ok, stupid question

[saltrookie]

Here's my question, I don't know exactly where my readings are....my husband took them tonight but, I know they still need to come down some. Amonia 0 it's the other that has to come down. My question is the LR we have in the tank is starting to "change colors" some, it's not the pretty purples or pink but, you can tell it's growing something. IMO, I belive it's starting to do "its thing". We have two damsels, which we plan on taking back and cc and lr and the tank has been up and running for about a month now. We are thinking if the readings are right on adding something this weekend but, the only problem we have is what?? We don't know if we need to add a cleaning crew first or add a few fish?? I don't want to starve the cleaning crew but, I don't want to add the fish if it's not time yet. Please help. Any opinions are welcome here and if it's the cleaning crew, what should we add....it's a 37 gallon square cube tank. TIA!!!

 

[fisherson]

i'd say add a small cleaning crew if your worried then add a fish in a week or so if everything is stable.
I added a fairly large cleaning crew right away with 2 clowns after my cycle and i was ok ...

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by saltrookie
Here's my question, I don't know exactly where my readings are....my husband took them tonight but, I know they still need to come down some. Amonia 0 it's the other that has to come down. My question is the LR we have in the tank is starting to "change colors" some, it's not the pretty purples or pink but, you can tell it's growing something. IMO, I belive it's starting to do "its thing". We have two damsels, which we plan on taking back and cc and lr and the tank has been up and running for about a month now. We are thinking if the readings are right on adding something this weekend but, the only problem we have is what?? We don't know if we need to add a cleaning crew first or add a few fish?? I don't want to starve the cleaning crew but, I don't want to add the fish if it's not time yet. Please help. Any opinions are welcome here and if it's the cleaning crew, what should we add....it's a 37 gallon square cube tank. TIA!!!
Before anything can be added, you need to make sure nitrite is down to zero too!!! And then you need to get your nitrate down as close to zero as possible, zero being at best! If your worried about the clean up crew not having enough food to eat, you can always feed them! Then you can add a good hardy starter fish. Did you use those Damsels to cycle your tank? :thinking: :happyfish

 

[saltrookie]

No, I didn't actually add them to cycle my tank...unfortantuly, bad info from my LFS at the time. They have survived but, I know better now!! I know that I need to get rid of them but, for now...as long as they are ok, I'm keeping them until I know everything is ok. I think by this weekend my levels should be ok and I was just wondering what I should add, I wanted to know my "clean up crew" would be ok. I also wanted to know that the stuff growing on my rocks was a "good" sign. The rocks where "cured" and in an establised tank from a differnt lfs that I think is good and I wanted to make sure what I'm seeing is a "good" sign!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by saltrookie
No, I didn't actually add them to cycle my tank...unfortantuly, bad info from my LFS at the time. They have survived but, I know better now!! I know that I need to get rid of them but, for now...as long as they are ok, I'm keeping them until I know everything is ok. I think by this weekend my levels should be ok and I was just wondering what I should add, I wanted to know my "clean up crew" would be ok. I also wanted to know that the stuff growing on my rocks was a "good" sign. The rocks where "cured" and in an establised tank from a differnt lfs that I think is good and I wanted to make sure what I'm seeing is a "good" sign!!
What your seeing is good, but HOW did you cycle your tank? Since you bought cured live rock, I am unsure how you cycled at all??? Unless they were partially cured when you bought'em? It may take more then this weekend to be stablized. You need to check on the readings first before adding anything. Do a water change to lower Nitrate like I've said earlier. Good Luck!!! :happyfish

 

[saltrookie]

Mike,
I'm sorry...what I meant to say was yes, I did cycle my tank with damsels. I must have fat fingers tonight.

It's just my husband was going for cleaning crew and I said cleaning crew with a couple of fish...wanted to know what was best. Is the "stuff" growing on my rock the coral line?? Sorry for sounding so "stupid" but, I heard no question was stupid, just the ones not asked.
TIA
Monica

 

[alyssia]

It could be coralline growing on your rocks, hard to tell you really without pics.

 

[saltrookie]

I think without before and after pics it would be hard to see but, IMO it seems like I'm working in the right direction, I just wanted to be sure. I didn't want my "cc" to die off because I made a "stupid" mistake. I just know that my rock was, according to the LFS, which really seemed to know what he was talking about (since he is in the hobby as well) knew what he was talking about) seened already "precured" I just want to know what I need to add first....cleaning crew, fish, or both at the same time. I don't want my cc to die off just because "they" didn't have enough to feed "off" from.

 

[mikeyjer]

Here's a picture of my Blue Zoas, the rock it's attached to has coraline algae growing on it. The pink purple colored.

You should never cycle a tank with fish!!! How long have you been cycling? Have you done your research yet on what type of fish you can have? In a 37 gallon, there's not much you can add. NO big pretty fish like tangs, triggers, angels, butterfly, etc. Only a few small fish like damsels, chromis, clowns, etc. You really should do your research further before moving on with this hobby. Most of the hobbist in here know what they're talking about and you should listen. Don't listen to everything a LFS tells you!! You should really get a beginners book and start reading!!!

 

[saltrookie]

Mikey,
Yes, I have done my research now. I know from the drs site what I can and can't have. Unfortunately....I didn't know about this site when I started my swt and I went by what my lfs told me, I now know better and that's why I turn to this board for questions. I know now to not "cycle" with damals and they can be mean...did I know that then....NO!! I have learned ALOT from this message board and I'm really proud there is something out here like this for beginners and not so beginners that have questions.
Belive me, I read this every night finding out new things and researching, no matter if new or not....you can always learn something from here!!
TIA
Monica

 

[symon]

Originally Posted by saltrookie
Here's my question, I don't know exactly where my readings are....my husband took them tonight but, I know they still need to come down some. Amonia 0 it's the other that has to come down. My question is the LR we have in the tank is starting to "change colors" some, it's not the pretty purples or pink but, you can tell it's growing something. IMO, I belive it's starting to do "its thing". We have two damsels, which we plan on taking back and cc and lr and the tank has been up and running for about a month now. We are thinking if the readings are right on adding something this weekend but, the only problem we have is what?? We don't know if we need to add a cleaning crew first or add a few fish?? I don't want to starve the cleaning crew but, I don't want to add the fish if it's not time yet. Please help. Any opinions are welcome here and if it's the cleaning crew, what should we add....it's a 37 gallon square cube tank. TIA!!!

1st of all you ned to know Excatly what your reading are!
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates as close to 0 as possible, it will generally always show some!
Once your sure you have actually cycled, You add a cleaning crew, you will want to watch them for a couple of weeks, Checking your water all the time, you want to make sure your ammonia dosent spike again. Read up on water changes an work on a schedual for water changes.
I personally do a 10 % water change every 2 weeks, and top off every other week!
Take your time, have patience you will enjoy your tank much more! :joy:

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Symon
Nitrates as close to 0 as possible, it will generally always show some!
Unless Denitrification occurs in DSB or DSB in fuge system, then it does not show!
Originally Posted by Symon
Once your sure you have actually cycled, You add a cleaning crew, you will want to watch them for a couple of weeks, Checking your water all the time, you want to make sure your ammonia dosent spike again. Read up on water changes an work on a schedual for water changes.
Ammonia should be at 0 anyway before you add anything, it should not spike by adding cleanup crews. Depending on tank size, only add 1-2 fish at a time.
Originally Posted by Symon
I personally do a 10 % water change every 2 weeks, and top off every other week!
Or 10% weekly would be good too! 2 weeks would work. Depending on lighting system, top offs may be done daily depending on how much evaporation occurs. This will help keeping your salinity constant.
Another thing is you need to check on your calcium levels since you have live rocks, but if you do regular water changes, you shouldn't have to worry about it. :happyfish

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
Here's a picture of my Blue Zoas, the rock it's attached to has coraline algae growing on it. The pink purple colored.

You should never cycle a tank with fish!!! How long have you been cycling? Have you done your research yet on what type of fish you can have? In a 37 gallon, there's not much you can add. NO big pretty fish like tangs, triggers, angels, butterfly, etc. Only a few small fish like damsels, chromis, clowns, etc. You really should do your research further before moving on with this hobby. Most of the hobbist in here know what they're talking about and you should listen. Don't listen to everything a LFS tells you!! You should really get a beginners book and start reading!!!

Mikey, I love those zoos!

 

[mikeyjer]

They only look good when the halides are on. They blend in with everything when there's only VHO actinics on. :happyfish