OK, I am back w/more NC29 ?'s

[cimdxb2]

Ok, got the tank to a constant 80 degrees w/the live sand in it. The next day went to the LFS and bought 2 clowns and a Green Chromis. Also purchased 10 lbs of live cured rock.

Also punched out the bottom of chamber 1 and put the heater in there. The guy at the LFS is pretty strong on keeping the BIO balls until the tank cycles. He also wants me to wait till the tank cycles before adding more LR (about 3 1/2 weeks is what he is telling me). I was willing/planning to get 50 lbs.

I ordered the RIO pump that will give me 350. I also am considering the skimmer (of course the bio balls are still in there at this point) as well as the 144 light upgrade. Timing on this stuff?

At this point I have not tested for AA or Nitrites or Nitrates because the LFS said I would be wasting the tests till my first cycle.

Man there is a lot to learn with this stuff. What is confusing me more is the LFS vs RC advice. But I guess that is what the hobby is for...opinions

Thanks again for the advice folks!

Dave

 

[o2zen]

Everything I have been told is get your LR up front because if you waiting a few weeks then add more LR that might have die off your looking at starting another cycle, if just a mini one.

Ditch the Bio-Balls and toss in some LR rubble unless your going with the Skimmer. If your doing the skimmer do it now because it will help with the cycle and it takes time itself to get into full swing (depending on which one you go with).

I started my tank on 40lbs LS, 40 lbs LR, and in chamber two 10lbs LR Rubble and never did have a cycle. My rock was Tampa rock back then and had tons of life on it so I was expecting a huge die off and it did not happen. I picked up a small cycle of diatoms in my second week and used that as the reason to dump 20 snails in my tank with 10 hermits. Currently I have about 30 snails and 20 hermits in the tank plus a bristle star and 2 cleaner shrimp for my clean up crew. The snails and hermits are varied, alittle of everything.

I changed out my Tampa rock for some nice Tonga, added the 144w light, a MJ1200 in chamber 3 with a Hydor Flow on the outside of the bulkhead. I have filter pad under my drip pan in chamber two and on top of it as well. I also cut open the overflow into from chamber 1 into chamber 2 for more flow since I was changing the 220gph pump out with a 295gph pump. This lowered my water level in the main tank a bit and raised it in chamber 2 so my rubble gets more flow.

I started my tank with 5 Damsels and they all got taken back to the LFS after week two when I started getting real fish.

For awhile I was also running a Fluval 405 in my tank with the input in chamber 1 and the output was routed to the main display for more flow. This added 2-3 gals to the tank total. I liked the setup but was told by everyone that they turn into Nitrate factories after awhile so I took it off.

I plan on turning chamber 1 into a Fuge, adding a Skimmer to chamber 2, and sticking my heater into chamber 3.

 

[mr pink floyd]

wait, unless i misunderstood you, he said keep the bio balls in until its finished cycling, meaning its still cycling, yet he sold you 3 fish for it?

 

[cimdxb2]

Yes, he sold me 3 snails, 2 clowns, and one green chromis (that after 24 hours isn't looking too good

He told me that they would be "hardy" enough to have while the tank is on its way to recycling.

The snails and clowns seem healthy and are eating. The Green chromis is just hovering in the upper corner by the intake slots.