New nano

[blue02celi]

Hello.
I've been a member of LIRA for a while, used to post when I first joined, never been to a meeting tho. Got a 72G bowfront in january but started NYPD academy so things got kinda hecktic, moved into a smaller place and left the tank in the corner. Well this week I picked up a nano, that had sand and water in it, along with some critters and coral. Well I got it all home, set it up, got test kits and checked the water and it seems I either did something wrong or the water wasn't as stable as I thought. I got the water tested to make sure I was reading it right, which I wasnt but it was still not that good.

High range pH: 8.0
Ammonia: .75 : checked it today and it looks like .25
nitrite: 4.0
nitrate: 40
Cal: 380
phosphate: 1.0
Carbonate Hardness: 10? not sure if thats supposed to be 10 or 1.0

got it checked at aquarium adventure in carle place. I got 12 lbs of rock to put in the tank so it wasnt just sand. Is there anything I can do to the tank to get it better or is this the beginning of the waiting game?

oh, forgot to mention, its a Nanocube 24G.. 70W I believe, just has that sponge filter in it now, but has some LR rubble in the second chamber

 

[blue02celi]

sorry, double post

 

[eboonaman]

looks like it's still cycling , did "you" cure the live rock before putting it in? if not it will take about 2 - 3 weeks to cycle. start off with snails and such if you want a cup of live sand to "seed" your tank, I'll bring some to the meeting if your going.

 

[blue02celi]

" I" didnt cure it, I got it "cured" from LFS

snails and such meaning cleaner crew?

 

[greggnyce]

I would try a different store. I took a trip out there one day and it didnt seem like they took very good care of their corals and tanks. alot of stuff was receding and their prices where extremely overpriced. You will do better off at some smaller stores. Look at the long island LFS posting. they are a few good places in suffolk.

 

[blue02celi]

yeah, I used to live around the block from pets warehouse, but didnt have anything set up at the time so never got to actually buy any reef items from them.

on another note, what should I get for my cleaning crew? I've seen people suggest a bunch of crabs, and then others suggest snails. seen some mixed and then some saying the crabs will kill the snails. Im guessing snails are better? and how many would be good for a 24G. also if I go with the snails I have 2 hermits in there Im guessing I would have to get them out, theres also a bristle star in there, its decent sized, and a fire shrimp.

I have an open brain coral in the tank, first day when I moved it it looked kinda different from when I saw it at its original location, then It looked better after the first day, I moved things around once again when I got the LR and put it back in the sand. does it go directly on the sand or should I put it on rock? and how do I know if its still alive?