Tank cycling = Progress

[jimbow]

I put water in my tank the week before Christmas. I've been playing with settings, power head locations, Apex programming, ETC. Things are moving along nicely. The Ammonia was Zero last Saturday. Last night the NO2 was at .2 and NO3 at 2. Brown algae is popping up everyplace.

One of the rocks I bought has Xenia on it and it seems to be getting bigger (or at least the arms are extending more). I think a few more days and I'll add a CUC.

I did see one thing last night. By the time I got home is was later and my lights were in sunset mode so mostly blue. The rock with the Xenia was glowing blue. When I looked closely it appeared to have little strings (maybe 1/4" long with an oval shaped air bubble at the end. Each of the bubbles looked to be glowing blue in the light. This morning I didn't notice anything but it was dark. Thoughts? is there something besides Xenia on the rock.

 

[scooter31707]

Really don't know without a decent picture. For as your cycle, do not add any CUC until completion of your cycle. What I did, was even waited another 2-3 weeks after the cycle to try and stabilized the water parameters. You state there was a Xenia on some rock you brought, so I assuming you purchase some live rock. Depending on how much live rock you got, will really depend on if you have a normal or mini cycle. To test use pure ammonia to get to 3ppm and if it is back to zero in 24 hrs, then your tank is cycled.

 

[jimbow]

I guess you could say I bought live rock although that was not the intention. I purchased about 80 pounds of a purple rock that (at least I was told) has something on it that activates when exposed to salt water (again I was told it will reduce the cycle and is better than live rock). I used it and some other rubble (old coral looking rocks) to make my aquascape. I wanted a large flat rock form a bridge and the LFS had this one setting in a tank. He said it has some Xenia on it that might live. I used it not expecting it to live through the cycling of the tank.

I am not really in any hurry, I have a 2 week trip coming up next week so I don't plan to even think about fish till I get back on 1/28. I am going to have the LFS figure out if/when to add the CUC but was thinking it might help if I can get it in before I leave.

I'll see if I can see the same thing tonight, if so I'll try to get a photo. When I first saw it I thought air bubbles were sticking to the rock. Then it hit me that they are only on that one rock. I had not noticed them before last night and I think I would have if they had been there all along.

 

[thegrun]

+1, wait for the nitrites to drop to zero before adding your CUC, nitrites can kill your CUC.

 

[jimbow]

Here (I hope) is a photo of the bubbles. If they are air bubbles I can't figure where they come from. There seem to be more today.

 

[jimbow]

Looks like the photo didn't work. Any suggestions on that?https://www.flickr.com/photos/26199213@N00/24194701366/in/dateposted/

 

[jimbow]

not sure if the link works for everyone.

 

[jimbow]

NO2 Down to .1 tonight.

 

[jimbow]

So last night the nitrites were to zero and nitrates below 1 (ammonia has been zero for a while). Algae is growing like crazy.

I went to the LFS and got a CUC of 10 snails, 10 sand snails and 10 hermit crabs. I also picked up a small Kole Tang he had. He said (and from what I read correctly) it will not need to be fed while I'm away but will eat the algae.

I am amazed how quickly the snails and crabs started cleaning the algae. You could see trails on the glass as they moved along.

The tang basically disappeared when I released him from the net. After a couple of hours I found him in a cave. As of this morning he is still hiding.

The next project is to get my auto salt water change working before I leave.

 

[thegrun]

I would strongly recommend quarantining all future livestock additions, especially fish like tangs that are very prone to ich. If you thought going through a cycle took a long time, wait until you have to leave your tank fallow without fish for 72 days! I would look into investing in an auto feeder, two weeks without food is too long IMHO.

 

[jimbow]

Thanks for the suggestions. I plan to start a QT when I get back (I have a 20gal tank, heater, ETC already). I have someone staying at the house and food there. I plan to have them keep an eye on him and feed if necessary. I don't want them feeding every day and take the chance they will overfeed while I'm not there. I also already have an auto feeder. I just don't plan to hook it up till I get back.