New and close to ready?

[sirlance58]

Hello all,

I've been reading posts on this site for the past month and everyday as well. I've also been reading pretty much anything that I can get my hands on regarding SW and reef-keeping. My "plan" is to have a SHOWLR. I do not plan on having a huge amount of coral, LR, etc.. I actually only have a 20G H which I plan on adding a 10g fuge/sump. So, I have just a couple of quests:

1. Is it normal for the tank cycling process to be relatively slow at first and then become more rapid around the 22 day mark or so? (I know this is somewhat general). I ask because it seems like my nitrites are rapidly declining by the day.

2. My amphipods seem to be multiplying exponentially. When I look in the tank a dozen or so (fairly large approx. 4-5mm) can be seen. Also there are a few snail/slugs(not sure) hanging around. I couldn't ID them but they look like the ones with the spikes on their shells...just not green. Is all of this indicative of a healthy tank/cycling?

***Temp @ 75
SG @ 1.024
Nitrite @ .3 mg/l
Amm. @ 0
Nitrate @ 30 mg/l
KH @ 9dH (?)

Also, 2 inches of LS, I use Red Sea Salt, Tetra test kit, and an Oddysea P75(I know I've heard things about the kit and the skim.) There is one 2lb piece of LR and only 2 blue legged crabs. Thank you in advance for any feedback. This seems like a great forum to be a part of!

 

[mbbuna]

Re: New and close to ready?

[welcome]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11676602#post11676602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sirlance58


1. Is it normal for the tank cycling process to be relatively slow at first and then become more rapid around the 22 day mark or so? (I know this is somewhat general). I ask because it seems like my nitrites are rapidly declining by the day.

the speed of the cycle will be different for every tank. what it dependent on the the amount of die off in the liverock and how fast your bacterial population can get established and proses this die off. when your ammonia and nitrite readings both raise and fall to 0 you can consider your tank cycled.

2. My amphipods seem to be multiplying exponentially. When I look in the tank a dozen or so (fairly large approx. 4-5mm) can be seen. Also there are a few snail/slugs(not sure) hanging around. I couldn't ID them but they look like the ones with the spikes on their shells...just not green. Is all of this indicative of a healthy tank/cycling?

thats normal, lots of life will do just fine through the cycle.

***Temp @ 75
SG @ 1.024
Nitrite @ .3 mg/l
Amm. @ 0
Nitrate @ 30 mg/l
KH @ 9dH (?)

these numbers look ok for now. IMO you dont want to go lower then 75 for temp, NSW levels for SG are 1.026 but where you are is ok. after the nitrite drops to 0 do a few small water changes to try to get nitrates down below 10. are you using RO water for making new salt water and top off water?

do you only have 2lbs of live rock or is that a typo?

 

[sirlance58]

Right now I'm using tap water, but as I near the end of the cycle and do the water change that you suggested I plan on using RO/DI water from that point forward.

Actually the 2lbs. is correct...actually one rock. It was suggested to me by the LFS to use a small quantity to aid in the cycling process as well as give a place for the crabs to "hang out".

So, pretty much I should raise my temp a degree or two (gradually), adjust my nitrates at the completion of the cycle and not add anything else until after the cycle? As far as the salinity, I'm measuring with one of those "float" types. I understand I need to pick up a refractometer for more accurate measurements.

One last thing, with respect to the seahorses/corals/live rock...is there an ideal SG that will allow me to satisfy all three? I understand that I'll probably have to adjust SG to the ponies and pretty much "build" the tank around that as far as parameters are concerned? Thank you!

 

[mbbuna]

i didn't see that it was going to be a seahorse tank. with that said i would leave the temp where it is.

this link will take you to a seahorse forum here at RC. they will be much more helpful with seahorses than i can be

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=35