~nano build~ :)

[TX..r33f]

The day has came!!!:celeb1: i got my big box of goodies in. First off i want to say i couldnt do this hobby without yall help/support. So have a look at the pictures hope you enjoy! Now its the waiting game.

i am open to any tips/pointers!:spin3:

http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0531.jpg
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0532.jpg
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0533.jpg
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0534.jpg
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0535.jpg
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r585/blevinsalex1/IMG_0536.jpg

*took my rodi unit like 30min to fill it

 

[TX..r33f]

no imput

 

[Boboli]

Cute!

 

[Patricklong]

Looks good, interested to see the time frame on that size tank to cycle.

 

[TX..r33f]

in intrested my self in the cycleing time. I hope its short so i can add some corals!

 

[brandon429]

was the live rock you bought dry or from a tank at lfs

 

[TX..r33f]

The rock is from the lfs

 

[Drag Racer]

Help you out as I hate clicking links to pics

The day has came!!!:celeb1: i got my big box of goodies in. First off i want to say i couldnt do this hobby without yall help/support. So have a look at the pictures hope you enjoy! Now its the waiting game.

i am open to any tips/pointers!:spin3:

*took my rodi unit like 30min to fill it

 

[TX..r33f]

thanks drage racer! i dont know how to do pictures like that with photobucket

 

[Drag Racer]

Your picking the wrong link. You need to use the one with the IMG code. Thats a direct hot link. All I did was replace the URL with IMG on both sides of the link in your post.

replace this with [IMG] If you just use the IMG link it will work like its suppose to.

 

[TX..r33f]

Okay thanks ^^ got another box today heres what was in it.

 

[brandon429]

there is no cycle then, test for ammonia. then have the lfs double check your results with another test approach

if they had the rock submerged in a tank of water, and called it live rock, the bacteria are already set and they didn't die off in the trip to your house.

cycling is only when you xport incredibly diverse high $$ live rock that may have die off, you didn't, or brand new dry rock that was never submerged.


add some mushrooms, zoanthids, no fish yet, and start changing water each week for the life of the tank, as much as you are willing to change. there is no amount that shocks the system. I change 100% of my water weekly and have about 1500$ in corals in my gallon vase, you can't shock the system its a misnomer.

when you change water, match temp and specific gravity nothing else is needed. enjoy your first few starter corals but don't stack it crazy just yet

B

get your ammonia tested first just to make sure and make sure the rocks were in a wet tank for a while before you assume its live rock. judging by the looks I think it is.

 

[brandon429]

I have never cycled a pico reef and have always done corals on day one, because I bought pre cycled live rock.

 

[TX..r33f]

the rock was live rock and the sand was live. i tested all my water today and here they are

PH-8.2,8.0
AMMONIA-0ppm
NITRITE- 0ppm
NITRATE- 0PPM
i have only had it up and running for 1 1/2 days. do you think their is no cycle or i might just wait a week to make sure

 

[brandon429]

No cycle. but its ok to wait too, toss a tiny pinch of fish food in the system and go put in a couple hermit crabs, test ammonia in 3 days. still no ammonia, you have a guarantee its cycled. All live rock from lfs, unless experiencing a mass dieoff from high level growth, can handle entry level bioload the lfs already cycled it for you!

 

[TX..r33f]

okay so i might go do this, this weekend.

WEEKEND SHOPPING LIST

2-hermits
4-snails
couple $5 doller frags

 

[brandon429]

Yep easy stuff. The weekly water changes is variable opinion.

Some go bi monthly just because you can. On a tank this small its been my experience a decent amount weekly, permanently, starting this week is best. the more water you are changing, volume and frequency, the better as far as pico reefs go. My specialty is keeping them alive extremely long term...weekly changes 50% on up is step one.

They will let you get away with much less when new, then we get spoiled and keep up that pace too long and algae wrecks it.

My last advice is two fold, algae and dosing.

Never add your two part solutions after lights on or at night. Only in the mornings before lights on due to pH reasons. Never add faster than 15 minutes apart, each doser.

Algae: if you follow common advice about algae stages, you get an average lifespan pico.

If you take uncommon steps regarding algae, you get an uncommonly long lifespan.

Never permit any invader you don't want in your tank to be there. The instant you see any invader, remove it yourself wait for no animal to do it.

All algae threads on the internet across all tanks have violated this rule.

You can have an algae free tank permanently if you follow it.

Remove the algae/dinos/cyano/aiptasia etc any common way you read about, but do it the second you see it without delay, identification etc

Obviously we have the peroxide thread for most invaders, it also describes fire burning for many others.

A pico reef is easier to maintain problem free than larger tanks, but completely unforgiving of mistakes.it is easier to control the chemistry of pico reefs than larger reefs using the methods above. The more methods meant for large reefs that you mimic on a pico reef, the more guarantee you have it won't live past two years without such an algae invasion you will take it down and claim you upgraded.

And that in a nutshell is the secret for keeping your pico reef alive longer than anyone elses

B

 

[TX..r33f]

thanks brandon429 i also bought some chemipure elite. So if i werento ever miss a water change or out of town for a week i dont have to worry about it. Know im not saying this is an exscuse to not doing them but just a back up thing.

 

[brandon429]

Is this a three gallon tank? Some of my recommendations are aimed for that size if its an 8 there are some differences...

Lastly I recommend you not use instant ocean salt if this is a three gallon pico. Use reef crystals or any other salt. Too many ion issues with io, but not a big deal for the first part of your tanks life. Other than that, things look great.

 

[brandon429]

Sure that's a fair backup plan no prob. In the early stages your tank won't mind a skipped change