LX20000
New member
OK, the 40 gallon IM Nuvo All in One tank has cycled. It has been set up for about 3.5 weeks.
I tested the cycle twice by dosing the tank up to 2ppm with Ammonia from ACE hardware. Both times, Ammonia was at zero in less than 24 hours, Nitrites took about another 12 hours to hit zero. Nitrites never above 2-3 ppm.
Right now
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 5 to 10
Alk - 10.5
PH - 8 during day, 7.85 at night
Ca, Mg within normal limits, can't remember numbers
Going to do 30% water change, to drop nitrates a bit. Using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, used dealer made salt water for initial 33 gallons, so will be taking 10 gallons out and adding Coral Pro. I WILL be on top of water changes. 15% a week is my target (5 gallons, as tank is holding about 33 gallons)
SO NOW TO CRITTERS... I want to start slowly..... I do not have a bunch of algae, just a bit. I do not want to add some huge clean up crew, only to starve them all to death.
I love Emerald crabs. I am thinking of adding two of them. I will feed them sinking pellets I can put in the sand... maybe a bit of shrimp with tongs. Sound OK?
Was also thinking of adding a Fire Shrimp or some sort of Coral Banded. One better than the other, or don't add one now?
I was NOT going to add fish now, but if I did it would be an Ocellaris pair.
Or would some sort of easy goby be a good first critter.
I am not an overstocker... IN fact, I see the total fish load being two clowns, a goby maybe one other fish. Invert load, my two emeralds, a shrimp, and maybe that's it.
I want to do mainly LPS and soft corals. No SPS.
What's s good start here?
P.S. I LOVE Emerald crabs... did I say this? I am getting some. I understand there could be issues with them and some corals... I will be getting very small ones and see they have other stuff to eat. If they get out of control, I am cycling an Innovation Marine 10, and I would make this essentially a crab shack if they don't work out. I must give it a try. Just not sure if they should be first thing in the tank.
I tested the cycle twice by dosing the tank up to 2ppm with Ammonia from ACE hardware. Both times, Ammonia was at zero in less than 24 hours, Nitrites took about another 12 hours to hit zero. Nitrites never above 2-3 ppm.
Right now
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 5 to 10
Alk - 10.5
PH - 8 during day, 7.85 at night
Ca, Mg within normal limits, can't remember numbers
Going to do 30% water change, to drop nitrates a bit. Using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, used dealer made salt water for initial 33 gallons, so will be taking 10 gallons out and adding Coral Pro. I WILL be on top of water changes. 15% a week is my target (5 gallons, as tank is holding about 33 gallons)
SO NOW TO CRITTERS... I want to start slowly..... I do not have a bunch of algae, just a bit. I do not want to add some huge clean up crew, only to starve them all to death.
I love Emerald crabs. I am thinking of adding two of them. I will feed them sinking pellets I can put in the sand... maybe a bit of shrimp with tongs. Sound OK?
Was also thinking of adding a Fire Shrimp or some sort of Coral Banded. One better than the other, or don't add one now?
I was NOT going to add fish now, but if I did it would be an Ocellaris pair.
Or would some sort of easy goby be a good first critter.
I am not an overstocker... IN fact, I see the total fish load being two clowns, a goby maybe one other fish. Invert load, my two emeralds, a shrimp, and maybe that's it.
I want to do mainly LPS and soft corals. No SPS.
What's s good start here?
P.S. I LOVE Emerald crabs... did I say this? I am getting some. I understand there could be issues with them and some corals... I will be getting very small ones and see they have other stuff to eat. If they get out of control, I am cycling an Innovation Marine 10, and I would make this essentially a crab shack if they don't work out. I must give it a try. Just not sure if they should be first thing in the tank.