Officially joined the hobby today!!!
- Thread starter gcgrad
- Start date
deejeff442
Active Member
time to take the shrimp out if you didnt already.it is well on its way.1.022 is fine for now .it wont matter for the cycle.i keep mine at 1.025-1.026 mostly for the corals.
deejeff442
Active Member
how long have you had ammonia readings?usually ammonia hangs around for a few days.but they look like a strong cycle.just let it ride out.when the ammonia and nitrites are zero you are good.you will probably get nitrates at 20-40 but fish are not bothered at these levels just corals.once the ammonia and nitrites are zero time for a cuc.
gcgrad
Member
Thanks deejeff! I started picking up ammonia readings on Day 3. Don't worry, I'm patient and will let it take its course. Any recommendations on the cuc? Right now I'm thinking several snails and maybe a cleaner shrimp. But not sure how many snails and on the fence with the shrimp.
deejeff442
Active Member
hell this thread is so long i forgot what size tank you have.how much lr is in there?i find shrimp to be useless.get a few conches.they are very hardy,clean like crazy and look cool.
gcgrad
Member
Day 13 of cycle. Temp 78, salinity 1.025, ph 8.2, ammonia 0.25 ppm, nitrite 5 ppm, nitrate 40 ppm. As expected ammonia is beginning to slowly decrease. Nitrite is staying around 5 ppm, and nitrate has increased from 20 ppm to 40 ppm. All looks to be going normal. Protein skimmer has been hooked up for 48 hours and no skimate has been produced. I have it tuned where the bubble are reaching about 2 inches below the line at which it overflows into the collection cup. I understand that skimmers take time to break in so not too concerned with it right now. Plus there is really nothing in the tank producing any waste so I guess I shouldn't be expecting to see much of anything making its way into the collection cup.
deejeff442
Active Member
i wouldnt bother with the skimmer untill you add life.it might slow the cycle process.
gcgrad
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///forum/thread/383014/officially-joined-the-hobby-today/300#post_3393391
i wouldnt bother with the skimmer untill you add life.it might slow the cycle process.
Oh ok. I read something online that said turn it on after 10 days. Was supposed to help spike the ammonia. If anything having it on for the last two will help break it in. I'll turn it off though. Thanks
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///forum/thread/383014/officially-joined-the-hobby-today/300#post_3393391
i wouldnt bother with the skimmer untill you add life.it might slow the cycle process.
Oh ok. I read something online that said turn it on after 10 days. Was supposed to help spike the ammonia. If anything having it on for the last two will help break it in. I'll turn it off though. Thanks
deejeff442
Active Member
personally i love conches get 3 of them the dont seem to die off like snails.but get some snails maybe 20 of them
deejeff442
Active Member
5 thats nothing.i can get mine to zero but even if it gets to 20 i dont worry.i have never really had it over that.dont drive yourself nuts worrying about 5 or 10 nitrates.do you have some algae for the snails to munch on in there?really you always want just a little algae in a tank because alot of fish and critters eat it.
2quills
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by gcgrad http:///forum/thread/383014/officially-joined-the-hobby-today/300#post_3397637
When I purchased my turbo snails the guy at the LFS said for a reef that I should have my salinity at 1.023. I swore I have read to keep it at 1.025. What do you all think about this?
1.021-1.025 you're good. The key is just to keep things constant and avoid rapid changes. Inverts are the most sensitive animals to changes in the marine environment. But they can survive just fine in those ranges if you can keep away from any major swings.
Edit: make sure to drip acclimate slowly over a couple of hours. Lots of local fish stores keep their salinity a little lower so acclimating them to 1.023 might be the way to go. I've always kept my tank right around 1.024-1.025. That's what I acclimated my turbos to and they turned out just fine. Still alive after 6 months. My first one was killed by my halloween hermit.
Originally Posted by gcgrad http:///forum/thread/383014/officially-joined-the-hobby-today/300#post_3397637
When I purchased my turbo snails the guy at the LFS said for a reef that I should have my salinity at 1.023. I swore I have read to keep it at 1.025. What do you all think about this?
1.021-1.025 you're good. The key is just to keep things constant and avoid rapid changes. Inverts are the most sensitive animals to changes in the marine environment. But they can survive just fine in those ranges if you can keep away from any major swings.
Edit: make sure to drip acclimate slowly over a couple of hours. Lots of local fish stores keep their salinity a little lower so acclimating them to 1.023 might be the way to go. I've always kept my tank right around 1.024-1.025. That's what I acclimated my turbos to and they turned out just fine. Still alive after 6 months. My first one was killed by my halloween hermit.