat
And here is one last shot, it's of the Palythoas/Zoanthids (debatable). Which do you guys think it is?
And the little bugger had the nerve to be right in the front of the tank! Must kill...:strooper:
Here is a shot, displaying my macro skillz
At least my tang will have something to eat
And here is one last shot, it's of the Palythoas/Zoanthids (debatable). Which do you guys think it is?
Aquaguru
New member
Haven't posted here in awhile but it looks like everything is going well. Just remember patience, I wish that I would have waited a little longer to add my first fish (7 blue/green chromis). Now I'm down to 3 of them and I think it was because I added to much to quickly. Just give it some time and it will look great after a couple of months things seem to come along and most of your big problems are over and the water parameters have steadied themselves.
Remember:
Zoanthids=Death So wear gloves in the tank
Remember:
Zoanthids=Death So wear gloves in the tank
InsaneClownFish
New member
But your Aiptasia love you.
