The Beginning of my journey
- Thread starter bender77
- Start date
bender77
Member
Cycle question!
It's been a long time since I've really had to cycle a tank, so I just wanted to get an opinion or two.
I set up my tank using live rock that had been freshwater dipped and stored in a tub with powerheads for a week, 2 cups of substrate from my 6 yr old tank and a shrimp just to make sure the biological filter was in place and my tank was cycled.
I had an ammonia spike of 0.5 for almost week. The ammonia has now gone to 0, the nitrite is 0 and nitrate is between 5 and 10 (I cant' tell a difference in the color on the API test) So I'm guessing that my tank is cycled and I had a short ammonia spike due to the extra bioload of the shrimp and maybe some die off on the rock that was quickly brought under control by the already in place bacteria. Does that sound reasonable?
I'm going to watch it for a few more days then add a few snails if everything continues to do well
It's been a long time since I've really had to cycle a tank, so I just wanted to get an opinion or two.
I set up my tank using live rock that had been freshwater dipped and stored in a tub with powerheads for a week, 2 cups of substrate from my 6 yr old tank and a shrimp just to make sure the biological filter was in place and my tank was cycled.
I had an ammonia spike of 0.5 for almost week. The ammonia has now gone to 0, the nitrite is 0 and nitrate is between 5 and 10 (I cant' tell a difference in the color on the API test) So I'm guessing that my tank is cycled and I had a short ammonia spike due to the extra bioload of the shrimp and maybe some die off on the rock that was quickly brought under control by the already in place bacteria. Does that sound reasonable?
I'm going to watch it for a few more days then add a few snails if everything continues to do well
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3091808
nothing wrong with that skimmer. clean it up good and keep it.
also, you don't NEED that bio-wheel filter. The live rock and skimmer are enough.
I have the exact same skimmer...It works great but I think it is a little big for that tank. The cup would take up half the back.
http:///forum/post/3091808
nothing wrong with that skimmer. clean it up good and keep it.
also, you don't NEED that bio-wheel filter. The live rock and skimmer are enough.
I have the exact same skimmer...It works great but I think it is a little big for that tank. The cup would take up half the back.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
About your cycle: Sounds to me like your live rock probably started its cycling in the tub you had it in for a week before adding it to the display. I wouldn't go throwing in seahorses willy-nilly just yet, but your CUC idea is a good one. The idea of starting the cycle with a raw shrimp is the same as "ghost-feeding" the tank, remember: doing this helps boost the bacteria populations to a larger quantity than they would normally exist at, so you don't have a problem with ammonia when you add your livestock. With this in mind, if you add your cuc nacarrius snails and feed them a little bit every couple of days, you'll continue to build bacteria levels while checking to make sure the tank is "really" ready. Wouldn't surprise me if it was, considering the age of the rock, but I'd still wait another week with the snails before adding the ponies.
dingus890
Member
Everything looks awesome!
The cycle seems to short to me. Just monitor everything. The tank should be atleast a few months old before horses are put in the tank.IMO 4-6 months just to make sure the tank is mature enough and stable for there delicate nature.But this is just my opinion.
The live rock also is building new colonies of bacteria that may have been damaged from the freshwater dip.(which was needed so as not to introduce hitchhikers.)
Remember too when you get your horses you will have to mod your filter and powerhead intakes with sponge or mesh as horses can get stuck or worse.
Everything is looking great and I think your future horses will love the tank!
The cycle seems to short to me. Just monitor everything. The tank should be atleast a few months old before horses are put in the tank.IMO 4-6 months just to make sure the tank is mature enough and stable for there delicate nature.But this is just my opinion.
The live rock also is building new colonies of bacteria that may have been damaged from the freshwater dip.(which was needed so as not to introduce hitchhikers.)
Remember too when you get your horses you will have to mod your filter and powerhead intakes with sponge or mesh as horses can get stuck or worse.
Everything is looking great and I think your future horses will love the tank!
bender77
Member
Don't worry, I'm not planning on getting the horses for a while yet. I have a plan
Snails, then macro then some softies then the horses then maybe a fishy friend or 2 (goby, firefish) I don't have plans for a horse for a while. My tank is running hot without lights(between 78 and 80 even with a fan), so I have a chiller coming too. I want to go slow between each step to make sure everything is OK and growing. My lights come on Weds along with a few snails
Already have been looking for sponge for the intakes too. In fact that was my next question closer to time, what was everyone using and if they covered the power heads of the korilla and with what.
I'm so excited, ready for some life in my tank. My DH has been laughing at me for searching the rocks for life every night. Just trying to make sure something unwanted hasn't survived. For now all I have seen that has made it is one feather duster and a peanut worm, oh and a mushroom(well so far anyway, it looks a little rough)
Already have been looking for sponge for the intakes too. In fact that was my next question closer to time, what was everyone using and if they covered the power heads of the korilla and with what.
I'm so excited, ready for some life in my tank. My DH has been laughing at me for searching the rocks for life every night. Just trying to make sure something unwanted hasn't survived. For now all I have seen that has made it is one feather duster and a peanut worm, oh and a mushroom(well so far anyway, it looks a little rough)
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Well I use an Emperor 400 HOB filter and two koralia-1 powerheads. The koralias really dont need anything to cover the intake area, since it's spread out over most of the surface of the "egg" the intake flow is very minimal in any particular spot. My horses have never tried to stick their tails in the outflow section of the koralia, but it you were worried about it you could always put the koralia's flow collar on with the included screen attached.
By the way, I used to just run the one koralia-1 until you started this thread. When you mentioned your powerheads I remembered I had a couple spares in the garage, so I decided to take my own advice and try 2 in the tank. So far the added flow hasn't fazed them one bit. As it stands now, the male likes to swim up behind one of the powerheads and surf the current to the other side of the tank. He must like it; he'll sit and do it over and over again sometimes. I do have to turn off one of the powerheads and the filter at feeding time, however, just to make sure they get enough mysis.
By the way, I used to just run the one koralia-1 until you started this thread. When you mentioned your powerheads I remembered I had a couple spares in the garage, so I decided to take my own advice and try 2 in the tank. So far the added flow hasn't fazed them one bit. As it stands now, the male likes to swim up behind one of the powerheads and surf the current to the other side of the tank. He must like it; he'll sit and do it over and over again sometimes. I do have to turn off one of the powerheads and the filter at feeding time, however, just to make sure they get enough mysis.
bender77
Member
I added some stuff today! I'm really excited.
The bummer, the sponge bag was leaking and almost empty. I'm afraid it may have been exposed to air. I guess only time will tell
Now to wait and see what lives and what doesn't so I know what to order to decorate my tank with. I really want it all natural with no fake plants, so I hope a macro or 2 will really take hold along with the sponge and some gorgonians (yet to be ordered) to provide natural hitches. So, here is what my tank looks like as of today
Remember that sad little glob of goo that you all called a mushroom
And more globs or goo on the same rock are looking more like mushrooms and they are getting a greenish color (hard to tell from the pic)
Remember that sad little glob of goo that you all called a mushroom
And more globs or goo on the same rock are looking more like mushrooms and they are getting a greenish color (hard to tell from the pic)
bender77
Member
Not much new going on. Getting some snail from SWF this week and a leather. The diatom bloom has started. Some of the macro's are looking bad
Once I get things growing and the diatoms under control, then it will be pony time. I sort of thinking about some fern caulerpa. It's supposed to be slow growing and not take over.
dingus890
Member
Looking good so far. I really like the red sponge. My only advise I would give is get ride of the green Caulerpa.(Not sure if this is what you have) I had a small(and I mean small) piece on a piece of live rock. This algae has taken over my tank, killed out corals. It is a pain in the but IMO. You have to continuously pull it out as it constantly grows like a vine/weed. They are good for taking out NitrAtes in your water though.
Just passing this along as I so wish someone did for me when I could have taken that darn piece of Live rock out of my tank with the Caulerpa over 1 year ago...lol
Just passing this along as I so wish someone did for me when I could have taken that darn piece of Live rock out of my tank with the Caulerpa over 1 year ago...lol
bender77
Member
Originally Posted by ann83
http:///forum/post/3114489
I don't see any caulerpa... unless it is the little green leaf-looking thing in the last picture at the bottom right of the rock structure...
The green algaes that I do see, codium and cheato, aren't invasive, so you're safe there.
That's what I have, cheato, codium and the other is Halimeda. I have been thinking about cactus caulerpa, it's not supposed to be as invasive/fast growing
http:///forum/post/3114489
I don't see any caulerpa... unless it is the little green leaf-looking thing in the last picture at the bottom right of the rock structure...
The green algaes that I do see, codium and cheato, aren't invasive, so you're safe there.
That's what I have, cheato, codium and the other is Halimeda. I have been thinking about cactus caulerpa, it's not supposed to be as invasive/fast growing
bluering09
Member
Great start! keep it up.
bender77
Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3114709
on the bottom far left of your red ball sponge, is it turning white?
I had an orange tree sponge....and all of a sudden it started to get white spots....and them after a while it was all white and DEAD
Not yet, I've been watching it. I think you are seeing a spot on the glass or dust from the sand an moving it that day. I think this tank is going to kill me
http:///forum/post/3114709
on the bottom far left of your red ball sponge, is it turning white?
I had an orange tree sponge....and all of a sudden it started to get white spots....and them after a while it was all white and DEAD
Not yet, I've been watching it. I think you are seeing a spot on the glass or dust from the sand an moving it that day. I think this tank is going to kill me