Uncharted Terretory

[Vampire_Batfish]

After 7 years away from reef keeping, the hobby has evolved beautifully. However new topics to marinade.
I started a pico reef, 1st one ever. After years of enjoyment from my 100 g . My reason for attempting a small eco system is to build interest with my partner in crime. Its working! She is as excited as me!
What i got.
Fluval v 5 g
Standard led light
10 lb LS
6 lb LR
Few pieces crushed coral from an established tank.
Blue damsel

This little tank has cycled and im getting a cleanup crew tomorrow. Im thinking ,
2 blue knuckle hermets
2 turbos
What do yins think ?
And my main question,
Does the Orbit 18 to 24 inch led light penetrate 11 inches of water enough for coral growth? Led is new to me, but it seems with a tank this size, low heat would be an advantage on my temp and perameters. Any thoughts?

 

[mcgyvr]

Isn't 18-24" well over the width of the tank?

 

[Vampire_Batfish]

No. It will fit.

 

[ken6217]

Why a damsel?

 

[mcgyvr]

Why a damsel?

Many people use a single "sacrificial" fish to get the cycle going..

 

[ken6217]

That was the old days. I hope his partner in crime is happy with the potential death.

Even if it lives, now you have a PITA fish.

 

[vette.tech]

Indeed but at least it's easy to get out of that tank

 

[Vampire_Batfish]

Truth be told, cycling a new tank with a table shrimp, as i did in my tank and my friends tank years ago, seems to incease the amonia and nitrite spikes dramatically, leaving you with nitrate that is unstable and constantly high. Even with frequent water changes. End result, brown algea that is hard to deal with for even the best cleanin crew. Im not saying this is the best method for larger tanks for one reason only, the damsel is in your tank for life.
Finally, damsels are resilliant. Combined with LR and LS and a jumpstart of crushed coral from an established tank that i built and cycled in 2003, the highs arent so high, the damsel is fat and healthy and ready to take the ride back to the fish only tank. If you kill a healthy damsel in a cycle, you are doing it wrong.

 

[Zer0.]

why not just dose ammonia, and have complete control over levels?....I didn't think anyone cycled tanks with fish anymore.

 

[Vampire_Batfish]

Sounds great. How much nitrite is made from 1 ml of amonia?

 

[top shelf]

I have a red leg and dwarf blue leg in my 3g pico and I wish I'd have skipped the larger red leg and got 3 dwarf blue instead. He likes to climb all over my Kenya trees and agitate them whereas the little guy just sticks to the rock work and sand. Plus in my smaller tank he can get in the crevices a little better.

 

[jda]

I cycle with yellow tail blue damsels. Hardy, not aggressive and I keep a pair in every tank since they are so good with pests (flatworms). Win:win for me since I like them anyway.

 

[Vampire_Batfish]

Thats awesome jda! Thats letting nature work for you. Unfortunately this biological filter barely supports 1 damsel.