At last... my tank is cycled!!

boozer

New Member
So my tank is fully cycled... what should I add now? CUC? I have roughly 70lbs of live rock. I just dont know what to do now hehe
 
Deff a cleanup crew. i went with snails a hermit coral banded shrimp and then waited alittle bit. Check to see what the other guys say.
 
Originally Posted by Boozer
http:///forum/post/3266129
So my tank is fully cycled... what should I add now? CUC? I have roughly 70lbs of live rock. I just dont know what to do now hehe

I'm in the same boat! I just added a CuC (one of the packages from SWF.com), and all seems to be ok so far! I'm adding some macro algae to an in tank refugium to keep nitrates down too. Hopefully this works out ok!
 
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3266147
Guys just for my own info how did you learn about starting and maintaining the nitrogen cycle
There is a nice sticky on cycling under the tips for all hobbyists in this section. Also, I've read a bunch of separate threads about using a raw shrimp to initiate the cycle. Beaslbob also always posts about using macro algae to reduce nitrates, so I'm taking his advice.
 

flower

Well-Known Member

A CUC is to clean up. Unless you have algae, your critters will starve. Not to worry…algae is the one thing we can all keep alive in our tanks.
So until you see that brown algae bloom don’t add the CUC. If your tank is cycled try a fish. Not just any fish, choose wisely, because each critter you add must be able to get along with whatever else is already in there. So choose your favorite fish that can live in your size tank, be it fish only or a reef.
Above all else ENJOY the hobby and keep reading and learning.
 

boozer

New Member
Originally Posted by FishyScientist
http:///forum/post/3266144
I'm in the same boat! I just added a CuC (one of the packages from SWF.com), and all seems to be ok so far! I'm adding some macro algae to an in tank refugium to keep nitrates down too. Hopefully this works out ok!
I think i'll get a small CUC package.. maybe 5 hermits and a few snails. My tank is a bit dirty so I don't think they'll run out of food. I really don't know what to do though. I've been concentrating on the cycle so much that I never really planned on what I would do after.
I'm mainly reading up on the nitrogen cycle from the forum tips and such, just like Fishy. Just to answer your question Florida Joe.
 

meowzer

Moderator
Try a few cerith snails, nassarius snails and astrea snails.....be careful which hermits you get....most will kill the snails for their shells....I do not like hermits much...you can always get an emerald crab :)
OHHHH...what size tank is this???
 

boozer

New Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3266190
Try a few cerith snails, nassarius snails and astrea snails.....be careful which hermits you get....most will kill the snails for their shells....I do not like hermits much...you can always get an emerald crab :)
OHHHH...what size tank is this???
I stopped on my way home from work (got home 5 minutes ago) and got 2 turbo snails (large), 2 nassarius snails, 4 blue leg hermit crabs, 1 scarlet hermit and 3 small blue chromis. They gave me the chromis for free since they were the last three. I didn't want them because I feel its a bit much but they needed to get them out. I did want an emerald crab but my LFS said I should probably get hermits instead?? I think their reasoning is that I don't have much algae yet, and since emeralds mainly eat that stuff they said I should go with hermits. I may go get an emerald from a different store in LA over the weekend. My LFS is waaayyy expensive.
This tank is 60 gal with a 30 gal sump and skimmer. Here are a few pictures... Sorry for the blurryness

By puinsai at 2010-05-05

By puinsai at 2010-05-05

By puinsai at 2010-05-05

By puinsai at 2010-05-05
 

meowzer

Moderator
AHAHAHAH...I love the cat :)
I would wait since you got all you got today.....give it a week or two....check your water parameters, and if all stays good, then look at something else....The green chromis will be okay....they are hardy
 

boozer

New Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3266208
AHAHAHAH...I love the cat :)
I would wait since you got all you got today.....give it a week or two....check your water parameters, and if all stays good, then look at something else....The green chromis will be okay....they are hardy
lol her name is kitty. She likes the heat that comes off my power compacts.
I'll take your advice and wait with what I have for a week or two. I think these guys will be fine.
Now I need to work on my lighting. These lights create a lot of heat and i'm a little worried about my acrylic tank. The acrylic top gets a little hot and bows after a short time under the light. I think I need to ditch this hood and get some new lights or find some way to mod in some fans. From what I hear I can't have much under power compacts so I may need to get new lights.
 

boozer

New Member
Normally when I open the hood and I have ALL of the lights on I can feel heat radiating off the insides like an oven. In the pictures I linked I only had on 2 55 watts that are a bit old and don't create much heat. I have 2 96 watts that are brand new that I rarely turn on because they're the bakers.
Kitty is mad that I woke her up.
 

meowzer

Moderator
LOL...poor kitty
Do you have any ventilation? seems like you need to open up the outer ends....and put a fan
 

boozer

New Member
It looks like I need to do that. I just don't want to do the work if I'm going to upgrade lights in a month or two. I have no air movement in the hood when the flap is closed. I have two 80mm fans that I think I can mod in there. I'll see what I can do over the next few days, Maybe I can make a work log or something.
 
Top