New 125 On The Block - Watch The Process! *Pictures Inside*
- Thread starter TJcop
- Start date
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Just a small update:
After 24 hrs in the tank, the cycling is well under way! My ammonia test was maxed out, but on a good note, nitrites are starting to show. I'm sure nitrates aren't too far behind.
Note that the LR in the pics isn't in it's final resting place. I just threw everything in to get it in the water. I started to aquascape when I unpacked the rock, but after the 2nd rock, the Southdown Storm wouldn't let me see. I'll probably work on the layout in the next day.
Here's a question to all you experts: When should I start my water changes during the cycling? Wait a few more days, do one now? Thanks!
After 24 hrs in the tank, the cycling is well under way! My ammonia test was maxed out, but on a good note, nitrites are starting to show. I'm sure nitrates aren't too far behind.
Note that the LR in the pics isn't in it's final resting place. I just threw everything in to get it in the water. I started to aquascape when I unpacked the rock, but after the 2nd rock, the Southdown Storm wouldn't let me see. I'll probably work on the layout in the next day.
Here's a question to all you experts: When should I start my water changes during the cycling? Wait a few more days, do one now? Thanks!
Todd March
Premium Member
Ammonia and Nitrite are killers and you paid big bucks for live rock with lots creatures you want to keep... Until the nitrogen cycle is over and your nictrobacter populations are at healthy levels, water changes are your only means of lowering the levels of these toxins...
Make the water changes now, and as big and ad often as you can manage...!
On my last tank I changed 25% of the water daily, and it really helped to minumalize the deadly curve of the nitrogen cycle, and I ended up with more life living through the cycle than I had ever previoulsy experienced. I am sold on BIG and FREQUENT water changes while cycling...!
Make the water changes now, and as big and ad often as you can manage...!
On my last tank I changed 25% of the water daily, and it really helped to minumalize the deadly curve of the nitrogen cycle, and I ended up with more life living through the cycle than I had ever previoulsy experienced. I am sold on BIG and FREQUENT water changes while cycling...!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Setback! Was forced to do another waterchange due to a power outage causing an overflow!!! Yikes! One day before my check valve arrives. I think Murphy has moved in with me. Thankfully, nothing appeared to have taken a hit.
On a positive note, Nitrites are on the rise, along with the first detectible Nitrates. It also looks like Ammonia is going down, so the cycle is definately in full swing!
On a positive note, Nitrites are on the rise, along with the first detectible Nitrates. It also looks like Ammonia is going down, so the cycle is definately in full swing!
masterswimmer
New member
TJ, I've read your entire thread with lots of interest. Looking very nice. I got my LR from Chris and Kristine @ RM too. They were great to deal with.
When I cured my LR I set my skimmer to a very wet mix. This removed some of the DOC's and basically forced me to do lots of water changes. I'm running a 75 gallon tank and I changed about 100% of my water per week. Kept lots of life. The cost of the salt for the water changes was excessive, but in the scheme of things in this hobby it was cheap compared to the initial outlay. My wet skimmate mix was done for about 2 weeks until my cycle was done. Smell only lasted about one week. (thank god or divorce was imminent)
When your cycle is done get LS from RM too. It really helped to 'mature' the tank much faster than waiting for the LR to seed the sandbed. My LR arrived on 3/18/04 and it is just closing in on two months now and I've got pods ALL over the place. Not as many bristle worms as I'd like but some nevertheless.
Keep us posted on your progress. Your setup is sweet. Enjoy it.
Russ
When I cured my LR I set my skimmer to a very wet mix. This removed some of the DOC's and basically forced me to do lots of water changes. I'm running a 75 gallon tank and I changed about 100% of my water per week. Kept lots of life. The cost of the salt for the water changes was excessive, but in the scheme of things in this hobby it was cheap compared to the initial outlay. My wet skimmate mix was done for about 2 weeks until my cycle was done. Smell only lasted about one week. (thank god or divorce was imminent)
When your cycle is done get LS from RM too. It really helped to 'mature' the tank much faster than waiting for the LR to seed the sandbed. My LR arrived on 3/18/04 and it is just closing in on two months now and I've got pods ALL over the place. Not as many bristle worms as I'd like but some nevertheless.
Keep us posted on your progress. Your setup is sweet. Enjoy it.
Russ
NewSchool04
New member
I just read the whole thread and I'm rooting for ya TJ! Can't wait for more pictures.
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Masterswimmer: Thanks for the comments! So far the cycle is coming along great. Ammonia still high, but nitrites and nitrates are rising too...so I know it's doing its thing. I am running my skimmer full blast, and it produced a ton, but it's slowing down significantly.
Overall I'm happy with the rock. Lots of colors, but no life. I haven't seen one pod or any other creepy crawly. Lots of dead tissues on the rocks too. So, I'm a lttle disappointed in that regard. Especially since I paid extra for the rock to be overnighted.
I plan on seeding the tank with pods anyways, but it would've been nice for some stuff to come with the rock. So now I'm stuck blowing off dead tissues with my turkey baster, trying to clean the rocks up.
Newschool: Thanks for the comment and support. New pics should be up later today.
Overall I'm happy with the rock. Lots of colors, but no life. I haven't seen one pod or any other creepy crawly. Lots of dead tissues on the rocks too. So, I'm a lttle disappointed in that regard. Especially since I paid extra for the rock to be overnighted.
I plan on seeding the tank with pods anyways, but it would've been nice for some stuff to come with the rock. So now I'm stuck blowing off dead tissues with my turkey baster, trying to clean the rocks up.
Newschool: Thanks for the comment and support. New pics should be up later today.
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Reefer Madness
Reefer Madness
I would like to take my hat off to Chris at Reefer Madness:thumbsup:
After mentioning my concerns to him, he came up with a solution that was outstanding, unbelievable and absolutely not necessary! I soon realized that not only was Chris a first class businessman, but he wasn't going to let me deny him the opportunity to satisfy his customer.
I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to discuss the details of his offer, since this should be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Needless to say, anyone who makes a purchase from Reefer Madness will be a satisfied customer...there's no way around it! Before I get off my soapbox, I just want to say "Thank You" one more time for a great experience:rollface: :beer: :dance:
Reefer Madness
I would like to take my hat off to Chris at Reefer Madness:thumbsup:
After mentioning my concerns to him, he came up with a solution that was outstanding, unbelievable and absolutely not necessary! I soon realized that not only was Chris a first class businessman, but he wasn't going to let me deny him the opportunity to satisfy his customer.
I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to discuss the details of his offer, since this should be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Needless to say, anyone who makes a purchase from Reefer Madness will be a satisfied customer...there's no way around it! Before I get off my soapbox, I just want to say "Thank You" one more time for a great experience:rollface: :beer: :dance:
masterswimmer
New member
There was no doubt in my mind that Chris would take very good care of you. He was exceptional with our group buy as well. Kudos to Reefermadness.
Russ
Russ
John
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
More Pics!
More Pics!
Here's a few more pictures with the halides on. These are a couple days old, since I've done alot more aquascaping and the water is getting very clear. Now I'm doing regular water changes (about 20gals every 2-3days) and blowing all the crap off the rock with my trusty turkey baster! Ammonia may have come down a little , but I can't tell with these friggin' test kits. But I definiately can tell that the nitrates and nitrites are on the rise! So I know the cycle is going great!
I'm going to be putting my Magnum HOT on the sump to run for a day with carbon/micron to give the water a good polish. I plan on doing this monthly to keep things nice an clean. But that's a ways off yet, the rock has only been curing for a week...oh well, here's the pics.
More Pics!
Here's a few more pictures with the halides on. These are a couple days old, since I've done alot more aquascaping and the water is getting very clear. Now I'm doing regular water changes (about 20gals every 2-3days) and blowing all the crap off the rock with my trusty turkey baster! Ammonia may have come down a little , but I can't tell with these friggin' test kits. But I definiately can tell that the nitrates and nitrites are on the rise! So I know the cycle is going great!
I'm going to be putting my Magnum HOT on the sump to run for a day with carbon/micron to give the water a good polish. I plan on doing this monthly to keep things nice an clean. But that's a ways off yet, the rock has only been curing for a week...oh well, here's the pics.
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Moonlights
Moonlights
Here's a picture I just took of my DIY moonlights. I used 3 of the LED's that I was giving away (do a search on my name for free LED's). This picture doesn't do the results any justice. There are awesome glitter lines and a nice blue color. This picture was taken with a 4 second exposure.
Moonlights
Here's a picture I just took of my DIY moonlights. I used 3 of the LED's that I was giving away (do a search on my name for free LED's). This picture doesn't do the results any justice. There are awesome glitter lines and a nice blue color. This picture was taken with a 4 second exposure.
Todd March
Premium Member
Hey TJ,
Lookin real good! You must be excited, this is a great time...! Don't give up on the pods yet. They will not appear while your tank is cycling, but I have seen them explode after the ammonia/nitrite levels drop to zero... They might leave eggs or something I don't know, but I have gotten tons of them even with Marshall Island LR (which is pretty dead for LR), but NOT until the cycle is over... You may be surprised...!
Are the latest halide pics with the actinics on or off? If off, can you post pics with all the lights on including actinics when you get a chance? I am still heavily deating this fixture...
How hard is it to adjust the height with FOUR wires...? This is the biggest drawback to me about the Maristar is having to deal with FOUR wires running up to the ceiling...! Though I realize yours is mounted in your canopy...
Best of luck with your new system...!
Lookin real good! You must be excited, this is a great time...! Don't give up on the pods yet. They will not appear while your tank is cycling, but I have seen them explode after the ammonia/nitrite levels drop to zero... They might leave eggs or something I don't know, but I have gotten tons of them even with Marshall Island LR (which is pretty dead for LR), but NOT until the cycle is over... You may be surprised...!
Are the latest halide pics with the actinics on or off? If off, can you post pics with all the lights on including actinics when you get a chance? I am still heavily deating this fixture...
How hard is it to adjust the height with FOUR wires...? This is the biggest drawback to me about the Maristar is having to deal with FOUR wires running up to the ceiling...! Though I realize yours is mounted in your canopy...
Best of luck with your new system...!
)
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Todd and nolofinwe: Thanks for the comments! The Maristar pics have all the lights on. Pictures never seem to capture the true colors, so I can understand how it's hard to tell if the actinics are on. In person, the purples and reds in the rocks have a good glow to them. The white sand really is bright with all the lights going.
As far as moving the lights up/down...I don' t move them since it's in a hood. When I mounted the light, I easily moved it up with the 4 wires just by pulling on them. I grabbed both of them on one end and pulled...and up it went. Not too hard.
I've never owned MH lights before, but I'm really enjoying this system!
Oh yeah...regarding the pods...Chris from ReeferMadness said the same thing, Todd. Mentioned that after the cycle, the eggs/cycsts would hatch and then...critter city!! Too cool.
As far as moving the lights up/down...I don' t move them since it's in a hood. When I mounted the light, I easily moved it up with the 4 wires just by pulling on them. I grabbed both of them on one end and pulled...and up it went. Not too hard.
I've never owned MH lights before, but I'm really enjoying this system!
Oh yeah...regarding the pods...Chris from ReeferMadness said the same thing, Todd. Mentioned that after the cycle, the eggs/cycsts would hatch and then...critter city!! Too cool.
masterswimmer
New member
Hi again TJ,
Like I said in an earlier post, I got my LR & LS from RM. I didn't add my LS till after the cycle was complete. I also thought I got ripped off with the LS. Nothing for about a week. And then, WOW. I got pods everywhere. I see them even with my lights on in the middle of the day. I read posts from people saying they go pod watching at 3 am. I am soooo happy with my RM LS I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. Your setup is looking fabulous and you will have stuff crawling all over your sand and rock before you know it. Don't get discouraged and don't be overly anxious. I know it's real easy to do. I was/am. Be patient, the only thing that happens fast in this hobby is problems.
Keep up the good work, it is paying off. You should be real proud of your setup, it is sweet.
If you feel like checking out my pix, try here:
http://hvreef.org/gallery/masterswimmer
Russ
Like I said in an earlier post, I got my LR & LS from RM. I didn't add my LS till after the cycle was complete. I also thought I got ripped off with the LS. Nothing for about a week. And then, WOW. I got pods everywhere. I see them even with my lights on in the middle of the day. I read posts from people saying they go pod watching at 3 am. I am soooo happy with my RM LS I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. Your setup is looking fabulous and you will have stuff crawling all over your sand and rock before you know it. Don't get discouraged and don't be overly anxious. I know it's real easy to do. I was/am. Be patient, the only thing that happens fast in this hobby is problems.
Keep up the good work, it is paying off. You should be real proud of your setup, it is sweet.
If you feel like checking out my pix, try here:
http://hvreef.org/gallery/masterswimmer
Russ
