grandmaester
New member
Looks like you're ready for a cleaner crew imo.
LED Biocube 32 work in progress!!
- Thread starter JVan82
- Start date
homer1475
New member
Just a small suggestion for next time.....
All that bacteria in a bottle is snake oil. Yes it may start your cycle, but the bacteria is all around us, it just needs time to reproduce in our tanks. And dosing ure ammonia to 2ppm to stress test the biofilter is a great way to be 100% positive that your bacteria load can handle a decent bioload.
Once your cycle completes, I would suggest doing 100% water change(or take out as much water as you can) after your nitrites 0 out, and you stress test the biofilter. I started my new tank this way and have not had a nitrate issue at all. Unlike my biocube which always had high nitrates.
All that bacteria in a bottle is snake oil. Yes it may start your cycle, but the bacteria is all around us, it just needs time to reproduce in our tanks. And dosing ure ammonia to 2ppm to stress test the biofilter is a great way to be 100% positive that your bacteria load can handle a decent bioload.
Once your cycle completes, I would suggest doing 100% water change(or take out as much water as you can) after your nitrites 0 out, and you stress test the biofilter. I started my new tank this way and have not had a nitrate issue at all. Unlike my biocube which always had high nitrates.
Sounds like you're on your way. I'd agree about a big water change to lower nitrates in the beginning if you can, but I'd never recommend a 100% water change.
Also, important part of setting up a new tank in Valdosta, a big pile of Smokn Pig. My favorite BBQ joint for south-eastern/deep south style BBQ. I've had friends FedEx it to me, or pick it up for me and bring it back any time they're driving up I75 or visiting Tallahassee. MMmmm MMmmm good.
Good luck with the tank!
Also, important part of setting up a new tank in Valdosta, a big pile of Smokn Pig. My favorite BBQ joint for south-eastern/deep south style BBQ. I've had friends FedEx it to me, or pick it up for me and bring it back any time they're driving up I75 or visiting Tallahassee. MMmmm MMmmm good.
Good luck with the tank!
JVan82
New member
10G was almost 50% I will be doing larger water changes in the coming weeks, until it matures more, then gradually get down to 10%. Did a water test after the water change and Nitrates went from 10 to a between 5-0 on an API test.
One of Valdostas' few redeeming qualities!
You also sell 40s! FL tops out malted beverages at 32oz.
Sounds good with the water changes. Excited to see it come together. Any plan for stocking? If you ever want/need to take a drive for an LFS, Tallahassee has an excellent LFS, as well as a surprisingly vibrant reef aquarium community.
Never heard of Seminole Aquarium. While festive for Tallahassee, doesn't sound like the right place. What you need to check out is High Tide Aquariums out on Capital Circle east. I used to be friendly with the owner Scott, and he's an avid SPS keeper, and he's close with all of the other avid aquarists in town. Other than that, the other stores were generally meh. Even petco carries ORA corals and fishes these days, which is amazing, so.... ehhh..... Just QT everything you get.
Also, I'm sure Scott can special order anything you need from the wholesalers. I bet he still drives out to Jacksonville in his pickup to pick up orders straight off the tarmac.
Also, I'm sure Scott can special order anything you need from the wholesalers. I bet he still drives out to Jacksonville in his pickup to pick up orders straight off the tarmac.
JVan82
New member
Yeah I wasn't impressed with them, algae all over their frags, but I will definitely check out high tide for sure thank you. I have the QT tank up and running already, broke the clips on the heater that came with the tank... neotherm gets here tomorrow.
How long after fish go in the DT, is a safe bet to add corals?
Corals can go in once the tank is stabilized. I'd consider adding them either before fishes, or maybe 2 weeks after fishes, depending on whether the fishes being added kick off another mini-cycle.
Remember, you can still get diseases from corals, both coral and fish diseases. It's usually recommended to dip and/or quarantine corals. I dip some corals before adding them to my tank.
JVan82
New member
I'm gonna do the Bayer dip and fine inspect. If they have issues I'll but them in the fish QT tank, only because currently it's brand new, so no copper. I will in due time get a second QT tank. But the fish will be in QT for 4 weeks so if I wait 2 weeks after that it'll be 6. CuC arrives this week, shipped from reefcleaners today. Hope they can help with slowly introduce a bioload, before fish go in. Patients isn't my strongsuit. But I need a hobby to keep myself busy....
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Yea, CuC will be enough to keep the bioload going. Keep an eye on everything. I do a bayer dip and fine inspection on my corals too. It's not "the best" but it's probably good enough, assuming you know what you're looking for, and also know that bayer doesn't work for everything (flatworms come to mind).
JVan82
New member
Update time, so the CuC has been in 2 weeks tomorrow, haven't made much of a dent, but least they won't starve to death anytime soon either.
Water parameters:
Salinity: 1.0245
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 460
KH: 9
Phosphate: 0
pH: 8.21
Temp: 79.5
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Water parameters:
Salinity: 1.0245
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 460
KH: 9
Phosphate: 0
pH: 8.21
Temp: 79.5
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JVan82
New member
Quick update and question, so things are going well, water test are done every other day, or every third day. Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates are at 0. Tested calcium a few times and it's 440-460, phosphates are also at 0. So last Sunday did a weekly water change, 4 gallons, I blew a lot of the algae off the rocks, wed-thursday I added an mp10 and I've noticed that the algae isn't returning at all. Good yes, but I worry my CuC will starve now. So what can I feed then, without risking restarting a cycle?
Also had this lil guy in the QT for 2 weeks now. 2 down 2 to go!
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Also had this lil guy in the QT for 2 weeks now. 2 down 2 to go!
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DavidGraves
New member
Feed the cuc nori or sinking fish food they will eat anything.
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JVan82
New member
Most everyone as of late, uses some form of bacteria and ammonia or piece of shrimp to start the cycle, instead of cycling using an live fish. I used 2 different types and my cycle was still at about 20 days, just added first fish, last Thursday. guess I need an update post later today.
JVan82
New member
So quick update, so far water parameter have been constant at 0 for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, and phosphate. Calcium has been 440-460, not surprising without any corals.
After a 4 week quarantine, my snowflake clown was added on 20 Oct. The CuC is still there doing their thing, lost 2 snails, one small and one big on... not sure why or which snails they were. Both were on the glass 1 day and laying in the sand the next...
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After a 4 week quarantine, my snowflake clown was added on 20 Oct. The CuC is still there doing their thing, lost 2 snails, one small and one big on... not sure why or which snails they were. Both were on the glass 1 day and laying in the sand the next...
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