i just put live fish in my tank to cycle
- Thread starter beautful
- Start date
sly
Active Member
Yea, that air should work fine. When you get a skimmer you can probably get rid of the air if you want to and It'll clear up your water from all the bubbles.
The number of fish you have really depends on how good your filter is. If you have the basic filter set-up, the general rule is one inch of fish per five gallons of water. So for your 55 gal tank, all your fish together should measure about 11 inches. So if you buy an 11 inch fish than that's all you should put in your tank. Or you could buy 11 one inch damsels.
If you add a refugium, heavy skimming, ozone, etc. then you can push this up a bit to accomodate more fish.
:happyfish
The number of fish you have really depends on how good your filter is. If you have the basic filter set-up, the general rule is one inch of fish per five gallons of water. So for your 55 gal tank, all your fish together should measure about 11 inches. So if you buy an 11 inch fish than that's all you should put in your tank. Or you could buy 11 one inch damsels.
If you add a refugium, heavy skimming, ozone, etc. then you can push this up a bit to accomodate more fish.
:happyfish
texasranchers
Member
beautful, I may be way off here, so just say so. In your pic, it looks like you have two filter intake tubes right at the bottom of your tank. If this is true, it could cause your filters to clog. IMO, I would move them up some. Filters should filter small pieces of debris but not sand or gravel. Go ahead, tell me if I'm wrong.
beautful
Member
Originally posted by Texasranchers
beautful, I may be way off here, so just say so. In your pic, it looks like you have two filter intake tubes right at the bottom of your tank. If this is true, it could cause your filters to clog. IMO, I would move them up some. Filters should filter small pieces of debris but not sand or gravel. Go ahead, tell me if I'm wrong.
I think so too. thank you for looking out:joy:
texasranchers
Member
Originally posted by beautful
update
temp 7.9
saltwater 0.024
Clarify for me the reading you have for temp and saltwater? I'm sorry it doesn't register for me.
sly
Active Member
Temperature 79
Everything looks good except for your pH. Either your Alkalinity is down or your pH tester is wrong. Take a sample of your water to the LFS and have them test your water and that will show if your tests are accurate. They should do it for free.
Like was mentioned earlier, your pH needs to be around 8.3. Check your buffering capacity (KH)/ Alkalinity and see what your readings are. They should be above 300ppm for saltwater to be buffered properly. There are additives that raise your buffering that also raise your pH.
I looks like your ammonia is climbing. This is good if you are cycling your tank for the first time. Keep watching your levels climb then when the ammonia and nitrite finally fall back down, you're ready.:jumping:
Everything looks good except for your pH. Either your Alkalinity is down or your pH tester is wrong. Take a sample of your water to the LFS and have them test your water and that will show if your tests are accurate. They should do it for free.
Like was mentioned earlier, your pH needs to be around 8.3. Check your buffering capacity (KH)/ Alkalinity and see what your readings are. They should be above 300ppm for saltwater to be buffered properly. There are additives that raise your buffering that also raise your pH.
I looks like your ammonia is climbing. This is good if you are cycling your tank for the first time. Keep watching your levels climb then when the ammonia and nitrite finally fall back down, you're ready.:jumping:
texasranchers
Member
looking good.:cheer: Congratulations.
beautful
Member
Originally posted by Texasranchers
looking good.:cheer: Congratulations. i went to two difrent store two days ago tested my water and ph was same 8.0 broth store
but when i do the tested in my home ph 7.7 ? ? ?
so i thing ph test kit is worng
wich kind do you guys use? i use tetra test i think iam going to buy me
difrent tested kit
texasranchers
Member
Sly,"I use "Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit" made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.."
Ditto from TR
Ditto from TR
beautful
Member
Originally posted by Texasranchers
Sly,"I use "Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit" made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.."
Ditto from TR
iam going to get a new test kit later today
i tested old one and is like this
ph 7.7
nitrite 0.3mg
ammonia 1.5mg
i will be update when i get my new testkit
thanks guys
wablondie98664
Active Member
Originally posted by Sly
You may not have enough air in your system. I looked at your system again and it doesn't look like you have any air stones. Until you get a skimmer, you need air stones to saturate your water with oxygen.
you should not use airstones in a saltwater tank, causes salt creep and the bubbles can get caught in the fishes gills. a better way to oxegenate the water is to use power heads to circulate the water. hth
cindyski
Active Member
beautful,
i think your best bet at this point in time is to do lots of research. pick up a good book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is a good beginner book. there i also a thread on this site with steps to start up a saltwater tank. i will see if i can find it for you.
i think your best bet at this point in time is to do lots of research. pick up a good book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is a good beginner book. there i also a thread on this site with steps to start up a saltwater tank. i will see if i can find it for you.
cindyski
Active Member
Here is one
Click Here
Click Here
cindyski
Active Member
here is the 2nd one
Click Here
Click Here
cindyski
Active Member
beautful
Member
Originally posted by CindySki
and the 3rd one
Click Here
please read all 3 of these, they are very informative!
good luck
i read that long time ago but i will read it again
oh i just brought seaclone protein skimmer up to 100 for 79.99
saltwater liquid master test kit for 14.99 at the petsmart
what you think?