Just Questions

[mgauna83]

i know ive posted this before but still have some questions sorry.
ive been looking around at other pic on this message board and seen some things ive never seen before first off my tank is a 30 gal octagon i will start with filtration the only thing i have is a basic filter(no bio wheel) i just found out what a skimmer is and dont know if i need for a 30 gal tank and i dont have a underground filter either is all this neccesary. Well i converted my tank from fresh to salt and i added crush coral to the bottom of the tank and filled it with tap water and sea salt it was fogy for about a day or two when it cleared up i check the SG it was 1.022 then i purchased live rock and added to the tank the was told to let it cycle for 24 hours and add some damsels to the tank so i did its been a week now and the damsels are doing fine no white spots on there backs there doing great and was told that that was very wrong to do IDK so the next question when could i add the clown fish or do i need all the stuff i talked about in the begining

 

[reefchaser]

Hey Mgauna83, I am new to this also and i did not know not to cycle my tank with damsels either but I did and what is done is done ( do not bash me ok ) anyway I let the damsels stay in my tank for three weeks and did water changes while tank was in cycle.
One thing i would recommend is that you go out and get a test kit for your water that is the only way that you will know if your tank is done with it's cycle. If you can not buy one take some of your water to a LFS and have them test it for you.
I had about three weeks before my water was ready for any fish after that three weeks the damsels came out of tank and the LFS i got them from bought them back, all be it cheeper than i paid for them but kinda like rent a fish I know better now.
For the first four or five weeks my tank did fine with a HOB filter but i did go out an get a skimmer much better now.
My tank is a 26 gallon bow front no sumps no fuge just a skimmer and a HOB filter on it now and Mine is doing fine with a 10-20% weakly water change.
In my advice I would give your tank a little while longer to cycle before you add your "show" fish.
Get your water tested, or buy a test kit and test it yourself remember you want everything on basic tests as close to zero as possable.
Please people dont flame us because we cycled our tanks this way, just fallowed somone elses advice.
Tank has been running now for two months everyone is thriving.
Sorry about spelling.

 

[invertcrazy]

I think I answered your earlier posts. Hope you didn't get offended from what I said, it wasn't meant that way, just trying to help.
Lets try again; Waiting 24 hours did not cycle your tank. The nitrogen cycle usually takes any where from 4 to 6 weeks to complete. About a week after you add anything to a fresh new tank, the ammonia has to rise and peak( about a week to 10 days) once the ammonia falls back to 0 then the nitrites has to rise and peak and fall back to 0( another week to 10 days). Water tests should be done every day or two to keep track of where the cycle is. The ammonia and nitrites are the 2 most toxic of the cycle. After the nitrites have fallen to 0 and the nitrates peaked and are on the way back down, this is the time to start adding the clean up crew(cuc-snails-hermit crabs etc) these will help to keep the gravel clean and eat the algae that may start to grow. A week to 10 days after adding the cuc is when the first fish should be added. Get test kits for ph-ammonia- nitrites- nitrates. The kits are about $15 each or you can get a master kit with all for around $28. Also a refractometer to check sg (salt) is very important as the hydrometers aren't very accurate. If your local fish shop(lfs) is going to check the water for you ask them to give you the numbers not just your water is ok but it is best if you have your own kits. Also check the exp date on the test kits, should be on the bottom of box.It's also best to get the liquid tests, not the paper strips as these are not as accurate as the liquid.
Under gravel filters are obsolete, no one in salt water uses them any more. they are more of a headache than any good. They may be ok for fresh water but not for salt.
As far as the skimmer, it's an important part of keeping the water clean. In the next couple of months I would look into picking one up. I have a coralife super skimmer on my 30 and does a great job. Well I hope this helps you a little. Patience is priceless in this hobby and nothing good ever comes from things being rushed.

 

[invertcrazy]

One more thing, you might want to take out the damsels before adding any new fish. By adding them first, they now think they own the whole tank, and any fish you put in there now will be harassed by the damsels. They live up to their name blue devils.