New Tank Pics & Aquascaping

bacffin

bacffin

Member
Just had to post some of my new tank pics. :D
I rearranged the rocks a few times and ended up with this. Lots of crevices and tunnels for the livestock. Day 2 into my cycle...Is that shrimp wild. It looks like a cocoon.
Bruce



 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Yes airforceb2, It's a cocktail shrimp along with 50 lbs. of cured live rock and 20 lbs. of arag-alive live sand.
RUBBERDUCK, why take it out now? I just put it in there friday. Why should I be scared.
bigarn, I still had ammonia at less than .25 ppm as of noon yesterday. Going to do another test in a little while. What is considered a significant ammonia spike? My previous readings are here if you are interested. https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=165151
Thanks,
Bruce
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
Give it anotheer 2 or 3 days .... you're showing nitrites, so the tank is cycleing. I've seen tanks cycle without ever showing an ammonia spike. :D
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Originally Posted by bigarn
Give it anotheer 2 or 3 days .... you're showing nitrites, so the tank is cycleing. I've seen tanks cycle without ever showing an ammonia spike. :D
Do you know why or how it can cycle without showing an ammonia spike? :thinking:
 
nyyankeees

nyyankeees

Member
It probably would've spiked faster if you used a raw shrimp(grey colored) cocktail shrimps are already cooked. Maybe you should take that one out and throw in a raw one?? :thinking:
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Good point NY...It may be that cooked shrimp is not decaying fast enough. I'll pick up a raw one today and stick it in.
Bruce
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bacffin
Good point NY...It may be that cooked shrimp is not decaying fast enough. I'll pick up a raw one today and stick it in.
Bruce
I took it for granted it was a raw shrimp .... definitely change it out. :D
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Well I changed out the cooked shrimp for a raw fresh one. My reading last night were ammonia 0.25, nitrites >1.0, and Nitrates 50. Still no spike in ammonia yet. We'll see if the new shrimp will do it.
Bruce
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Got a quick question. I am using a 50 micron filter pad on top of my wet/dry. I clean this once a day. Should I be doing this while I am trying to cycle my tank? Should I just take it out completely until the cycle is over?
Thanks,
Bruce
 
jjlittle

jjlittle

Member
I wouldn't clean your filter every day you are tring to build up bacteria and cleaning the filter will only make it take longer you tank need bacteria.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Thanks for responding jjlittle. I was under the impression that the bio-balls would house the bacteria and that is why I have been cleaning the filter pad. Should I just take the pad out and continue to use the pre filter only? :notsure:
Thanks
 
jjlittle

jjlittle

Member
You could just remove the pad the bio ball will take a little time to collect enough bacteria for your tank just remember that down the road like 6 month the bio ball can have reverse effect on your tank and create Nitrate problems. I removed my bio balls - 6 months and my nitrates dropped from 20 to 5 so keep eye on it. Some here on the treads dont believe that bio balls are Nitrate factories but the are that is what they do but they can build up to much and then do reverse effect to the tank.Thats what it did to mine anyway and my LFS guy who is a Biologist is who told me they were the cause of the Nitrate problem i was having and now they are fine.I now run no filters at all just live rock which I am not sure you are running but it is the best filter you can get just get enough of it.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Yes, I will keep an eye on my nitrates. I have read plenty of debate here on the issue. I will find my way when the time comes, I'm sure, but this is just a start. I am using 50 lbs. of lr and 20 lbs. of ls for a 45 tank.
After you took the boi-balls out did you use it a fuge?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top