Just started my cycle and I have questions
- Thread starter tennisace
- Start date
jes723ika
Member
I just set up my 55 gallon last night.. and my water was really foggy too 
I only have a filter for now.. and my water was almost clear this morning .. I thought it was pretty quick. Theres still some salt on the glass on the inside..anyone know how to get that off or should I leave it be?
I only have a filter for now.. and my water was almost clear this morning .. I thought it was pretty quick. Theres still some salt on the glass on the inside..anyone know how to get that off or should I leave it be?
hot883
Active Member
Originally Posted by Jes723ika
I just set up my 55 gallon last night.. and my water was really foggy too I only have a filter for now.. and my water was almost clear this morning .. I thought it was pretty quick. Theres still some salt on the glass on the inside..anyone know how to get that off or should I leave it be?
I'm thinking it's not salt on the inside. I should all be desolved unless you just dumped in a WHOLE bag?
I just set up my 55 gallon last night.. and my water was really foggy too
I only have a filter for now.. and my water was almost clear this morning .. I thought it was pretty quick. Theres still some salt on the glass on the inside..anyone know how to get that off or should I leave it be?I'm thinking it's not salt on the inside. I should all be desolved unless you just dumped in a WHOLE bag?
tennisace
Member
Okay...after one day the water is still extremely cloudy. My filter is big, but it is like a wet dry, but I don't have bioballs or anything in it (bioballs and other filter media increase nitrates). All it is for is oxygenation (water hiting other water) and for my skimmer. I just added a sponge today to make it more silent. Do you think it should start clearing up?
Also, what do I do for the sand, am I supposed to KEEP stering it so that it gets all the cloudyness up or not?
Also, what do I do for the sand, am I supposed to KEEP stering it so that it gets all the cloudyness up or not?
troyw806
Member
I've never added it that way. The best way I've found is to get a clean empty bucket, mix it all check the salinity and put it in the tank pre mixed. The way you did it I would check it every day for about a week or two just to make sure it is stable. Then I would add your live rock and let it cycle for another 2-4 weeks before putting anything in it. Start with some cheap little damsels $4.00 or so at your lfs. I wouldn't put anything over $10.00 in it for at least 6-8 months.
tennisace
Member
Originally Posted by troyw806
I've never added it that way. The best way I've found is to get a clean empty bucket, mix it all check the salinity and put it in the tank pre mixed. The way you did it I would check it every day for about a week or two just to make sure it is stable. Then I would add your live rock and let it cycle for another 2-4 weeks before putting anything in it. Start with some cheap little damsels $4.00 or so at your lfs. I wouldn't put anything over $10.00 in it for at least 6-8 months.
I disagree with two things you said:
1. Puting a frozen shrimp in does the same thing as the damsel (add amonia and waste) without the fish going through the bad water quality, especially since I don't want a damsel in with my eels.
2. Once the tank is cycled and everything is stable, you can add anything you want as long as you don't add too many things and start mini cycles.
I've never added it that way. The best way I've found is to get a clean empty bucket, mix it all check the salinity and put it in the tank pre mixed. The way you did it I would check it every day for about a week or two just to make sure it is stable. Then I would add your live rock and let it cycle for another 2-4 weeks before putting anything in it. Start with some cheap little damsels $4.00 or so at your lfs. I wouldn't put anything over $10.00 in it for at least 6-8 months.
I disagree with two things you said:
1. Puting a frozen shrimp in does the same thing as the damsel (add amonia and waste) without the fish going through the bad water quality, especially since I don't want a damsel in with my eels.
2. Once the tank is cycled and everything is stable, you can add anything you want as long as you don't add too many things and start mini cycles.
monalisa
Active Member
Originally Posted by TennisAce
I disagree with two things you said:
1. Puting a frozen shrimp in does the same thing as the damsel (add amonia and waste) without the fish going through the bad water quality, especially since I don't want a damsel in with my eels.
2. Once the tank is cycled and everything is stable, you can add anything you want as long as you don't add too many things and start mini cycles.
agreed!!!!1
Lisa :happyfish
I disagree with two things you said:
1. Puting a frozen shrimp in does the same thing as the damsel (add amonia and waste) without the fish going through the bad water quality, especially since I don't want a damsel in with my eels.
2. Once the tank is cycled and everything is stable, you can add anything you want as long as you don't add too many things and start mini cycles.
agreed!!!!1
Lisa :happyfish
1journeyman
Active Member
Originally Posted by troyw806
Have at it. Wish you the best with your INVESTMENT.
LOL, and you have fun catching a damsel in a reef tank in a couple of months when it is terrorizing everything...
DON'T use damsels for guinea pigs.. cycle a tank with a dead shrimp, uncured live rock, etc.
Adding salt in your water starting a new tank is fine. Just don't do it once you start up your tank.
The sand will take a couple of days to settle. Eventually bacteria will weigh down the grains of sand and hold them in place.
Have at it. Wish you the best with your INVESTMENT.
LOL, and you have fun catching a damsel in a reef tank in a couple of months when it is terrorizing everything...
DON'T use damsels for guinea pigs.. cycle a tank with a dead shrimp, uncured live rock, etc.
Adding salt in your water starting a new tank is fine. Just don't do it once you start up your tank.
The sand will take a couple of days to settle. Eventually bacteria will weigh down the grains of sand and hold them in place.
mikeyjer
Active Member
Originally Posted by TennisAce
I am using tap (I used tap water from my house for about 7 years before I really got into the hobby, and everything was fine.), but I have that stuff that you add that gets rid of the chlorine and makes the tap water safe for fish.
It can be fine until you have problems down the road.... If you want to keep using tap water, that's your choice. Just an advice on RO/DI water. Come back later when you have a problem with it then ask the same question again about tap water. Good Luck!!!
I am using tap (I used tap water from my house for about 7 years before I really got into the hobby, and everything was fine.), but I have that stuff that you add that gets rid of the chlorine and makes the tap water safe for fish.
It can be fine until you have problems down the road.... If you want to keep using tap water, that's your choice. Just an advice on RO/DI water. Come back later when you have a problem with it then ask the same question again about tap water. Good Luck!!!
tennisace
Member
Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
It can be fine until you have problems down the road.... If you want to keep using tap water, that's your choice. Just an advice on RO/DI water. Come back later when you have a problem with it then ask the same question again about tap water. Good Luck!!!
Actually I do use RO/DI once I do water changes, but to fill up a 90g with it completely would cost a fortune, so I used tap water just for the initial fill of the tank.
It can be fine until you have problems down the road.... If you want to keep using tap water, that's your choice. Just an advice on RO/DI water. Come back later when you have a problem with it then ask the same question again about tap water. Good Luck!!!
Actually I do use RO/DI once I do water changes, but to fill up a 90g with it completely would cost a fortune, so I used tap water just for the initial fill of the tank.
1journeyman
Active Member
Originally Posted by TennisAce
Actually I do use RO/DI once I do water changes, but to fill up a 90g with it completely would cost a fortune, so I used tap water just for the initial fill of the tank.
You should start off with good water. Otherwise your cycle is going to have a heck of an algal bloom due to the phosphates. Also, any metals and chemicals in your tapwater will be present in your tank forever.... bad idea.
You could easily fill a 90 gallon for $30 with RO/DI water. Hardly a fortune in this hobby.
Actually I do use RO/DI once I do water changes, but to fill up a 90g with it completely would cost a fortune, so I used tap water just for the initial fill of the tank.
You should start off with good water. Otherwise your cycle is going to have a heck of an algal bloom due to the phosphates. Also, any metals and chemicals in your tapwater will be present in your tank forever.... bad idea.
You could easily fill a 90 gallon for $30 with RO/DI water. Hardly a fortune in this hobby.
robert dri
Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
You should start off with good water. Otherwise your cycle is going to have a heck of an algal bloom due to the phosphates. Also, any metals and chemicals in your tapwater will be present in your tank forever.... bad idea.
You could easily fill a 90 gallon for $30 with RO/DI water. Hardly a fortune in this hobby.
I made the mistake of using tap to fill my 72 gal. The algae bloom has been a pain in the a$%^ Walmart has r/0 for .48 a gallon here in Houston.
You should start off with good water. Otherwise your cycle is going to have a heck of an algal bloom due to the phosphates. Also, any metals and chemicals in your tapwater will be present in your tank forever.... bad idea.
You could easily fill a 90 gallon for $30 with RO/DI water. Hardly a fortune in this hobby.
I made the mistake of using tap to fill my 72 gal. The algae bloom has been a pain in the a$%^ Walmart has r/0 for .48 a gallon here in Houston.
birdguy
New Member
I'm pretty new to the hobby, but worked in the freshwater aquaculture industry for about 10 years. Maybe I'm missing something .... but why not put bioballs in your filter ?? The nitrate that you'll get will come from the conversion of more toxic nitrite won't it ?? Back on the old "fish farm" we were delighted to see nitrate after start-up, because it meant that the biofiltration was reaching maturity. Am I all wet ?? Like I said I'm pretty new to this saltwater stuff.