Newbie Corner Feedback Thread
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Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14540043#post14540043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
Dont Got Reef, what are you going to call yourself after you Got Reef?
Wow, if only we could get Waterkeeper to do that. :lol:
actually the cable company is doing a pretty good job at that:lol:
EnglishRebel
Retired Rebel Reefer
Y'ALL ????
You sure you're from south Australia? Sounds like a transplanted good ol' Southern boy to me. :lol: :lol:
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central Y'all</b></i></big></big>
Aquarist007
New member
I like the new welcome mat EnglishRebel
Could you like make one up for us hosers eh?
Beauty and like add "good day eh and welcome to reef central"
:lol: :rollface: :lol:
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>Like good day eh your hosers</b></i></big></big>
sondaar
New member
Any advise on if I should be turning lights on while the tank is cycling? I have 100lbs of LR and about 3" of sand bed throughout a 90g. T5 lighting 3 Blue plus and 4 Aquablue Special. Also noticed 2 little Star Fish hanging on the glass are they going to die? My kids will be devastated if they do! Put RO/DI SW in tank on 3-14-09 added sand and 60lbs LFS LR on 3-15-09 and another 50lbs LR 3-19-09.
Thanks for any advise
Mike
Thanks for any advise
Mike
Aquarist007
New member
I would run the lights for 4 hours a day--preserves life on the live rock.
If you want to keep some hitch hikers alive like the star fish ect then you need to watch your ammonia levels and do a 20 % water change if they rise.
This however can slow down the time it takes for the bacteria to cycle your tank in that the ammonia is the stimulus for their cycling.
If you want to keep some hitch hikers alive like the star fish ect then you need to watch your ammonia levels and do a 20 % water change if they rise.
This however can slow down the time it takes for the bacteria to cycle your tank in that the ammonia is the stimulus for their cycling.
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14653007#post14653007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sondaar
Thanks Capn! I believe Ill just let them think the Star Fish are lost in the rocks. Also seen this thing.
suppose its fate is the same as the star fish?
I suspect a small carpet anenome or a sponge?
Sondaar--depending on the cured state of the live rock you may never get a real spike in ammonia. Some reefers experience no spikes in ammonia or nitrates in their at all during the cyling weeks and alot of hitchhikers survive.
That said let your tank cycle naturally over 3-5 weeks on its own--don't be tempted to add damsels or raw shrimp ect to your tank to try to speed up the process--in the long run you will have established a very strong biological filtration base in your tank.
sondaar
New member
Thanks Capn
It would be nice to have something in there survive throughout the cycling as my 6 and 7 year olds are on pins and needles to have life in there. Do you think adding MicroBac7 would be a good ideal? The 2nd set of rock I put in was pretty well cured but it does have some black on it, Ive read to scrub that stuff off but I left it on to help with the cycling. Good or bad move on my part?
Thanks
Mike
It would be nice to have something in there survive throughout the cycling as my 6 and 7 year olds are on pins and needles to have life in there. Do you think adding MicroBac7 would be a good ideal? The 2nd set of rock I put in was pretty well cured but it does have some black on it, Ive read to scrub that stuff off but I left it on to help with the cycling. Good or bad move on my part?
Thanks
Mike
I too think it is an anemone but I do not think it is a carpet.
Mike, what are your ammonia levels? I'll return but I'm watching March madness right now.
Mike, what are your ammonia levels? I'll return but I'm watching March madness right now.
Ok, half time. I thought I had Scot, The Capn, trained better by now. He is worried that water changes will slow the cycle. I need to report him to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Autotrophs.
I will guarantee that you have all the ammonia you need to cycle the tank. The trick is to keep it as low as possible. Big water changes are your solution at the moment and will help the starfish and anemone make it through a very trying experience. Ammonia is highly toxic to things on that rock and sand. If left at high levels many things on the rock are doomed.
Do the water changes as the nitrifying bacteria will have plenty of ammonia to feed on. When a tank is established the ammonia will be close to zero but the autotrophic bacteria will still consume it and change it to nitrate. If you let it get high in the cycle you will have more of these kindly bacteria but they will starve to death when the ammonia returns to proper levels. In other words, a little ammonia goes a long, long way and keeping it low helps save the hitchhikers on your rock. It also prevents the mistreatment of autotrophs.
I will guarantee that you have all the ammonia you need to cycle the tank. The trick is to keep it as low as possible. Big water changes are your solution at the moment and will help the starfish and anemone make it through a very trying experience. Ammonia is highly toxic to things on that rock and sand. If left at high levels many things on the rock are doomed.
Do the water changes as the nitrifying bacteria will have plenty of ammonia to feed on. When a tank is established the ammonia will be close to zero but the autotrophic bacteria will still consume it and change it to nitrate. If you let it get high in the cycle you will have more of these kindly bacteria but they will starve to death when the ammonia returns to proper levels. In other words, a little ammonia goes a long, long way and keeping it low helps save the hitchhikers on your rock. It also prevents the mistreatment of autotrophs.
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sondaar
New member
Ok - RO/DI is back making water for a water change first thing in the morning! Whatever that thing is it sure doesn't like light! 2 mins after I turned the lights on it flattened out and released the rock it was attached to and floated/rolled behind the rocks and now I can't find it :-(
So is adding MicroBak7 worth doing?
Thanks Tom and Capn!
Mike
So is adding MicroBak7 worth doing?
Thanks Tom and Capn!
Mike
Your current smell is all the MicroBak you need.
That LR is teaming, I hope, with all the bacteria the tank needs and they are currently chowing down on any dead or dying stuff on the rock. Right now, all that is needed is to keep an eye on ammonia and nitrate levels. When ammonia declines, nitrate will start to climb, meaning a successful, first stage curing period is nearing completion. Just give it some time.
That LR is teaming, I hope, with all the bacteria the tank needs and they are currently chowing down on any dead or dying stuff on the rock. Right now, all that is needed is to keep an eye on ammonia and nitrate levels. When ammonia declines, nitrate will start to climb, meaning a successful, first stage curing period is nearing completion. Just give it some time.
Aquarist007
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14654384#post14654384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Ok, half time. I thought I had Scot, The Capn, trained better by now. He is worried that water changes will slow the cycle. I need to report him to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Autotrophs.
not fair ---you have me trained to fetch the paper and do my messes outside.
--and I can sit real nice for a tim bit.
I did use the word "could" WK --woops no I am wrong --I used "can"
I'm in the dog house now
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Aquarist007
New member
here is a handy little gauge for watching the ammonia level
Alaska_Phil
New member
So I just read the latest 101 article and have a couple questions.
1. Is there a simpler method for feeding my 20 gal nano? That would take up a lot of extra space even using smaller containers.
2. is there anywhere to get live mysis shrimp or eggs to start a population in a refugium or separate container?
Thanks
Phil
1. Is there a simpler method for feeding my 20 gal nano? That would take up a lot of extra space even using smaller containers.
2. is there anywhere to get live mysis shrimp or eggs to start a population in a refugium or separate container?
Thanks
Phil
Aquarist007
New member
basically but I would still purchase a reliable test kit for ammonia and nitrates.
Paul B
Premium Member
OMG, I actually agree with WK :eek2:
Every thing that is not bacteria will croak with ammonia.
If you diden't have any animals in there you would not really have to change water or light it, but the starfish will be history if there is much ammonia in there.
In the old days when Waterkeeper and me started our wooden tanks we used to throw in a halabut to get the cycle going.
We don't do much of that anymore. Bacteria can grow on much less than halabut. :smokin:
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