New Aquarium Cycling

[Jamesmost]

Hello all

54gal corner,
-Mix of dead (40lbs) and live coral sand(25lbs),
-7lbs of live rock, 8 lbs base rock, 28lbs coraline "live rock" (man made dry)
-Marineland canister 360, Marineland hot magnum
-Coraline super skimmer
-hydor korilla circulator
-started with treated tap, but have been topping off with RODI (10gal)
-cheap *** yescom "full spectrum 129 led 36"-43"

Tank running for 17 days, past 8 days with the damsels
2 damsels cycling tank
Amonia peaked and dropped
Nitrate peaking now for a few days...
Much ph was lown 7.4 until 7 days ago when buffered to 8.3




********As of 2 days ago, brown alage on live rock and some on coral sand, good, Yes???

Growth has doubled and now on glass

4/5/17 4/8/17
Temp 78 7.8
Salinity 1.024 1.0225
Ph 8.0 8.2
Amonia 0.125 0
Nitrite 5.0 0
Nitrate 20ppm 0
Kh n/a 179 (just got test)
Help and input appreciated......


Problems uploading pics...

Thanks James

 

[Jamesmost]

1 more thing, 6 days ago the b/w damsel got 1 puffy red eye, not sure if the other damsel hurt him, or banged on rock or ???
But as of this afternoon he is more reclusive, hiding behind rock, heater etc...,,

 

[Jamesmost]

Little update, b/w damsel dying, still alive, was stuck to intake, do i remove ?

 

[jam.jo]

Can you take a pic of your damsel? It may be popeye which is a bacterial infection. Dose melafix into your display until we can see what it is. Melafix is an herbal bacteria treatment that is safe for display. I would also start cycling a QT tank with a sponge filter in case antibiotics are needed. Brown algae is diatoms and your tank will go through several different algae blooms before it stabilizes. I had different algae blooms for 8 months when I first started my tank. Just keep doing regular water changes and wait a year to add any corals. Dead rock leaks phosphates from the dead organic material for up to about 10 months and feeds the algae growth. Corals hate algae and phosphates so even lps sometimes do not survive if you didn't cure your rock for 10 months in a bucket or until phosphates consistently read zero for weeks before putting it into your tank. A good diverse selection of snails like cerith, nerite, astreas, a few turbos (they get big), nassarius should help keep algae growth in check. Also good flow helps and helps to prevent cyanobacteria (red slime) from taking hold.

 

[Jamesmost]

James.jo, definitely was not Popeye and was trauma.
This is the results of last 2 water tests...
..............4/5/17........ 4/8/17
Temp ......78 .................7.8
Salinity ..1.024 ..........1.0225
Ph............ 8.0................ 8.2
Amonia... 0.125.............. 0
Nitrite....... 5.0................. 0
Nitrate .....20ppm........... 0
Kh............. n/a .............179 (just got test)

-should I do first water change?
-am I ready to add snails?
-ready to add fish ?
So my light is fine if and until I am ready to add corals?

Thanks - James

 

[Jamesmost]

Issues uploading pics....get error...

 

[JUNBUG361]

During the cycle period no fish for a month or more(IMO). Dead shrimp from store, ammonia from ace hardware or bio spio from LFS should of added to help with cycling. Water change should of been done prior to adding fish or clean up crew

 

[Fdnavy]

To verify I was cycled I added two ppm of pure 3% ammonia. When it dropped to zero within 24 hours I knew I was cycled. If your other damsel is still alive you cannot go this route.