So you got a new fish tank Newbie

[WaterKeeper]

I usually wait to the Green algae stage before adding any fish. By that time the tank is fairly mature and the algae will actually be beneficial in providing both food and some additional nitrogen removal capability when the new livestock is added to the tank. During the diatom bloom adding some snails is fine and helps shorten the diatoms stay.

:lol: Greg,

I still have not taken the plunge to digital photography and am probably the only one keeping silver prices stable and Kodak in business. I did have a digital about 6 years ago and canned it after comparing the pictures it took to my slides. The ones out now are lightyears ahead of that old one so I really need to get a modern one with the high resolution.

Man, I hate to even think about how long this thread would be at printout loaded with a bunch of tank pics. If the inkjets are using petroleum based dyes then gas prices would climb even more.

 

[Dudester]

WaterKeeper,
I thought this question would be appropriate in this forum. I started a 30gal tank 3 weeks ago by the "WaterKeeper" method. After adding saltwater to the tank I allowed it to age for over a week. I then added a mixture of live and dead sand (40 lb) and awaited the end of the sandstorm. Three days ago I added 30 lb of nearly cured Tonga LR from my LFS (it had a mild odor but not too bad). As of last night my NH4 is still <0.25 mg/L. Currently there are no lights hung as of yet, although I have a 150W MH pendant I'm planning to use. Hope that's enough background, here's the problem ...

My temp had been running at around 79 degrees, maintained with a 50W heater. Once I added the LR, I started my closed loop, powered by a Mag12 pump. I don't have my sump yet, the tank is not predrilled, and the closed loop is plumbed according to Melev's recommendations. the pump on, my temp has climbed and now ranges from 82.2 to 82.8 degrees, and the heater obviously never kicks on. I'm really concerned the temp will skyrocket once I hang my MH lighting. I was going to add a fan or two to the sump, but do you think I should start cooling the tank now, even before the cycle is initiated (I assume that's where I am since my NH4 is so low)? Or will the extra warmth promote increased production of beneficial pods and maybe I don't need to worry about it until I'm ready to add my cleanup crew? Thanks for your help/advise.

 

[Dudester]

Sorry, I meant to post a link to Melev's closed loop plans:

http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

 

[WaterKeeper]

My question always to you Southerners is, "Do you have AC?". If you don't then obtaining a chiller is probably a good idea, especially if you plan to use MH lighting.

Your current temp levels are not all that bad but , if they climb when you light the tank, may pose a problem. Surely you want to add air circulation at this point and see how the tank's temperature reacts. If there is little or no effect then you will need to consider a chiller before illuminating the tank.

 

[kimoyo]

Hi Waterkeeper,
I've asked in different forums a few times but never got a specific answer (or I got conflicting replies), can you help? I have a 120G that will be barebottom and only base (dead but very clean) rock from reeferrocks.com. How can I introduce cycling bacteria to the tank (and onto the rock)? Others have suggested adding a few pieces of liverock but I don't want to introduce coralline algae into the tank at all. Thanks.

Paul

 

[WaterKeeper]

Hi Paul,

Ah, a tricky question. My first thought would be to add some water from an established tank. The drawback there is you might add some coralline in the water column and seed your tank with both beneficial bacteria and coralline at the same time.

I guess the best way would to be to do the old cocktail shrimp trick where you add a small piece of shrimp to the tank and let it decay. After about two weeks you should have nitrifying bacteria established.

Keeping the tank coralline free will be a real trick as it will hitchhike on things like snails. Even the introduction of fish may promote its growth as it can be in their gut. This is less likely however than the import by inverts.

You could also try one of the "active bacteria" products touted on the market. I don't know if they are coralline free but by instincts tell me they probably are.

It will be interesting to see if you can indeed keep the tank coralline free. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[MPH]

Kimoyo,

You might try searching for some articles on "The fishless cycle" that uses ammonia to start a cycle. I've don't in on fresh water tanks and it works very well. Since you have nothing alive in your tank now, I don't see why it wouldn't work on saltwater as well.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Thanks Miles, that is another solution.

 

[kimoyo]

Thanks guys,
I appreciate the straight answer, most people first ask why don't you want coralline .

But when the inverts eat the coralline, it can come back from their poop?:eek2: Any ideas how to avoid this (would it even be possible)?

Paul

 

[WaterKeeper]

That Paul, is a mystery to me. Not only is the coralline ingested but it grows on the surface of things like hermit crab shells. Trying to keep a coralline free tank is probably going to be a real challenge as exposure of livestock to coralline is almost a sure thing.

 

[modemfox]

Just seeing if there might be any updates.

 

[WaterKeeper]

That is because everyone in the whole world now has a SW tank and is a seasoned reefer. I really need to start "The Old Tank Thread" on the "AARP Forum".

 

[novazer0]

thanks for the thread i have learned alot....

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

novazer0
[welcome]

you can learn a whole lot for waterkeeper he is full of info, and keeps it fun so you don't get bored. but i agree i bow to the master

 

[WaterKeeper]

Yes, I've often been told that I am full of it.

It appears that the new New Tank Thread will be a chronicle of me rebuilding my tank.

 

[BLASTO1]

x

 

[ratherbediving]

Yes, I've often been told that I am full of it.

It appears that the new New Tank Thread will be a chronicle of me rebuilding my tank.

What happened?

BTW-- I don't think I've posted to this thread, or any of your other threads, but I have been a faithful reader/ follower for a LOOOONG time now. Just thought I'd echo others out there that have said they appreciate the great info and work you have put into this novel, er... thread!

 

[kimoyo]

Re: Re: Green Coating on Rocks

Re: Re: Green Coating on Rocks

Plan on hosting the "green felt" algae (for lack of a better name) for a couple of weeks and keep up the water changes. Adding some snails at this point will also help.

Hey WaterKeeper,

Is it a good idea to wipe off the green felt algae from the walls or not? Right now I'm not too worried about seeing it on the walls, I'd rather it went away asap. So would the more I have of it help it to cycle out of the tank sooner? Thanks again.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Hi Rather,

Unfortunately a little over two weeks ago I lost my 130 when the automated topoff went awry and the RO/DI pumped fresh water into the tank to overflowing. The tank went completely fresh and I lost everything but the LR and perhaps the LS. Was a real bummer. The whole thing would not have happened except for poor engineering on my part. I fed the sump with a small tempering tank with overflow weir. The problem was the weir box was higher than the top of the sump. If it had been below the top the weir box would have overflowed and not the sump. Just goes to show you that us experienced guys can blow it big time too.

Paul,

I'd remove it as it aids in nutrient export. If I have heavy algae growth I remove it while running a canister filter with polishing cartridge. That helps remove any algae that enters the water column. Some people, including me, leave algae on the rear wall as the herbivore fish will sometime eat it and it makes a good place for pods to breed.

Everybody,

I may be moving after the 1st of the year so I'm not going to restart my tank just yet (WK hates moving running tanks about). Once I move I'll start it up again and I'll spring for a digital camera and do a New Tank Tread (Act II) with some pictures this time. I also may upgrade and do something around 200 gallons but I'm not sure at the moment. Anyhow, operating tank or not, I'll still be here at RC as usual to make all your pitiful newbie lives miserable.

 

[kimoyo]

Waterkeeper - sorry to hear about your tank. I was thinking about doing a topoff but it worried me too much, especially since I live in an apartment building. That really sucks! Do you have to move because of the flood? There is a guy in NYC who has to move because his plumbing went wrong and drained 20g in his apartment and the one below him. I'm fairly confident about my sump setup but my external skimmer is a potential issue. I'm planning on getting a basin and doing some sort of drain system just in case.

Also, I posted this in Calfo's forum today but wondering about your thoughts.

Hi Anthony,

I just got some chaeto from a LFS that I'm using for the first time. Is there any procedure I can do to make sure I don't introduce any life other than the macro algae to the tank? Thanks.

Paul

BTW I don't have a QT tank yet.