Advice on Saltwater Tank/Nitrogen Cycle!
- Thread starter artemk
- Start date
sweatervest13
Active Member
I will follow along on this one.
+1 on getting some more rock and a power head. Remember nothing moves fast in saltwater unless its bad. LOL IDK if someone has already suggested reading the stickies on the "new Hobbyist" page (101 tips ) but it is some good reading and will help.
Good luck and keep on researching. Welcome to the addiction!!!
+1 on getting some more rock and a power head. Remember nothing moves fast in saltwater unless its bad. LOL IDK if someone has already suggested reading the stickies on the "new Hobbyist" page (101 tips ) but it is some good reading and will help.
Good luck and keep on researching. Welcome to the addiction!!!
travelerjp98
Active Member
Welcome to saltwaterfish.com!!!!
I am following along and will give my advice along the way!
All of these articles on here are great:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/a/0/Articles
Make sure to find mine
Anyways, here are some tips that you may or may not know already:
1) Don't listen to your LFS (Local Fish Store). They are there to make money, not to give honest advice.
2) Make sure to get LOTS of live rock for your tank for two reasons. First, live rock increases your biological filtration capacity. Second, it provides more places for fish to hide, etc.
3) Research, research, and do more research.
4) Make sure to get a second opinion on here before you do anything to your tank or add anything, etc... we are MORE THAN HAPPY to give our suggestions, comments, and opinions on here.
You made a really smart choice by going on here before you proceeded further. I cannot tell you how MAD I get when I see people that set up awful tanks, have their fish die, etc... because they didn't do enough research or anything before they started their tanks without knowing what they are doing, etc...
I am following along and will give my advice along the way!
All of these articles on here are great:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/a/0/Articles
Make sure to find mine
Anyways, here are some tips that you may or may not know already:
1) Don't listen to your LFS (Local Fish Store). They are there to make money, not to give honest advice.
2) Make sure to get LOTS of live rock for your tank for two reasons. First, live rock increases your biological filtration capacity. Second, it provides more places for fish to hide, etc.
3) Research, research, and do more research.
4) Make sure to get a second opinion on here before you do anything to your tank or add anything, etc... we are MORE THAN HAPPY to give our suggestions, comments, and opinions on here.
You made a really smart choice by going on here before you proceeded further. I cannot tell you how MAD I get when I see people that set up awful tanks, have their fish die, etc... because they didn't do enough research or anything before they started their tanks without knowing what they are doing, etc...
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421724
Welcome to saltwaterfish.com!!!!
I am following along and will give my advice along the way!
All of these articles on here are great:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/a/0/Articles
Make sure to find mine
Anyways, here are some tips that you may or may not know already:
1) Don't listen to your LFS (Local Fish Store). They are there to make money, not to give honest advice. Excuse me? Yes, live fish stores have to make money, but they also have to stay in business and try to give their best advice to keep your fish alive. If none of their customers have success, then they have no customers. Sometimes LFS give bad advice because they just don't know any better or have actually had success with their techniques in the past.
2) Make sure to get LOTS of live rock for your tank for two reasons. First, live rock increases your biological filtration capacity. Second, it provides more places for fish to hide, etc.
3) Research, research, and do more research.
4) Make sure to get a second opinion on here before you do anything to your tank or add anything, etc... we are MORE THAN HAPPY to give our suggestions, comments, and opinions on here.
You made a really smart choice by going on here before you proceeded further. I cannot tell you how MAD I get when I see people that set up awful tanks, have their fish die, etc... because they didn't do enough research or anything before they started their tanks without knowing what they are doing, etc... It happens every day, man. And some people don't want your advice, no matter how much you try to scream it to them not to do things. You just got to accept it and move on sometimes.
I will defend fish stores tooth and nail. They don't just start a fish store and go into business for themselves and risk everything and then not know how to take care of their livestock or other peoples aquariums. Owners know 100x more about their livestock and tanks than general employees do. If you find someone in a fish store and you like their advice and agree with it, and they seem very knowledgeable, then use your own judgement about their character. Don't automatically assume that all live fish store owners and employees are backhanded, greedy, and incompetent.
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421724
Welcome to saltwaterfish.com!!!!
I am following along and will give my advice along the way!
All of these articles on here are great:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/a/0/Articles
Make sure to find mine
Anyways, here are some tips that you may or may not know already:
1) Don't listen to your LFS (Local Fish Store). They are there to make money, not to give honest advice. Excuse me? Yes, live fish stores have to make money, but they also have to stay in business and try to give their best advice to keep your fish alive. If none of their customers have success, then they have no customers. Sometimes LFS give bad advice because they just don't know any better or have actually had success with their techniques in the past.
2) Make sure to get LOTS of live rock for your tank for two reasons. First, live rock increases your biological filtration capacity. Second, it provides more places for fish to hide, etc.
3) Research, research, and do more research.
4) Make sure to get a second opinion on here before you do anything to your tank or add anything, etc... we are MORE THAN HAPPY to give our suggestions, comments, and opinions on here.
You made a really smart choice by going on here before you proceeded further. I cannot tell you how MAD I get when I see people that set up awful tanks, have their fish die, etc... because they didn't do enough research or anything before they started their tanks without knowing what they are doing, etc... It happens every day, man. And some people don't want your advice, no matter how much you try to scream it to them not to do things. You just got to accept it and move on sometimes.
I will defend fish stores tooth and nail. They don't just start a fish store and go into business for themselves and risk everything and then not know how to take care of their livestock or other peoples aquariums. Owners know 100x more about their livestock and tanks than general employees do. If you find someone in a fish store and you like their advice and agree with it, and they seem very knowledgeable, then use your own judgement about their character. Don't automatically assume that all live fish store owners and employees are backhanded, greedy, and incompetent.
travelerjp98
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421734
I will defend fish stores tooth and nail. They don't just start a fish store and go into business for themselves and risk everything and then not know how to take care of their livestock or other peoples aquariums. Owners know 100x more about their livestock and tanks than general employees do. If you find someone in a fish store and you like their advice and agree with it, and they seem very knowledgeable, then use your own judgement about their character. Don't automatically assume that all live fish store owners and employees are backhanded, greedy, and incompetent.
I generally agree with this statement, but this is not the case most of the time. Even though the owner of the store may be knowledgeable and not greedy etc, the employees usually have a very poor understanding of what they are doing. It really depends on the LFS, each one varies greatly.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421734
I will defend fish stores tooth and nail. They don't just start a fish store and go into business for themselves and risk everything and then not know how to take care of their livestock or other peoples aquariums. Owners know 100x more about their livestock and tanks than general employees do. If you find someone in a fish store and you like their advice and agree with it, and they seem very knowledgeable, then use your own judgement about their character. Don't automatically assume that all live fish store owners and employees are backhanded, greedy, and incompetent.
I generally agree with this statement, but this is not the case most of the time. Even though the owner of the store may be knowledgeable and not greedy etc, the employees usually have a very poor understanding of what they are doing. It really depends on the LFS, each one varies greatly.
artemk
Member
UPDATE!
After adding some fish food to see what the Ammonia level would do, I read the results and god the same as yesterday.. Between 0 and .025 leaning towards zero more. pH is about 8.4 and salinity is about 32/1.024.
About those worms, they are (he is) hiding in the live rock, so cant take a picture.
That other plant that I think is Aipstasia I got a good picture of. Let me know if I am correct.
I am on my way to get another 5-6 pounds of live rock, to put me at 10-11 pounds total (I have a 14G tank).
Here is the picture:
Also,
thank you guys for all of your advice and help thus far! I really appreciate it!
After adding some fish food to see what the Ammonia level would do, I read the results and god the same as yesterday.. Between 0 and .025 leaning towards zero more. pH is about 8.4 and salinity is about 32/1.024.
About those worms, they are (he is) hiding in the live rock, so cant take a picture.
That other plant that I think is Aipstasia I got a good picture of. Let me know if I am correct.
I am on my way to get another 5-6 pounds of live rock, to put me at 10-11 pounds total (I have a 14G tank).
Here is the picture:
Also,
thank you guys for all of your advice and help thus far! I really appreciate it!
deejeff442
Active Member
you wont get a reading over night.it takes time for the food to break down into ammonia 3-5 days.
that is an aptasia.you need to get rid of it or they spread like crazy.
that is an aptasia.you need to get rid of it or they spread like crazy.
travelerjp98
Active Member
Yes, I believe the growth is Aipstasia... it's actually a pest anemone, not a plant. I think this will be a really cool tank when it's complete.
travelerjp98
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421752
you wont get a reading over night.it takes time for the food to break down into ammonia 3-5 days.
that is an aptasia.you need to get rid of it or they spread like crazy.
Sorry Jeff.. I posted before I saw your response before mine. +1 on the fact that it takes a while to get an ammonia reading.
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421752
you wont get a reading over night.it takes time for the food to break down into ammonia 3-5 days.
that is an aptasia.you need to get rid of it or they spread like crazy.
Sorry Jeff.. I posted before I saw your response before mine. +1 on the fact that it takes a while to get an ammonia reading.
deejeff442
Active Member
well i finally beat someone to the punch
i also see the algae bloom is coming there too
i also see the algae bloom is coming there too
travelerjp98
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421757
well i finally beat someone to the punch
i also see the algae bloom is coming there too
*light chuckle*
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3421757
well i finally beat someone to the punch
i also see the algae bloom is coming there too
*light chuckle*
travelerjp98
Active Member
Awesome! I see that the cycle is coming along! Now is just the perfect time to sit back and relax!
katiebug545
Member
+1 on the sit back and relax! This takes time, and i am glad that you are takin the time to do things right!
deejeff442
Active Member
looks like a bristle worm.you will get different opinions on them.i just leave them.i had one that big .i think my coral banded shrimp who is 5 inches across had him for lunch a while back.they are good scavengers.i would keep him in there.
katiebug545
Member
Its coming along nicely!
Most people will say leave him in there. I personally take them out bc he freaks me out a little bit
Most people will say leave him in there. I personally take them out bc he freaks me out a little bit
travelerjp98
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiebug545 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3422302
he freaks me out a little bit
HAHA... LOL..
Originally Posted by Katiebug545 http:///t/388177/advice-on-saltwater-tank-nitrogen-cycle/20#post_3422302
he freaks me out a little bit
HAHA... LOL..
katiebug545
Member
Well i have good reason... i know this sounds weird but its true. There are always freak accidents in life. haha I had a huge bristle worm like that just go crazy on me.. lol i was watching my tank one day and noticed a few of my fish had what appeared to be scratches on them. So i started watching my tank a little more closely... and one day right before my eyes a HUGE bristle worm came out of my rock, grabbed and wrapped himself around my coral beauty.... If you can imagine that poor fish freakin out, and me freaking out, clueless of what just happened or what i needed to do.. It killed my fish 
i ripped all the rock out of my tank and pulled that sucker out. I decided he was just evil. Sad day.
i ripped all the rock out of my tank and pulled that sucker out. I decided he was just evil. Sad day.