Question

[djcanis]

I appologize for what may seem like stupid questions but I just recently made the move to saltwater, and it seems everywhere I turn I get different advice and opinions. I just recently moved my tank a couple of hundred miles. I drained about 20 to 25 of the 30 gallons in the tank. Upon re-setting up the tank I changed my filter (a crappy wisper) and used new water. Could I have killed off the bacteria in my tank and this be the caus eof my problems? (see ammonia and live rock) just a thought after reading a bunch of posts. I am assuming now that this is the initial ammonia spike of the cycle? Thanks again

 

[speg]

Have you cycled your tank before? Or are you saying that you are wondering if you started a cycle? I am slightly confused.... moving your tank around can possibly cause ammonia spikes though.. removing 70% of the water from your tank is not really recommended of course either but it shouldnt be a huge issue.

 

[djcanis]

Im just wondering what I did, experience is the best knowledge. I think it's a combination of things i did. I think what I'm asking is, the initial cycle, which I'm still trying to get a good definition of cycle, could I have cleaned my tank to the point where it is like starting from scratch. The 70% water change, changing the filter, etc... am I starting over back at teh beginning like a new tank, or is it from somthing else?

 

[speg]

Changing the filter shouldnt really matter.. taking out the water may not have been the problem.. but maybe when you poured in all that it stirred something up.. you using live sand? and how many lbs of rock? Usually when you move a tank or move something in a tank (stirring up sand or moving rocks) it causes ammonia to be released that was settled in a spot/area in the tank.. thus causing the spike.Cycle is this - When you start a tank you're looking for beneificial bacteria to inhabit and thrive on your sand/rocks/bioballs/etc. This is called your biological filter. What happens is - when you get ammonia in the tank from fish poohin/feeding/death/etc a type of bacteria will consume the ammonia in your water (how nice right?), in turn those same bacteria release nitrites into the tank. Nitrites are toxic to fish as well, but not quite as bad as ammonia.. still however there is another type of bacteria that consumes the nitrites! Then nitrates are released. Nitrates are not nearly as bad as ammonia/nitrites and you will most likely have this in your tank even if its the cleanest tank in the world.. only when it gets high around 20+ is it anything to be concerened about. Doing weekly/bi-weekly water changes will help reduce nitrates. Also plants in your aquarium/sump/refugium will help eliminate nitrates naturally. Also there are chemicals that will remove them.. media bags, nitrate removers, etc.
When your ammonia/nitrites readings are zero for a few days.. your cycle is over (rejoice).
Anything else I can help with today? :happy:

 

[djcanis]

Thanks, now I get it, I'm not using live sand, I should be though, I got crushed coral, and only 10 lbs of rock in a 30 gallon tank, I'm working on building it up, but its so expensive here and I dont have the equipment yet to cure it myself. Should i make the switch to live sand or can I combine the two?

 

[speg]

Removing the crushed coral completely would be better. Where you at that its so expensive?
Do you have any livestock in your tank right now? If you dont ... then now is a good time to remove the crushed coral and place sand in it!
Also one last thing.... did you HAVE to make two posts? I am getting dizzy hopping from post to post!

 

[djcanis]

Upstate New York, it averages about 9$ a lbs cured, i have a seebaa clown, 4 stripe damsel, blue damsel and a bi-color angel. And I think the other post is done. Sorry. thanks for the help

 

[djcanis]

one lasr question, there is somthing growing on my rocks, 1 looks like a white tube type thing almost like a flower, the other is a white ball like the burrs you find on your pants after a hike in the woods. Any idea what these might be?

 

[speg]

If they are white its probably a sponge... though tough to say without a pic.
The one thats like a flower... is it a small anemone maybe? Aptasia? Light bulb anemone etc.
Also im shocked NY is only 9 dollars a lb I figured stuff was uber expensive in NY.... my Aunt pays 11 dollars a lb for rock in Ohio!

 

[airforceb2]

Tube with a flower thing may be a hitch hiker feather duster.

 

[monalisa]

Yup, probably a feather duster. I have a piece of rock that came with more than a dozen of the little critters, and they're all going strong!!

Lisa :happyfish

 

[speg]

If the tube and the flower is a seperate color/texture then its a feather duster probably.. but you didnt say they were seperate

 

[djcanis]

the tube and the flower are different shades of white, they were mostly growing around the filter tube but have now moved. None seem to last though, the grow to about a half inch and then disappear.

 

[airforceb2]

Oh, now starting to sound like sponges. Does the flower part go in the tube?ds

 

[speg]

Not too many sponges move. I vote for anemone.

 

[djcanis]

there are two seperate things, the tubes which are about a 1/4 inch long with what looks like hairs comming off the end, the other is a ball like structure, all wite and furry like the burrs in the woods.

 

[djcanis]

there too small to get a pic with my camera phone

 

[djcanis]

they dont move, it's new one's that pop up and the old ones are gone, I'm asuming they break off or are my fish eating them

 

[airforceb2]

Hmm...
I'm placing my bets on Q-tip sponges and dusters.

 

[djcanis]

is there anything I need to do to take care of them or do they just go on there own