New tank underway

[watertight]

Hi all, Still a bit of a newbie here, and to s/w in general - been running a 10 gal nano for around 6 months, now I've got a 40 gal tank cycling - used a pre-filtered p/h from my nano, plus some beachsand and a rock out of it as well, substrate is natural beachsand, water is NSW (As is my nano).
I started the tank cycling last week, temp at 82 degrees, using the jumbo shrimp method. I was expecting it to take a few weeks to start showing nitrite, but I checked it tonight and it was showing 0.5, after only a week! I'm ordering a 1200 litre per hour (315 gph) cannister later this week, to back up the 400 lph (105 gph) pre-filtered p/h. Is this a good set-up? I need to know ASAP, because I have to pay for the cannister on Thursday. (Wasn't expecting the tank cycle to move so quickly!)
If the tank fully cycles before the cannister arrives will the p/h be enough to support a bit of liverock and possibly a blue damsel from my nano? I eventually want to transfer everything from the nano to the 40, but there is a BTA in there and I don't even have lighting set-up for the bigger tank yet.
Thanks in advance,
Tim.

 

[ricks280]

hi tim,
yes you can run the p/heads to maintain the rock with out your filter, your cycle will take a little more as it often tends to spike i would also be chasing a good skimmer and plenty of live rock, dont put any fish in there until your nitrates get below 60. (jmi) good luck and keep us posted. where in w.a. are you from?

(rick)

 

[watertight]

G'day Rick, thanks for the reply. I haven't even checked nitrAte yet, I tested ammonia a couple of times during the week, first time I even checked for nitrIte was tonight, wasn't expecting it so early!
I'm in Waikiki, a suburb of Rockingham, about 30 km's south of Perth. I lived in Melbourne for a couple of years, on the Mornington peninsular, while I was in the Navy.
So I should be ok to put a bit of LR in as soon as the nitrite has gone and nitrAte is showing? I also need to get a light for this tank, was going to try and get HO fluro's for the time being, and a Mh after Christmas (Tight budget this time of year!). What do you reckon?
Nice to meet you on here, anyway, cheers,
Tim

 

[ricks280]

hi tim,
yes put the l/rock in as it will help in every aspect, the fluros will be ok but m/h are a must .( check out my tank under reef tanks just posted them) Rick. :happyfish

 

[watertight]

I checked out your pics, Rick, awesome tank! Thanks for the reply - I'll keep you posted

 

[watertight]

Another question - I plan on sending a cheque for the cannister tomorrow night or Friday - would I be better off to just put in another small pre-filtered p/head and a skimmer at this stage, plus some l/r, and add the 600 lph (157gph) HOB from my nano later on? That way I could use the funds to get some lighting set up. I only have 1 fish to transfer over....