new tank questions

[cynot]

I'm new to this hobby and have just set up a nano-cube 24 gal. salt tank. It's been up for about six weeks now and houses 4 damsels, a diamond goby, and a sand sifting starfish. It has a 4 inch live marine sand base, about 20 lbs of live rock and a pipe organ frag. Just recently, all of the rocks started turning a redish brown. After a partial water change, I noticed that the salt content was really high. Could this be the culprit?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
cynot,
Sounds like your starting to get doatoms or algae bloom. It's part of the tanks cycle. what do you have in place for a clean up crew (snails, crabs etc)?

 

[dreminon]

how did you cycle the tank that fast? Personally I beleive you have to many fish it overloaded your system. hows your tanks levels? PH Niterate so on and so forth? people will need to know this to try to help out. but sounds to me like algae

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15093923#post15093923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dreminon
how did you cycle the tank that fast?

A lot of times with "cured" live rock you don't get much of a (if any) cycle. I don't know if cynot actually did this or not though.

 

[thegrun]

Life will be entertaining with 4 damsels in the tank!

 

[cynot]

Thanks for the info! First, the guy at the 'fish store' told me to run the tank for a week, then throw in a raw shrimp with the live rock to jump start the cycle. Then, after four days, take out the shrimp and let it run for two more weeks and check the levels. Surprisingly, the levels were all on target. Still are. So I added the damsels first as starters. I have had a freshwater tank before and know a little about sacrificial fish. Lastly, you were right about entertaining with four damsels! They are agressive little buggers. I also found a bristle worm crawling around, I guess is hitched a ride in one of the rocks. Not sure if I like it, I've read bad things about them and this one is about the size of a pencil. Lots of other critters crawling around at night I guess also from the rock.

Thanks again.

 

[dreminon]

thats cool got some good rock then. problem still going on? if so try to get out as much as you can do small water change. help get your salinity inline. what about your other peramaters?

 

[PRDubois]

First - Welcome

Second - A mistake that alot of people make is when you top off your tank due to water that has evoraporated you need to use Fresh RODI water. The Water will evoperate but the salt stays.

Third - Are you using RODI water. Do not use Tap water

 

[cynot]

Thanks again for ALL the info! All parameters are in line. What's RODI ?? I live in the country and have my own well. The water comes straight from the Paluxi Aquafir some 450 ft under my house in Texas. I have a reverse osmosis filter on my pressure tank. Crystal clear, no additives and very soft. Most of the red stuff went away with the water change. One of my damsels is missing his tail, I'm guessing he's the slowest one. They all like to eat, they'll even let me feed them! Too cool! Will a hermit crab be safe in this tank? Any concerns with the bristle worm? Ijust saw another one. Will it hurt the starfish?

Thanks much,
Tony