- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
Yea when I start adding coral I plan on acclimation them to the light slowly. I was going to start them out maybe one or two hours a day and go up from there.
My First Reef Tank
- Thread starter shimergloom26
- Start date
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
It is rough waiting. I did find some hermits on a pound of live rock that I bought the other day that had some real good coralline on it. I hope they survive. The are about a 1/4 long.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
OK so I can't go to a lfs anymore. I went to blue planet today and bought another piece of live rock and let them talk me into trying seachem's stability to cycle my tank faster. I will post a pic later of how the tank looks so far.
The stability will help but, try very hard to get used to waiting. In the long run you will be glad you did. I have heard it said many times "Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby." Waiting for a tank to cycle is kind of like pregnancy. I think it is to prepare the parents not so much for the baby to grow. hehehe
Looking at your readings, I think you are well on your way. The nitrates jumped so quickly because the bacteria is converting the amonia to nitrite and the nitrite to nitrate. That is what you want. Once you see that the amonia and nitrite are down to 0 you can start doing water changes to get the nitrate down. You want to get it down below 5 at least but as close to 0 as possible before you start to add any fish.
Looking at your readings, I think you are well on your way. The nitrates jumped so quickly because the bacteria is converting the amonia to nitrite and the nitrite to nitrate. That is what you want. Once you see that the amonia and nitrite are down to 0 you can start doing water changes to get the nitrate down. You want to get it down below 5 at least but as close to 0 as possible before you start to add any fish.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
I have already started using the stability in my tank. I read several forums before I used it and even on here I read Jenny's comments about it and she said it works really well. If it does do right then I'll know to be more patient in the future.
Yup. Not saying it doesn't work. All I am saying is that if you get to hung up on hurrying things you are going to be headed for a fall. If you learn to go slow and let nature takes its course you will have much better chance of a nice tank.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
Thank you for your advice. Next time I set up a tank I will most definitely be more patient and try not to rush things.
It's not just setting up the tank, though. Virtually everything</em> I've been through in setting up and running my tanks has taken patience. As one who has very little to begin with, it's definitely the hardest part of this whole thing.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
Here are a few pics of the piece of live rock I picked up today and one with my halide on.
alt="" />
alt="" />
Sorry about the cloudy tank I was blowing off the rock and cleaning the sand with a turkey baster.
Sorry about the cloudy tank I was blowing off the rock and cleaning the sand with a turkey baster.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
OK I checked my parameters after 3 days of using the seachems stability. Here they are
-temp 77.8
-ammonia 0ppm
-nitrite 0ppm
-nitrate 80ppm
-Ph 8.0
-sg 1.028
I am going to do a 5 gallon water change and then check the parameters again tonight.
-temp 77.8
-ammonia 0ppm
-nitrite 0ppm
-nitrate 80ppm
-Ph 8.0
-sg 1.028
I am going to do a 5 gallon water change and then check the parameters again tonight.
Yup, you are ready to start doing water changes to get the Nitrate down as close to 0 as you can. Also, you may want to lower that specific gravity to around 1.023 or 1.024 until you start getting more corals. Some keep it up that high if they have lots of corals because it helps keep the calcium and alkalinity in check. Other say sea water in most parts of the world is 1.023 and you should mimic that as best you can.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
I was going to do a freshwater top off today but since I'm doing the water change that should bring it back down right.
Not if you are putting salt water back in. If you use water that is at 1.024 say it may bring it down just a tad but if it were me, I would top off, then do a water change with correct salinity and it will start to come down. With no livestock there is no big hurry but just something to work towards.
Also, you will want to do top offs more often. The biggest thing is consistancy not so much what the salinity is. If evaporation raises it slowly from 1.024 to 1.028 that isn't a big deal. BUT.....when you top it off and bring it back down to 1.024 in the matter of seconds that is a big deal for corals and fish. It can be a pain topping off every day or a couple times a day but it really will help you in the long run. That is why people use auto top offs. It does the work for them.
There are auto top offs you can buy or if you are a handy guy and have a little bit of electrical knowledge you can build your own. If you want, you can look through the tread I did on the one I built. It is at
Also, you will want to do top offs more often. The biggest thing is consistancy not so much what the salinity is. If evaporation raises it slowly from 1.024 to 1.028 that isn't a big deal. BUT.....when you top it off and bring it back down to 1.024 in the matter of seconds that is a big deal for corals and fish. It can be a pain topping off every day or a couple times a day but it really will help you in the long run. That is why people use auto top offs. It does the work for them.
There are auto top offs you can buy or if you are a handy guy and have a little bit of electrical knowledge you can build your own. If you want, you can look through the tread I did on the one I built. It is at
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
Thanks for the heads up. Im still new at building a reef tank. When I start adding live stock should I put fish in first or the coral first?
Some say coral first so you don't upset the fish by sticking your hands in the tank all the time. I can't keep my hands out of the tank no matter what so I don't think it really matters. LOL
One word of caution. Make sure you research your fish and corals before you buy them. So fish and/or corals will only do well in tanks that are well established. Others couldn't care less. Also, some fish wont do well with other fish and some will eat corals. That is why it is good to have a strong plan together before you start buying stuff.
One word of caution. Make sure you research your fish and corals before you buy them. So fish and/or corals will only do well in tanks that are well established. Others couldn't care less. Also, some fish wont do well with other fish and some will eat corals. That is why it is good to have a strong plan together before you start buying stuff.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
My fish stock list is a pair of clowns, a yellow watchman gob with a shrimp, and maybe a dwarf Pygmy angel. As far as coral I have a member saving me two frogspawn. I Alison plan on adding just beginner corals and softest. I might add some lps. Then as the tank matures I want to add sps and a clam.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
I was reading on another site of a guy keeping one in his 29 gallon with coral. That's why I was wanting one they are very nice looking but If I get one I will definitely keep a watch on it. Thanks again for the advice.
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 0
Well after doing a 5 gallon water change my parameters are as follows
-temp 78.4
-ammonia 0ppm
-nitrite 0ppm
-nitrate 40ppm
-Ph between 8.0 and 8.20
-sg 1.025
Tomorrow I plan on doing a 10 gallon water change and that should take care of my nitrates. Then on Monday I should be able to start stocking.
-temp 78.4
-ammonia 0ppm
-nitrite 0ppm
-nitrate 40ppm
-Ph between 8.0 and 8.20
-sg 1.025
Tomorrow I plan on doing a 10 gallon water change and that should take care of my nitrates. Then on Monday I should be able to start stocking.
