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Hi there salty members !

I generally hang out in the freshwater section but since I just started my very first marine tank, you might see me from time to time here with questions. I hope not to bother you too much with my noob questions... speaking of questions, I'll have some at the end of this post. But first, description of my small tank :

35 Gal. 36" x 12" x 18" (height)
Filtration : Fluval 304 + 9 Watts UV sterilizer
Substrate : Large crushed coral
Rocks : Dead artificial rocks (2)
Population : 4 damsels ¾ inch long each
Start date : Dec. 21st 2005
Fish introduced on the next day
Water appearance : Bit cloudy, clearing up slowly
Comments : Fish are eating, active, showing no sign of distress.

Questions : Anyway I can speed up the clearing process ? I was told to feed only once a day, is that information correct ? Tested my fish with a few dry pellets and they rushed for it in mid afternoon; they had breakfast already. My tank is not cycled and I was told that it would take about a month to do so. Since I'll be making water changes quite frenquently, what is the % of volume I should replace each time ?

Kind regards,

Sponge

Last edited by Sponge_Bob at 23-Dec-2005 13:59

what kind(s) of fish do you have in the tank? im not to sure if a uv sterilizer(sp?) is good because i have read that they can kill off some of your "good" bacteria.

Last edited by dafridge at 23-Dec-2005 19:10

you didnt need to add fish so soon, live rock cycles a tank better. as their is no risk to any fish.
its sounds like you have rushed this a little, you stop now and have a good read around on SW info and maybe buy some good books.
Your not doing any live rock?,live rock is the best biological filteration avialble

Dafridge,

Please read initial post. The question you ask is already answered there.

About the UV sterilizier, it will only kill free floating bacteria/algae/parasites in the water depending on the flow rate you set your pump to. For example, bacteria in the water will be killed by an 18 Watts UV sterilizer in less than 0.14sec/gal. That's 500 gph flow rate. It will not affect the bacteria in your filter and/or substrate.

Hope this answers your concern. Now if I could get help with MY concerns, would be great !

Kind regards,

Sponge

Patchy,

Thank you for your reply but your reply does not answer my questions. I am aware of live rocks and their help in the cycling process. Unfortunately, I have no source of uncured or even half-cured live rocks at the moment.

May I remind you that I have only 4 damsel in there and that they are VERY tolerant in terms of ammonia / nitrites / nitrates spikes. But do not be too concerned with that. I monitor my tank closely and test EVERYDAY.

Now can someone ANSWER my questions please and not comment on the way I started the tank, the population and whatnot ? It would be very appreciated and far less time consuming.

Sponge


Last edited by Sponge_Bob at 23-Dec-2005 19:38

You should be able to help the cycle along (and clear the tank at the same time) with the addition of a bacterial supplement. These basically just add your nitrifying and other bacteria to the water to boost the colonies exponentially. Marine Bio-Spira is reputedly the best out there on the market, but Cycle, Stability, and saltwater TLC are all geared towards the same end as well. They can cycle a new tank in under a week (depending on efficiency of the product) and would make things tremendously easier on your damselcritters.

Feeding once per day is fine, damselfish are always willing to take more food but it isn't necessary.

The more often you do water changes, the more the cycle can be slowed. Water changes remove the food sources for nitrifying bacteria and retard the growth of the large colonies needed to handle the waste output from your fish. Though they aid the fish by taking ammonia and nitrite from the water, they briefly starve the bacteria until the ammonia and nitrite build back up. Unfortunately, the cycle will go by more quickly if you hold off on any water changes.

Heh, hopefully that'll help you out.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Brooks,

Thx mate for your help, as usual. Though I do not usually use artificial sources of bacteria, I might consider it and buy it for the sake of that tank and my nerves ! I'll just turn off my UV for a few hours so that the bacteria as the chance to settle down in the substrate + make a few "laps" in my 304.

The cloudyness in my tank is caused my micro particules in suspension and my filrer doesn't seem to be able to trap them, even if packed with top quality Sera water polishing wool pads.

Tested my water yesterday and I have about 0.35ppm of ammonia in their. I added an ammonia remover pouch in my 304. I know that it will slow down the cycling a bit but with the addition of artificial bacteria, it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again mate !

Sponge
PS : Have you read my ARTICLE in the General freshwater forum about Goldfish breeding and tank incubator setup ? Comments would be appreciated there.

Brooks,

Followed your advice and bought a bottle of Cycle, that's all they had. Will post comments in a few days on how the cycling process is going.

Many thanks and Merry X-Mass to you and loved ones !

Sponge