FishProfiles.com Message Forums

what do u mean by "clean up fishes"?

I guess u talking about your tank still getting cycled, in this case do u have test kids? u need test kids to determine when the cycle finishes. Just note that everytime u add live rock another cycle will start, so roughly fix your amount of LR u want the sooner the better.

Alrite, thanks guys. I have just barely added my new LR like a day ago. My water has gotten a bit dirty. So you guys are suggesting for me to just let it stay that way because it's part of the process and that I should be fine after it has completely cycle?

ignore all the dirts..ignore the smell (try your best )...just do water tests and do clean up all at once when the cycle is done

Just let it go, it's all part of the cycle.

Dan

yea, my water is starting to looking dirty now. I dont know why, but is there any thing else i should do?

You can clean the glass, and lightly stir the sand. Adding soem hermits should also help clean it up. For the most part, it will pass on it's own. But it may get real bad first.



Dan

alrite thanks, but now i have it on my glass now too. what can i get to get rid of the algae ??

Normal, it will pass.



Dan

hey, my sand is starting to turn brown. I think that it is algae. What can i do to solve this problem or is this good for the tank?

The new LR will not affect any of my invertabraes rite?

It will if the ammonia gets to high, so keep an eye on that.

I've always used reef bone for base rock. It's teh same as live rock, only it's dried out. And yes, any rock will turn to live rock. If the rock is porus it will be better.


Last edited by dthurs at 26-Dec-2004 07:53

Dan

Alrite, I understand that. The new LR will not affect any of my invertabraes rite? I am planning to put the new 45lbs of fuji and just buy lace rocks at a LFS to finish my rocks. I heard that after awhile, the lace rocks will also become live too. Is lace rocks the correct rocks that are not live, or is there other types too? Also, how much would you guys pay for lace or unlive rocks?

Don't bother doing a PH test until after your cycle is done. You will get some false readings. You will also need to test PH at the same time each day. I can't seem to remember which way it goes, but at night your tank loses O2 and builds up CO2 and this will effect your PH a bit. If you get in the range of 8.3 or so you will be fine. Don't try to get an exact number, fish will adapt to small changes if your PH is different.

If your going to use tap water, a phosphate test might be a good idea, bu tthat's really up to you.



Dan

Thanks for all the information guys. So when i get my LRs, I can just put it in my tank right away and let it cycle. And after awhile check the pH and others to see if it is complete. I have bought a test kit but it does not include calcium, maybe i will get that later when I am ready for corals. Is there anything else that i would need know?

Another thing to note; Even though you are getting LR that has been "cured". During the shipping process you are most likely to experience some die off on the cured LR. So, in a sense, it is then partially become non-cured LR. It will go through a phase in your tank with new die off. Thus causeing your cycle to have to catch up with the new LR.

Now for the best advise I can give you. It consists of three things; First of all, patience. As the cycle takes longer to complete than the cycle on a FW setup. Second of all, patience. As the more you try to move quickly through a SW setup, the more you will lose, and as well you will lose money that was spent. Third of all, PATIENCE! (I hope you are getting the picture here, patience is not only a virtue, it is a neccesaty with SW) After the cycle has completed, you still have to take things slow. Like adding one or two critters at a time. So as to let the cycle catch up with each and every new addition to the tank. The catch up time does not take as long as the original cycle time, but if you move to quickly, you can crash your entire setup.

We want all new comers to the SW side, to make it through these tough times. As once you do, it is a great and exciting side of fish keeping. We don't want to scare you off, but the most important thing you can do when starting a SW set up, is have PATIENCE! Most people that do not go slow, get aggrivated and give up, and the set back really hurts their thoughts and understanding about SW. As well probably cost them a nice chunck of change in the end.

HTH... And welcome to "The Dark Side"

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

My statment was it will not effect your PH. The die off will raise your ammonia, then your nitrite, then your nitrate. The more LR you have will make your tank more stable.



Dan

just that for the time do not get anymore fish or inverts yourself until you have finalise your amount of LR and the cycle finishes....adding uncured (not cycled) LR will cloud your water badly and increase ammonia...

but in your case you can add what ever amount u want to, when u know u have enough then just let it sit and get cycled, usually takes 4 to 8 weeks for a brand new cycle depending on the LR u get, the amount and tank size and other factors

the point of the tests kids is to tell you when your cycle process is completed since u want to add extra LR, there will be no standard time that u can guess for it is complete or not . Get Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, KH and Ca(if u want corals)..perhaps just get a full kid with a better price.

at start ammonia and nitrite rises. your cycly completes when ammonia and nitrite drop to zero and nitrate present...after that do a good clean up of craps at the bottom and a good water change then the tank is ready for fish and stuff

Last edited by Week End at 25-Dec-2004 05:20

Last edited by Week End at 25-Dec-2004 05:21

Are you sure it won't affect anything? People have told me that the die off on thr LR will rise the ammon i think, one of them. My tank does not have much but some hermit crabs and a snail, would it be okay for me just to put the new LR in the tank? I am planning to buy foster's 45lbs of cured fuji for 99 bucks. And after adding the new rocks, let it cycle for a week or two more?

You can get test kits at most LFS. They can be $5, or $6 per kit, or you can get a large master kit for about $50. You want to get an ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte kit. It would also be a good idea to get a PH, and calcium

Adding more LR wont effect your PH. More live rock will give you more bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate.

Dan

Oh, how much is a test kit and where can i get one?
I plan on adding more live rocks , so will that affect the ph level or anything?

I have a
55 gallon tank
penquin bio 330
2 powerheads
red sea prism protein skimmer
20 lbs of LR ( going to get more)
couple of blue hermit crabs

My tank has been running for about 2 weeks now. What should i do now and is there anything else that i need? Please let me know if I need to get anything else or which clean up fishes you guys recommend?