Update on My First Tank . . and more questions.

[ocellaris]

As I said in ealier posts I'm working on cycling my first tank. The 20 gallon tank has been sitting there with the Duetto filter running and 20 lbs of live sand for a little over a week now. Yesterday I added a piece (about 3 lbs) of live rock. I've gotten different answers about when I should start adding fish like a damsel to help it cycle. The woman at the pet store says don't add even a damsel for at least 2 or 3 more weeks. Any advice?
Also, I got a water test kist from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and tested my water yesterday. I'm not sure what to make of the result. I have a decent idea of what the optimum levels are (pH - 8.2, ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - 0) but I'm not certain if there is any leway with these levels. Assuming I did the tests correctly my levels are pH - somewhere between 7.8 and 8.0, Ammonia ~.25, nitrite - ~.25, nitrate - 0) Considering the stage my tank is in what do I make of these numbers? It's seems like I'm pretty close (except for pH) to being in a good state.
I'd like to get a new filter. Something a little beefier than the Duetto I'm using right now. I posted earlier and got a coulpe of responses. I'm thinking of getting a Skilter. I understand that it has a built in protein Skimmer. Is that correct? I've also heard of potential problems with protein skimmers. Do I need to wory about this? I'm planning on this being a fish only tank (well, some inverts, read below). Also, is there any procedure I need to follow when putting a new filter in my tank?
I've read about the benefits of keeping some inverteretes in your tank to keep it clean (ie: snails, shrimp, etc.) Any advice here? Should I add any snails, shrimp or any other inverts? What kind and how many? And at what stage in the tank's cycling process should I add them?
Thanks for taking the time to read all that. I'm new to the hobby and eager to learn more and I can't always find books that have answers to my questions. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[mr . salty]

You CAN add fish NOW. a couple chromis will do. That PH is a little high. It should be around 8.2. The Skilter is a good filter. Ive got one. The skimmers do need a little help but I've figured that out. Take the filter element out and block off the bottom two oppenings with something.Cut a piece out of a milk carton, or use lexan. This raises the water leval in the filter. Then remove the air regulator valve on the end of the air tube. Attach a 2or3foot piece of hose to it.This acts as a muffler to quiet the thing down. This works on mine. When you switch filters leave the old one in and running a week till the SKILTER can establish it's own micro organisms. As for inverts,wait till the tank is cycled. STEVE
[This message has been edited by MR . SALTY (edited 08-06-2000).]

 

[kris]

I would wait another week before adding a damsel. The lr itself will cycle your tank and based on your test results you're on your way already. Try a buffer for your ph.
As far as the ammo and nitrites you're on the right track, a little more time and the ammonia will disappear and the nitrites will get even higher and then the nitrites dissappear and you're left with nitrates and the only thing to do with them is water changes.
I had heard not so good things about the skilter form others on this board a while ago
but Mr.Salty seems to have fixed those (I think it was mostly the noise and inefficiency of the skimmer that people were complaining about. I still say the fluval canister is exceptional choice(only the new models with the numbers ending in 4) otherwise check into the cpr bakpak2 I heard fantastic reviews on those which like the skilter combines skimming with bio-filtering.
Anyway there are a million different ways to filter your tank and just as many opinions on the subject. So choose based on your tank size, your budget (some of those wet/dry's are spendy and a good skimmer equally so and imo the venturi style is the only way to go in skimmers) and your good judgement. If a few months down the road you are having water quality trouble then change or upgrade.
Like salty said don't add any inverts till you are fully established, as inverts are much less tolerant of water quality fluctuations.
GOOD LUCK
Boy am I getting long winded in my old age,sorry
Good Luck

 

[ocellaris]

Thanks you both for the help. You guys are maknig it much easier to get answers to my questions. =o) I'm sure there will be more questions to come.

 

[fishboy]

you could put fish in now. when i setup my 72 gallon fo tank i waited one day, then put 9 damsels in.

 

[clownfish]

Nine fish are too many for cycling a 72g tank. How many of them died???

 

[clayton]

Check up in a book about the nitrogen cycle. It will give you readings of the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate during the cyling process as well as what your pH and other factors should be.
You will hear many different opinions on these boards but the basics found in books are rarely wrong.

 

[fishboy]

none died and my tank has been running for 2 weeks