Water Change?

[Seehag]

Ok, I have read over and over how to run the cycle and am a little confused. Tbs web site and Richard refer to not changing the water until your ammonia rises above 1.0ppm if you change it too soon you prolong the cycle. Other's refer to doing regular water changes along the way based on Nitrates and Ammonia rising above .5.
As I see it using the package your tank cycle is less likely to get above 1.0 ppm ammonia if all is well but your nitrates will rise till the bio filter kicks in again. I would be more willing to let this run the course and not change the water based on not getting above 1.0 ppm ammonia, except that in the tank you have live coral and invert's fish and other creature's. I would not want to stress them out with high nitrates or nitrites while I wait. I have already lost a coral ***, why I am not sure, and would like to get some input on doing a water change now. My levels are:

Ammonia .30
Nitrate 40
nitrite .25

So let me know what you think, the package has been in the tank from the start at 3 week's.


Art

 

[HowardW]

Your tank has cycled, start doing water changes to bring the nitrates down.

 

[Seehag]

Howard,

I changed 25% today, I still am confused as to wether I was supposed to wait for the nitrates to drop. If there weren't any live inverts and fish in the tank I think I should have waited but I did not want to lose anymore fish or coral. Am I right in the understanding that the Biological filter should kick in and convert the nitrates to nitrites?

Art

 

[HowardW]

<<< Am I right in the understanding that the Biological filter should kick in and convert the nitrates to nitrites? >>>



It's the other way around, the nitrites get converted to nitrates

 

[Seehag]

Oh, I got that backwards....Doh..

So nitrates are broke down in my fuge with the chateo? I also have had no algae outbreak yet.

My level's are better now....

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrates - 20
Nitrites - 0
S.G. - 1.025
Ph - 8.2

I turned on 2 more fans on the top of the tank blowing on the water and Temp is down to 77deg


Art

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9841007#post9841007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Seehag
Oh, I got that backwards....Doh..

So nitrates are broke down in my fuge with the chateo? I also have had no algae outbreak yet.

My level's are better now....

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrates - 20
Nitrites - 0
S.G. - 1.025
Ph - 8.2

I turned on 2 more fans on the top of the tank blowing on the water and Temp is down to 77deg


Art

Much better, keep up with the small water changes every couple weeks to keep the nitrates in check, the macroalgae with also help take up both nitrates and phosphates. If you are growing chaeto in a fuge it may not be a bad idea to also dose chelated iron. You can also run only 1/2 of your lights to help keep the temps down.

 

[Seehag]

Thank's for the info Howard, if you read around hear long enough you can get yourself good and confused or atleast convinced you know what your talking about, just in time to find out you don't.

Art

 

[Amyandlars]

Lol, it's all part of the learning curve Seehag. Don't worry your tank is going to continue to go thru this until your tank matures.
It sounds like your doing alright though. Stuff is naturally going to die in part 1, that why your going to get a whole lot more stuff in part 2.

You'll be fine doing the water changes once a week or every other week.

 

[Seehag]

I have both part's Amy, here's a whole tank shot.

As for the Octopi, well it would appear that the little one's did make it. There are several in the fuge, and 4 or 5 that you see in the main tank. I figured they would die out but I guess they are just hanging low. I saw the shrimp and crabs eating something the other day that looked like part of the big octopus but couldn't be sure I did lose the fish Richard sent me so it might have been that. Other than that I have never seen the big Octo. again.


Art