donmgicwon
Member
Oh, I forgot to mention if you have a filter and skimmer running do the change once a week. I lost NOTHING!
Clean up CREW!!! PLEASE HELP
- Thread starter koolkev
- Start date
dburr
Active Member
How do you know when the water has cycled?!!
Ammonia and nitrite will go up in levels. At that point if you put in snails they will die. They can not handle the spike. Wait until the nitrite is down. Wait until your cycle is done. It's only been 4 days sinse you set it up. Wait at least 4 weeks. That's an estimate when the cycle will be done. IMO.
Also, do not put any fish in there either, they will die.
Sorry for losing it, but this is the crittlical time when you need to wait. Don't rush.
I would start with 1 hermit and different types of snails. maybe 4 of each. Nass, certh, ..... my mind went blank, bedtime.:sleepy:
Ammonia and nitrite will go up in levels. At that point if you put in snails they will die. They can not handle the spike. Wait until the nitrite is down. Wait until your cycle is done. It's only been 4 days sinse you set it up. Wait at least 4 weeks. That's an estimate when the cycle will be done. IMO.
Also, do not put any fish in there either, they will die.
Sorry for losing it, but this is the crittlical time when you need to wait. Don't rush.
I would start with 1 hermit and different types of snails. maybe 4 of each. Nass, certh, ..... my mind went blank, bedtime.:sleepy:
jess74
Member
I still think that large of a water change is unnecessary. You didn't mention why the water change, if its because of uncured LR, then yes I can see a small water change, but I think that 25%-50% two times a week is way too much. It really depends on the quality of the LR to start with. I cycled my tank with LR and I did maybe 15%-20% water changes every week to start then lowered to every other week and after my tank was finished cycling then did a 25% water change. Like I said I think it really depends on the LR.
jess74
Member
koolkev-
Everyone has their favorite test kits. Are you doing a reef tank or a fish only? Also, it depends on how much $$ you have/want to spend. When I first started I got the Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I got it at my LFS. Now that my tank has gone reef, I've added tests that I need to the master one.
I'm sure others will chime in here and tell you their favorites.
Everyone has their favorite test kits. Are you doing a reef tank or a fish only? Also, it depends on how much $$ you have/want to spend. When I first started I got the Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I got it at my LFS. Now that my tank has gone reef, I've added tests that I need to the master one.
I'm sure others will chime in here and tell you their favorites.
donmgicwon
Member
I got a Red Sea Marine Lab from petsolutions.com for 28.99.
koolkev
Member
These are my readings from ***** when i got my water tested!
Ammonia--0 ideal
Alkalinity--180 ideal
Nitrates--35 very high
Nitrites--3.0 high
pH--7.8 low
Would anybody know how much longer to wait? I forgot when I set up my tank I think it was a week and a half ago not sure though.
Thanks
Kevin
aka koolkev
Ammonia--0 ideal
Alkalinity--180 ideal
Nitrates--35 very high
Nitrites--3.0 high
pH--7.8 low
Would anybody know how much longer to wait? I forgot when I set up my tank I think it was a week and a half ago not sure though.
Thanks
Kevin
aka koolkev
clint_reno
Member
There is debate on when and how much water should be changed out of an established SW tank. But once your tank has cycled, i would not recommend 50% twice a week.
I would go with no more than 25% once a week. And if your levels are good, you may even do less. The answer is in your test levels.
I would go with no more than 25% once a week. And if your levels are good, you may even do less. The answer is in your test levels.
benj2112
Member
Hey Koolkev,
I have a Red Sea Marine Master kit as well as a growing pack of high quality Salifert kits. If you really want to you could test your water at my place in Moorhead.
Those quick dip strips over at ***** have been way off when I brought my water over there to have them test. They always tell me my pH was low and actually it was great, Nitrate between 20 and 40 and it was actually lower than 20 with the Salifert if I remember right...
Plus you can get some testing of you Ca/Alk/Phosphate/Silicate/O2 (Mg and Iodine next week) with my Salifert tests and pH with my pinpoint.
If you really want. I don't mind.
I have a Red Sea Marine Master kit as well as a growing pack of high quality Salifert kits. If you really want to you could test your water at my place in Moorhead.
Those quick dip strips over at ***** have been way off when I brought my water over there to have them test. They always tell me my pH was low and actually it was great, Nitrate between 20 and 40 and it was actually lower than 20 with the Salifert if I remember right...
Plus you can get some testing of you Ca/Alk/Phosphate/Silicate/O2 (Mg and Iodine next week) with my Salifert tests and pH with my pinpoint.
If you really want. I don't mind.