Cycling question

[slider101]

New to the hobby, built a 55 gal in the wall setup. I have 50 pounds of crushed coral for a bedding and about 50 pounds of live rock. Rock has been in for about a week and the 260 w PC lights was just put on yesterday the 1st of Dec. I have a protein skimmer, Koralia 1 and 4 for about 1200 gph of agitation, and a bio wheel. I tested the water yesterday and my ammonia ia almost 0, Nitrite around 1.0, and Nitrate around 5.0-10. What do I need to do to bring down the nitrites and nitrates? Temp is holding between 79-81. Water is clear as a bell. What should I expect to happen now coming up? Getting antsy to put some fish in it but want it to be safe. Thanks in advance!
Jimmy

 

[spanko]

Nitrites will decline on their own. Part of the cycle. Nitrates will probably increase. When ammonia and nitrites are zero perform a 20% water change. This should bring your nitrates down some. You should expect to see some brown "dust like" algae forming on your crushed coral and or rocks. Normaly. Called Diatoms and they will come and go on their own. After the water change you can begin to add your planned clean up crew. Not all at once maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of the total planned. Then do some testing for a week to see how your biofiltration handles the additional bioload. Sometime after that you could add the rest of the clean up crew and maybe a fish to get started with. Do some research on what your total fish population will be because there will be a specific way to add each, mostly the least aggressive first the most aggressive last.
One question would be why did you choose crused coral for your substrate? While it is okay to use there is much more maintenance to be done in terms of vacuuming and cleaning to keep unwanted decaying matter out of it than there is with sand. Also it limits you in some aspects on what you can keep as crushed coral could be detrimental to some fish and inverts as the pcs. are large and sharp and may damage them.
Good luck here and keep asking questions. We are also the types here that look for extensive posting of pictures as you progress.

 

[slider101]

Thanks for the quick reply! I liked the look of the crushed coral. But didn't realize it would effect my stock. To late now, will have to just plan accordingly. In your opinion, how long does it take for Nitrites to reach zero? What do I need to avoid with the crushed coral?

 

[slider101]

Here are some pics of my tank. Suggestions would be appreciated. Remember this is my first tank so go easy on me lol.

 

[spanko]

Nice. Lots of swimming room for the fish. You have another two to three weeks of cycling to go through then you can do a water change and start adding th CUC. With the crushed and the limited filtering capability the tank has right now you need to avoid overstocking and overfeeding mostly. That and ensuring you do have a good water change, cleaning schedule for the tank. I think you are going to find that you lighting and filtration are goning to limit you on what you are able to keep.
Good start, well done.

 

[slider101]

Well my lighting is 260W PC with 2 65w 12000K daylights, 2 65w True Actinic, and 8 blue LEDS. I am running a Marineland penguin 200 bio wheel filter and protein skimmer. What are the items I should avoid with the crushed coral? I am looking for some colorful coral and anemoes to go in it. ANy recommendations? Cost is a big factor, I am starting slow. Also what type of cleanup crew do you recommend, shrimp, crabs, snails? Also, when do I know it is time to do a water change? I have noticed what looks like a brown substance forming on my rocks, is this Diatoms? Are Diatoms good or bad? Do I need to get rid of them?

 

[mboswell1982]

ive heard an read that the bio wheel is bad for sw tanks, its a nitrate/nitrite trap or somethig like that, so u may want to rething that one

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2859909
Well my lighting is 260W PC with 2 65w 12000K daylights, 2 65w True Actinic, and 8 blue LEDS. I am running a Marineland penguin 200 bio wheel filter and protein skimmer. What are the items I should avoid with the crushed coral? I am looking for some colorful coral and anemoes to go in it. ANy recommendations? Cost is a big factor, I am starting slow. Also what type of cleanup crew do you recommend, shrimp, crabs, snails? Also, when do I know it is time to do a water change? I have noticed what looks like a brown substance forming on my rocks, is this Diatoms? Are Diatoms good or bad? Do I need to get rid of them?
Snails are best IMO. Whatever you do, don't mix hermits and snails...snails are hermit snacks. Different shrimp are cool, and can be mixed with snails A'OK IMO

.

 

[florida joe]

Just my thoughts. Crushed coral is in fact a better biological filter media then sand the problem comes in when people are lax in their maintenance. Make sure you vacuumed regularly to keep the CC from getting impacted. It will limit your stock if you are planning any fish that borrow or and critters that sift sand. As far as a bio wheels being nitrate and nitrite factories I have also heard this but until some one can show me any data on why I don’t believe it they do a good job of what they are meant to do (be a platform for nitrification bacteria to colonize on. )As far as your filtration system goes most of your bio-filtration will tank place in your tank (on and in your live rock and substrate) so as long as you have good water flow and slowly increase your bacteria population with out spiking you should be fine.
This of course is just IMO

 

[slider101]

Thanks Florida Joe. I tested my water again and the ammonia is at 0, PH is around 7.8-8.0, Nitrate at 20 and Nitrite are what appears to be 1. Using API test kit and the Nitrite is a dark purple if that means anything. So does it seem like I am cycling? I am getting a brown substance on my rocks, is this Diatoms? Is that good? THanks.

 

[florida joe]

Yes it looks like you are. The brown is most likely diatoms. What you have to realized and I am sure you do is that the two forms of bio-filtration alto connected are two completely different things in terms of growth and function. Your initial nitrifying bacteria will grow at a much greater rate then your denitrification hence the build up of nitrates and the reason people use water changes to lower them until the denitrification process can keep up with nitrification. The natural process new comers to the hobby identify with as far a denitrification involves anaerobic bacteria which form in live rock and with in our sand bed and is predicated on almost zero oxygen. It is a slow process to cultivate large amounts of anaerobic bacteria so the next step for you in my opinion is to do your homework on the higher forms of algae to deal with nitrates via assimilation and harvesting through the use of a refug.
Of course this is just IMO

 

[spanko]

Florida Joe is full of opinions and every one he has listed here are correct. Crushed coral and the bio wheel filtration will work well and have for many years providing you are willing and decicated to the husbandry issues involved with them. There are less time consuming ways to do things but they also come with added expense.
Again you are doing well here. Keep going and asking questions. You will develop your own thoughts as you go on how you want you system to run.
Of course this is just IMO. (hee hee)

 

[slider101]

LOL, thanks guys. YOu are all a great help.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2861279
Florida Joe is full of opinions and every one he has listed here are correct. Crushed coral and the bio wheel filtration will work well and have for many years providing you are willing and decicated to the husbandry issues involved with them. There are less time consuming ways to do things but they also come with added expense.
Again you are doing well here. Keep going and asking questions. You will develop your own thoughts as you go on how you want you system to run.
Of course this is just IMO. (hee hee)
Henry my good friend first how are you? And second you did say I was full of OPINIONS didn’t you? Oh yes you did thank you

 

[mboswell1982]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2861477
Henry my good friend first how are you? And second you did say I was full of OPINIONS didn’t you? Oh yes you did thank you
are you sure he didnt edit his post so the mods wouldnt get upset joe?

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2861495
are you sure he didnt edit his post so the mods wouldnt get upset joe?

Never happen, Joe is one of the best! Knowledgeable and always willing to help.
I would fight with anyone that said he wasn't full of .................good opinions!!!!!!

Doing well Joe. How have you been doing? Haven't seen you on here much. Been real busy have you?

 

[mboswell1982]

oh i know spanko, he's a great guy and has helped me out a lot, i was just givin him a hard time LOL he's an absolute wealth of info, like so many other people on here are, even the ones that are harsh when giving it

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2861518
Never happen, Joe is one of the best! Knowledgeable and always willing to help.
I would fight with anyone that said he wasn't full of .................good opinions!!!!!!

Doing well Joe. How have you been doing? Haven't seen you on here much. Been real busy have you?
I have been doing good Henry just a little burned out I thought when a child goes to collage they are suppose to get smarter duh did I miss something

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2861522
oh i know spanko, he's a great guy and has helped me out a lot, i was just givin him a hard time LOL he's an absolute wealth of info, like so many other people on here are, even the ones that are harsh when giving it

Now just hold on a minute here there is no one who has been told that they are more opinionated, abrasive, condescending and down right rude then me just ask my good friend Beth and my special friend Sir Q or Sep as many of your know her by

 

[mboswell1982]

so? LOL i prefer a person who's abrasive an tells things just the way they are than someone who sugar coats thins, but thats just me LOL