Newbie tank help
- Thread starter andrewq
- Start date
CStrickland
New member
No, I was just checking you didn't have any critters yet.
Some food, or a piece of shrimp, or some people pour ammonia in, some have strong opinions about which is better but idk if it really matters how you get the ammonia level up (the food and shrimp rot and make ammonia). Ammonia is the bacteria's food, so they are in there and eating anything that died on the live rock, but if you add more they will reproduce until there are enough of them to eat as much ammonia as the fish poop and breathe out. When they have a strong population your tank is "cycled" cause then if you add a snail or clown fish it won't get sick breathing its own pee. But right now you don't know how much pee could be added before the bacteria can't keep up and the fish get sick from ammonia hanging around. So it's a good idea to add something and test the water for ammonia.
For the pumps, it's hard to say without seeing and idk how strong the pump is that you have. Basically you want all the water moving around, like the stuff from the bottom getting sort of wafted to the surface. If you stir up the sand or throw in some flakes they should float all around, not just blow into one corner and sink cause then you will get algae there. But not a hurricane where your sand is making big hills either, just no stagnant areas.
Some food, or a piece of shrimp, or some people pour ammonia in, some have strong opinions about which is better but idk if it really matters how you get the ammonia level up (the food and shrimp rot and make ammonia). Ammonia is the bacteria's food, so they are in there and eating anything that died on the live rock, but if you add more they will reproduce until there are enough of them to eat as much ammonia as the fish poop and breathe out. When they have a strong population your tank is "cycled" cause then if you add a snail or clown fish it won't get sick breathing its own pee. But right now you don't know how much pee could be added before the bacteria can't keep up and the fish get sick from ammonia hanging around. So it's a good idea to add something and test the water for ammonia.
For the pumps, it's hard to say without seeing and idk how strong the pump is that you have. Basically you want all the water moving around, like the stuff from the bottom getting sort of wafted to the surface. If you stir up the sand or throw in some flakes they should float all around, not just blow into one corner and sink cause then you will get algae there. But not a hurricane where your sand is making big hills either, just no stagnant areas.
ABnormalAZ
New member
+1 on the sump!! im kicking my self.. Have a 30g with a HOB fuge and didn't do a sump.. Now im looking into adding a sump.. Definitely invest in a sump from the start.
CStrickland
New member
Chaetomorpha algae
Plenty of tanks don't run fuges if it's a deal breaker, I don't like how a lot of stuff hanging off the tank looks personally.
Plenty of tanks don't run fuges if it's a deal breaker, I don't like how a lot of stuff hanging off the tank looks personally.
Me neither. To much equipment does look ugly. I did get my protein skimmer in today, and was wondering if I should install yet. Since I'm trying to cycle my tank wouldn't a skimmer slow that process down.
Todays readings. There was a tiny amount of ammonia, but not enough to register a clear reading on the test kit. Also tested ph at a different time today, and added some water to top of the tank. Installed skimmer, and it works great. Just trying to get dialed in. Also added lights today, and im running a dual T5HO with one actinic, and a 10000k bulb. I have another fixture, and this one will run a actinic bulb, and purple plus bulb. Nitrates are up, but ph went down.
Hydrometer 1.025-
Nitrate 10ppm+
Nitrite 0ppm same
Ammonia 0ppm same
PH 7.4ppm-
Going to wait a few days before I test again. Any feedback or suggestions would be great. Also I cant load pictures for some reason. Anyone have any idea why?
Hydrometer 1.025-
Nitrate 10ppm+
Nitrite 0ppm same
Ammonia 0ppm same
PH 7.4ppm-
Going to wait a few days before I test again. Any feedback or suggestions would be great. Also I cant load pictures for some reason. Anyone have any idea why?
Pictures finally uploaded. So I have 5lbs base rock and 5lbs live rock. My base rock order was missing 5lbs, so im waiting for those before I add more live rock. I want to make it higher, and with some shelves. Please excuse the equipment in the back. Its not organized yet. Any feedback on the scape is appreciated. Thanks
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CStrickland
New member
Are your rocks sitting on top of the sand? I think that can be an issue if you get a digger because they tunnel underneath and then the rocks shift around. Some people have the rocks down on the glass and the sand goes in after for that reason. I put my rocks on little lifts that are as thick as the sand is deep, so you can't tell they are there but I don't have to worry about them pulling nutrients up from the sand, and I don't have sand under there that I can't reach to clean it.
I like the scape, nice and open. maybe when you add more put more on one side or the other so it's not such a straight line across. That's a cute arch!
I like the scape, nice and open. maybe when you add more put more on one side or the other so it's not such a straight line across. That's a cute arch!
Some of the base rock is on top of the sand, but the majority of the live rock is buried. The sand on the left side is actually higher, and was wondering if hills are a bad idea. You answered my question about that idea. It does look too straight, and will definitely stack some more rocks to make it higher. Good feedback. Thank you!
I couldnt help it, and I was bored. I tested water again. There was a jump in nitrates, and ammonia is now definitely present. The base rock is changing color pretty quickly. Couple questions for you guys and gals.
How often do I change the water?
When should I change the water?
Am I waiting for ammonia to spike first?
Test results 05/12 day 4
Hydrometer 1.025
Nitrate 40ppm
Nitrite .5ppm
Ammonia .5ppm
PH 7.4ppm
I also pulled a small piece of green star polyps from my biocube. I have a massive colony growing on a large rock, and I thought I would use it as a visual marker.
How often do I change the water?
When should I change the water?
Am I waiting for ammonia to spike first?
Test results 05/12 day 4
Hydrometer 1.025
Nitrate 40ppm
Nitrite .5ppm
Ammonia .5ppm
PH 7.4ppm
I also pulled a small piece of green star polyps from my biocube. I have a massive colony growing on a large rock, and I thought I would use it as a visual marker.
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Dkuhlmann
New member
Stop worrying because your tank is CYCLING! Wait and leave it alone until the process is complete. Do not change any water until all ammonia and nitrites are gone and you will see a HUGE spike in nitrates. Then do your wc. You've been given all of the information you need in this thread. If you haven't already read all of the stickies at the top of this forum. PATIENCE Grasshopper 
CStrickland
New member
Sounds like you got some good rock, and things are moving along well.
I changed my water regularly throughout the cycle, on the same schedule I planned to use after it was over. Didn't make sense to me to let nitrates and phos build to really high levels and then do a sudden drop right before I started stocking the tank, not very stable. My schedule for wc is 10% every week, with a 20% when needed (seems like my alk dips every time I add a frag, not that I need to dose regularly but just a little extra new sw to make up for that). People vary though, you'll find what works for you. I also clean out the rocks and sand when I change the water, but others leave that stuff for their cuc.
That's a cool idea with the gsp, I know people use Xenia like that. Clever!
I changed my water regularly throughout the cycle, on the same schedule I planned to use after it was over. Didn't make sense to me to let nitrates and phos build to really high levels and then do a sudden drop right before I started stocking the tank, not very stable. My schedule for wc is 10% every week, with a 20% when needed (seems like my alk dips every time I add a frag, not that I need to dose regularly but just a little extra new sw to make up for that). People vary though, you'll find what works for you. I also clean out the rocks and sand when I change the water, but others leave that stuff for their cuc.
That's a cool idea with the gsp, I know people use Xenia like that. Clever!
So I picked up some Kent marine superbuffer to help with my ph levels. My biocube is reading a 8.2, and my new tank was at 7.4. After using the supperbuffer my ph level was at 8.2. I did wait 2 hours before testing water. Will see how this stuff holds up. The reason im doing this is because I have a clownfish I want to move to the new tank. Trying to get parameters as close as possible to avoid stressing fish.
Test results 05/14 day 6
Hydrometer 1.025
Nitrate 60ppm
Nitrite 1ppm
Ammonia .25ppm
PH 8.2ppm
So everything went up except the ammonia. Ammonia actually went down, and I did not test water yesterday. Nitrates went up, and it looks like my tank is cycling pretty quickly. Also my green star polyps look alot more purple, and you can see a tiny spec of green. Like there wanting to come out, but scared, lol.
Test results 05/14 day 6
Hydrometer 1.025
Nitrate 60ppm
Nitrite 1ppm
Ammonia .25ppm
PH 8.2ppm
So everything went up except the ammonia. Ammonia actually went down, and I did not test water yesterday. Nitrates went up, and it looks like my tank is cycling pretty quickly. Also my green star polyps look alot more purple, and you can see a tiny spec of green. Like there wanting to come out, but scared, lol.
Maybe I should let the rock cycle in my biocube instead. Then transfer later
Dkuhlmann
New member
Exactly :thumbsup:
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