dbennett78
Member
Here is the first pic of my fish. Its still cycling with the damsel. There was no ammonia when I tested today but nitrites were very high and some nitrates also. How long does it take for the nitrites to zero? Let me know.
First Pics Of My Tank
- Thread starter dbennett78
- Start date
dbennett78
Member
One more.
wablondie98664
Active Member
for one thing, get ready to hear about how bad it is to use live fish to cycle.....as far as the other, it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 weeks for everything to get back to normal, but it seems having lr and live sand helps.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
looks great to me. I prefer to cycle with a live fish.
I would not feed the fish until nitrItes started down. My first tank had nitrItes pegging the test kit for 2 weeks until I stopped feeding that fish. They then came down to 0.0 in a few days. I have repeated that experience on all new salt tanks.
Again nice looking tank and welcome to salt
I would not feed the fish until nitrItes started down. My first tank had nitrItes pegging the test kit for 2 weeks until I stopped feeding that fish. They then came down to 0.0 in a few days. I have repeated that experience on all new salt tanks.
Again nice looking tank and welcome to salt
sandman12
Active Member
Hey! Glad to see another 30g out there!!!
Tank looks nice so far but i must tell u that using crushed coral is a bad idea. Thats how my friend started his tank then he switch to live sand. U dont absolutyl have to but if I were in ur position I would go with ls. Also Every one will tell u to cycle with a dead shrimp,thats there opinion,mine is to cycle with a nice damsel(id rather see something swimming than floating) I cycled my tank with 3 damsels, an anenome, lr ,and ls and every thing is a ok(BUt I got lucky with the anenome,I didnt even know there was a cycle when i bought it)
HTH
P.S. dont be afraid to spend money ,if u dont spend alot now ull be spending even more later
Tank looks nice so far but i must tell u that using crushed coral is a bad idea. Thats how my friend started his tank then he switch to live sand. U dont absolutyl have to but if I were in ur position I would go with ls. Also Every one will tell u to cycle with a dead shrimp,thats there opinion,mine is to cycle with a nice damsel(id rather see something swimming than floating) I cycled my tank with 3 damsels, an anenome, lr ,and ls and every thing is a ok(BUt I got lucky with the anenome,I didnt even know there was a cycle when i bought it)
HTH
P.S. dont be afraid to spend money ,if u dont spend alot now ull be spending even more later
dbennett78
Member
Any more info on how long it takes to get the nitrites down to 0 after the ammonia is at 0? Also why is it a good idea to not feed the fish while cycling? Thanks.
dbennett78
Member
Also, If I got a bag of crushed aragonite and put that in too so it filled the "dead spots" in the crushed coral would that work too?
col
Active Member
Any more info on how long it takes to get the nitrites down to 0 after the ammonia is at 0?
It varies from tank to tank. Can take days or more usually weeks.
Also why is it a good idea to not feed the fish while cycling
You should feed your fish.
why is crushed coral bad
Live sand seems to be the be all and end all of substrates now. Crushed Coral can be used if it is maintained (vaccuumed) regularly. CC requires maintenance whilst LS can be left alone.
It is quite annoying when someone posts a pic of their new tank and others rip it to bits.
It varies from tank to tank. Can take days or more usually weeks.
Also why is it a good idea to not feed the fish while cycling
You should feed your fish.
why is crushed coral bad
Live sand seems to be the be all and end all of substrates now. Crushed Coral can be used if it is maintained (vaccuumed) regularly. CC requires maintenance whilst LS can be left alone.
It is quite annoying when someone posts a pic of their new tank and others rip it to bits.
lochi
Member
I 've got a 29gal and started with a crushed coral substrate. I then bought a sand sifting goby and found out that CC is bad for sand sifting fish. Being as bright as I am I said" I'll just dump 10lbs of LS ontop of the CC and bury it". Well now I have a base of sand with a layer of crushed coral on top. Eventually all the sand sifted through CC. Either stick with the CC, not necessarily bad, or remove all CC and replace it with LS.
MORAL OF THE STORY: ITS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY TO PUT THE LS ONTOP OF CC.
MORAL OF THE STORY: ITS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY TO PUT THE LS ONTOP OF CC.
shanev
Member
The reasaon CC is not commonly used is that left alone and not kept clean it can be a haven for waste/detrious, etc leading to high nitrate levels.
My take on the fish to cycle: It is not a good idea and cruel for 3 reasons:
1. Odds are you dont want the damsel in there after the cycle as it will be a dominant and aggresive fish towards almost anything else you put in the tank, and almost impossible to catch if you have a lot of rock.
2. If it doesnt kill the fish it will stress the fish out. High stress leads to more fish diseases like ich. This will be a danger when you go to add more fish.
3. IMO cycling especially with just one fish will take longer. It will take ALOT longer for 1 wish to produce the same ammonia spike as a dead raw shrimp.
This is not meant as an attack, just as an explanation why I think cycling with other methods is prefered by me.
My take on the fish to cycle: It is not a good idea and cruel for 3 reasons:
1. Odds are you dont want the damsel in there after the cycle as it will be a dominant and aggresive fish towards almost anything else you put in the tank, and almost impossible to catch if you have a lot of rock.
2. If it doesnt kill the fish it will stress the fish out. High stress leads to more fish diseases like ich. This will be a danger when you go to add more fish.
3. IMO cycling especially with just one fish will take longer. It will take ALOT longer for 1 wish to produce the same ammonia spike as a dead raw shrimp.
This is not meant as an attack, just as an explanation why I think cycling with other methods is prefered by me.
terminus est
Member
Nice looking tank BTW.
You dont have to use an aggressive damsel. Use a green chromis. Peaceful and just as tough as a damsel, without being territorial.
I have cycled 2 tanks, one with uncured LR and one with a chromis. The chromis tank cycled in 2 weeks while the LR tank took a month. When I ever cycle again, definately going with a chromis.
You dont have to use an aggressive damsel. Use a green chromis. Peaceful and just as tough as a damsel, without being territorial.
I have cycled 2 tanks, one with uncured LR and one with a chromis. The chromis tank cycled in 2 weeks while the LR tank took a month. When I ever cycle again, definately going with a chromis.
dacia
Active Member
It is quite annoying when someone posts a pic of their new tank and others rip it to bits.
Precisely why my tank was not shown on this website until AFTER my pictures were able to show only the things that certain people would agree with...my first SW has CC (all fish and cleaners are perfectly healthy with great water conditions after a month) and a couple of fake plants that I think look really good in the tank but are really FW decorations...
Personally, I agree that tanks are better cycled with LR, LS, and a dead shrimp. No fish are killed or stressed out that way. Even cute little mollies that seem healthy after a cycle will live shorter lives than they would before. I have cycled tanks in 2 weeks using pure household ammonia rather than anything else...you get that ammonia spike immediately and only have to wait for the nitrites to cycle. My org. chem. prof at UNCW told me this was "cheating." He was joking of course.
Precisely why my tank was not shown on this website until AFTER my pictures were able to show only the things that certain people would agree with...my first SW has CC (all fish and cleaners are perfectly healthy with great water conditions after a month) and a couple of fake plants that I think look really good in the tank but are really FW decorations...
Personally, I agree that tanks are better cycled with LR, LS, and a dead shrimp. No fish are killed or stressed out that way. Even cute little mollies that seem healthy after a cycle will live shorter lives than they would before. I have cycled tanks in 2 weeks using pure household ammonia rather than anything else...you get that ammonia spike immediately and only have to wait for the nitrites to cycle.
My org. chem. prof at UNCW told me this was "cheating." He was joking of course.
popoty
Member
Looks good.
I cycled my tank with a couple of damsels and have crushed coral.
In hind sight I would of not used the damsels b/c I had to remove them from the tank after cycling. They disrupted the peacefull nature of the tank. I also would of used sand, mainly b/c I think it looks better IMO. Also, there is a bit more variety of creatures you can have with LS then CC.
However; I have not had any problems with the CC and nitrates. I vaccuum the CC when i see some dirt collecting off of the LR but that is it. Granted my tank is only 5-6 months old I know of many people who have had CC in the tank for years without any problems. IMO keep the damsel if it doesnt cause a problem, I would of kept mine. I will post a pict of my tank for you when i get off from work.
Also, I would feed the damsel, just not over feed...it would be really mean not to feed it.
GOOD LUCK looks like your off to a very good start!
I cycled my tank with a couple of damsels and have crushed coral.
In hind sight I would of not used the damsels b/c I had to remove them from the tank after cycling. They disrupted the peacefull nature of the tank. I also would of used sand, mainly b/c I think it looks better IMO. Also, there is a bit more variety of creatures you can have with LS then CC.
However; I have not had any problems with the CC and nitrates. I vaccuum the CC when i see some dirt collecting off of the LR but that is it. Granted my tank is only 5-6 months old I know of many people who have had CC in the tank for years without any problems. IMO keep the damsel if it doesnt cause a problem, I would of kept mine. I will post a pict of my tank for you when i get off from work.
Also, I would feed the damsel, just not over feed...it would be really mean not to feed it.
GOOD LUCK looks like your off to a very good start!
dbennett78
Member
Thanks for all the good feedback. I was a little nervous about posting some pics hopin my tank was up to par. I've learned so much about the hobby in the past month its insane. Any more knowledge that can be thrown at me is appreciated.