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Tropi's First 23g Reef Tank - 65g Upgrade in progress


Tropi

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Hi, I've been lurking around the forum for the last week and just joined up yesterday :)

 

I've been doing alot of reading on saltwater tanks and only just set my 23g up on the 10th of this month (last week) I waited a couple of days to make sure the salt, PH levels and temp were holding good before I brought my first bit of live rock, I only got 5kg to start with.

 

So the rock was added on the 12/04 and the next day the levels were Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 0-5.0

14th I added another 1kg of rock levels Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 5.0-10

Todays levels Ammonia 0.25-0.50, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 5.0

 

I'm willing to wait as long as needed for it to fully go through it's cycle but was wondering if everything looks like it's going good, I was expecting the rise in ammonia but is the nitrates normal?

 

Some pics of it so far, do you guys think that the 6kg of live rock it has so far is enough I didn't want to much so there would be room to work with later down the track.

 

Any advice is welcome :)

 

IMG_1205_zps2fca6767.jpg

 

IMG_1207_zpscb967283.jpg

 

IMG_1208_zpsdbb4d827.jpg

 

IMG_1209_zps3ca70b47.jpg

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Your rock looks awesome ! I like how you have it setup, seems like just the right amount. I made a mistake of putting such big rocks in my tank initially that I had no room to clean the inside of the glass anymore. Couldn't fit the mag-flaot between the rock/ glass.

 

The rise in levels looks good, you're starting with a nice cycle. Keep it going like that. Once you see those levels come back down to 0 I'd suggest buying some frozen live mysis shrimp. I noticed my ammonia and nitrite went right up when I began feeding my Goby fish, which meant my cycle may not have created very strong bacteria. I managed to survive it though and do things very quickly...

 

I'd suggested though putting 1 or 2 of these tiny mysis shrimp in your tank one night and letting them go and they will release ammonia.

Watch how fast the ammonia turns to nitrite/ nitrates and that's a good way to tell if you've got a good strong setup with your cycle complete.

 

Then you can add some snails and CUC stuff!

Then you should do some cool fish! I love the Goby I have right now!

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skyscraper2290

Having the nitrates is all part of the cycle, it is what the ammonia is converted to by the bacteria in your tank. Once your cycle is complete and ammonia and nitrite are at 0 you will want to do a decent size water change to remove the nitrates from the tank. Great start though and your tank is looking really nice. Also welcome to nano-reef! :welcome:

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Thanks guys :)

I think I spent nearly 2 hours trying to get the rock like that, I'm still not completely happy with the flat one on top, I still need to get it a bit more stable I was hoping for it to go a bit higher to use some of the upper area more, but that's the best I could get it.

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DAY 9

The levels have been reading as these for the last couple of days

 

Yesterday

18-04-14_zps7751c1ab.jpg

Ammonia = 0-0.25 not to sure with that one, Nitrite = 0 and Nitrate = maybe 10

 

Today

19-04-14_zps57dd55c2.jpg

Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0 and Nitrate = 10

 

So far there hasn't been any change in Nitrite since setup

 

I have noticed that it looks like some algae is slowly starting to cover the sand bed, not heaps noticeable yet. So is this when I am suppose to put some mysis shrimp in?

19th_zpsacb90eca.jpg

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skyscraper2290

Definitely check out some coral epoxy to help stabilize that top rock, you wouldn't it falling and hurting any inhabitants. The algae you are starting to see is most likely the beginning of a diatom bloom. I would go ahead and add a small amount of mysis or table shrimp and see how long it takes to process to nitrates. You are really only a week into your cycle, I would wait until you start being able to process 2ppm of ammonia within 24 hours then go ahead and do a nice size water change and then you would be set to add a CUC.

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Thank you both, I will head out tomorrow to try and find some coral epoxy for the rock.

 

I think I have got some bad stuff growing on my rocks from my searches it looks like it is

Red bubble algae, over the rock under the flat peice

IMG_3432_zpsf48f2222.jpg

 

Aiptasia, two on the flat piece and one on the left rock

IMG_3429_zpsad92a7b1.jpg

 

Colonial Hydroid? at first I thought it was just heaps of Aiptasia because it retreats into the rock when touched

IMG_3423_zps6f99046a.jpg

 

The only one I'm not sure how to get rid of is the Colonial Hydroids if that's what it is.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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The shrimp has been in the tank for a bit over 48 hours now, it's starting to get a bit of a smell and the water isn't as clear as it was. My ammonia has gone up to 0.50ppm today. Should I leave the shrimp in longer to see if the ammonia will get up to around 2ppm before taking it out?

Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates are 10. The diatoms are covering the sand more now and noticeable.

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I got rid of the bubble algae, Aiptasia and hydroids for now atleast I think so, they haven't made a reappearance in a few days. The levels have been staying at ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate around 20 for the last few days since the shrimp and the tank is looking horrible with the diatoms over the sand, heater, powerhead and glass so since thursday will be 3 weeks I'll do a large water change to get the Nitrates down, finish my scaping and I'm going to get some cuc on the weekend.

 

Sadly while working on the flat rock it broke into a few peices so I have to redo my scape :( just when it was starting to grow on me.

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LadyOfIreland

I got rid of the bubble algae, Aiptasia and hydroids for now atleast I think so, they haven't made a reappearance in a few days. The levels have been staying at ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate around 20 for the last few days since the shrimp and the tank is looking horrible with the diatoms over the sand, heater, powerhead and glass so since thursday will be 3 weeks I'll do a large water change to get the Nitrates down, finish my scaping and I'm going to get some cuc on the weekend.

 

Sadly while working on the flat rock it broke into a few peices so I have to redo my scape :( just when it was starting to grow on me.

 

Good job on getting rid of the pests! Bubble algae has been my nano enemy since I first started, what a pill. So sorry to hear about your rock :( I guess it was not meant to be, which means there's just an even more awesome aquascape waiting for your tank, instead! :D

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Just found another aiptasia, be getting rid of it tonight so I'm ready to shop for some cuc tomorrow, I can't believe the mess I make on the floor everytime I do something in the tank. I'll post some pics of the new scape when the glass is cleaner and I'm happy with it.

 

I've been doing some thinking about my stocking plans for later and was wondering what you guys think...

for now 3 snails for clean up crew and fish wise when the time comes a pair of clown fish first, then a yellow tail damsel fish and maybe later a cleaner shrimp. I would like a goby but not sure if that would be overstocked.

Still need to do research on corals so I have no idea about those but still have plenty of time for that later.

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Steensj2004

Just found another aiptasia, be getting rid of it tonight so I'm ready to shop for some cuc tomorrow, I can't believe the mess I make on the floor everytime I do something in the tank. I'll post some pics of the new scape when the glass is cleaner and I'm happy with it.

 

I've been doing some thinking about my stocking plans for later and was wondering what you guys think...

for now 3 snails for clean up crew and fish wise when the time comes a pair of clown fish first, then a yellow tail damsel fish and maybe later a cleaner shrimp. I would like a goby but not sure if that would be overstocked.

Still need to do research on corals so I have no idea about those but still have plenty of time for that later.

Easy fix for keeping your floor clean. Buy a plastic/rubber office mat. The kind they put on carpet in offices to allow a roller chair to roll across a hard surface as oppposed to carpet. Cut out the diminsions of your tank stand so it slides up and around your tank. Then keep a designated towel tossed over your shoulder to dry off hands and arm as soon as they come out of the tank. Or you could just designate 2-3 towels to lay down when doing work. Wash in hot water only so as to not put fabric softener/ detergent/ scents on your hands and arms, it will end up in your tank.

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Easy fix for keeping your floor clean. Buy a plastic/rubber office mat. The kind they put on carpet in offices to allow a roller chair to roll across a hard surface as oppposed to carpet. Cut out the diminsions of your tank stand so it slides up and around your tank. Then keep a designated towel tossed over your shoulder to dry off hands and arm as soon as they come out of the tank. Or you could just designate 2-3 towels to lay down when doing work. Wash in hot water only so as to not put fabric softener/ detergent/ scents on your hands and arms, it will end up in your tank.

Thanks, that's a great idea and will definately look into getting one of those mats.

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well I went out yesterday searching for some clean up crew, rang a number of different places and they either only did freshwater or were out of their saltwater snails. I did find one place that had some trochus snails but they were a 2 hour drive away so wasn't able to get any. The nearest shop 40 mins away only had two Turbo snails and weren't getting any others in any time soon because the freight costs to much.

 

anyway left with no other choice for cuc I went for one turbo snail and because I won't be able to get more anytime soon I also got two blue/green chromises, they acclimated well and went into hiding for a while until they came out and the turbo only took a couple of minutes until he was of to work :) I didn't feed them yesterday because they had already been fed but I've fed them for today and they were little pigs and really fast to get the food, will check levels tonight but so far the turbo and fish are doing well.

 

new scape

IMG_3459_zpsdfd490ff.jpg

 

Turbo snail

IMG_1357_zps1f76dcc0.jpg

 

Chromises, sorry bout the bad pic

IMG_3462_zps1c6f6405.jpg

 

will also be taking some water to the pet shop later this week to be checked by them.

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Steensj2004

Actually, turbo snails are killer algae eaters, if you had to he one of anything that was probably your best bet,lol.

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CrazyCarl

FYI that looks like a Turban snail or Tectus spp, not Turbo… Nonetheless a good member of the CUC. Though they get kinda large (about 2-1/2", not as big as Turbos), so make sure you secure that rock and any frags.

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FYI that looks like a Turban snail or Tectus spp, not Turbo… Nonetheless a good member of the CUC. Though they get kinda large (about 2-1/2", not as big as Turbos), so make sure you secure that rock and any frags.

 

Thank you for that, I was told at the pet store it was a turbo but just googled and yes it's a turban, if he grows to big I'll probably end up rehoming him or the pet store did say if it doesn't work out they might be able to give me a credit, but he's doing his job good for now, thanks again :)

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Mate! Do you only have one snail in there? I couldn't see/ read if you had any more!

I'd get MORE snails haha.. look at that growth on the glass! That's a good sign!

 

You can use a scraper (I use a magnet one) to get that off - put getting those snails in will be good. They will FEAST on that!!

 

 

If your ammonia has gone up in the past few days, monitor is closely and do perhaps some small water changes. That ammonia should turn into nitrite. I know you said you had not seen any nitrite since starting - have you seen any yet ?

Nitrate is fine, just keep up the water changes!

 

Looking really good so far!

(I'd suggest some Trochus snails - they're beasts. I have about 4 in my tank currently.)

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Mate! Do you only have one snail in there? I couldn't see/ read if you had any more!

I'd get MORE snails haha.. look at that growth on the glass! That's a good sign!

 

You can use a scraper (I use a magnet one) to get that off - put getting those snails in will be good. They will FEAST on that!!

 

 

If your ammonia has gone up in the past few days, monitor is closely and do perhaps some small water changes. That ammonia should turn into nitrite. I know you said you had not seen any nitrite since starting - have you seen any yet ?

Nitrate is fine, just keep up the water changes!

 

Looking really good so far!

(I'd suggest some Trochus snails - they're beasts. I have about 4 in my tank currently.)

 

Yeh the big guy is the only cuc I have at the moment but he's doing an awesome job so far even though it's slow work, I was originally after some trochus snails but the closest shop that sells them is 2 hours away so I'll be calling them again when I'm up that way to see if they have any more.

 

Still haven't had any nitrite at all, thinking of getting another kit just incase the one I have is dodgy. Since I added the fish and snail, 5 days now I haven't had any detectable ammonia or nitrite and I check every night is that bad? the nitrate has gone up to around 10-20 now though so will do a water change on the weekend.

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Yeh the big guy is the only cuc I have at the moment but he's doing an awesome job so far even though it's slow work, I was originally after some trochus snails but the closest shop that sells them is 2 hours away so I'll be calling them again when I'm up that way to see if they have any more.

 

Still haven't had any nitrite at all, thinking of getting another kit just incase the one I have is dodgy. Since I added the fish and snail, 5 days now I haven't had any detectable ammonia or nitrite and I check every night is that bad? the nitrate has gone up to around 10-20 now though so will do a water change on the weekend.

 

 

If you haven't seen any ammonia/ nitrite over the past few days even after adding a fish, but you see nitrate - I think that's a good sign.

By the looks of your tank, you've got tons of bacteria and algae growing in there. This is also a good sign I believe (as long as it's not bad algae!)

 

I could be wrong - but I really think you're cycled already especially if when you added a fish you didn't see any ammonia.

When I first added my Goby - I saw a slight spike in Ammonia and Nitrite. I wasn't fully cycled this meant, but very luckyily with a single water changed I was able to bring it down and everything was fine. Your fish could/ would die right.. If the kit is wrong, then you'll know pretty fast haha.

 

Looks like you're doing good!

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Thank you Kijho for the reply, I'm glad that it's good.

I keep waiting to stuff up since I haven't had any experience in aquariums since I was a kid and that was only goldfish. but the petstore and you guys have been such a help and I haven't killed the fish yet so I guess I'm doing ok.

 

Update

I got part of my birthday present a couple of days ago, it's a week early :) A wavemaker to add more flow to the tank.

IMG_1408_zps2ae480eb.jpg

 

and here it is in the tank, may need to change the positioning though.

IMG_1424_zps4200bd17.jpg

 

Also while I was at the store I got them to test a sample of my water to compare with my results

PH 8.2

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0

it's a relief to know that my kits aren't dodgy, also I mentioned how I was hoping to get a couple of clownfish next weekend and the guy said that I should be good to do that. So next Sunday I will be going out to get a pair of clownfish as my other half of my b-day pressie :happydance:

 

New additions to the tank that I got last night...

2 Trochus snails (atleast I hope they are)

IMG_1419_zpse3c591c4.jpg

 

IMG_1417_zps988d6425.jpg

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So I'm going to be getting 2 clownfish on saturday or sunday but the store I was going to get them from aren't selling theirs now because they are sick. So I'm going to be going to one that's around an hour away which is probably better since they are an actual fish store.

 

Anyway their Cured LR is also cheaper and I was thinking of getting some more to heighten my scape. Am I able to add cured LR at the same time as 2 clowns or does the same rule apply of waiting a couple of weeks between and is it the same for dry rock?

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Thank you Kijho :)

 

Well I brought home 2 Ocellaris Clownfish on saturday and they are doing good, one is a little bit bigger than the other and seems to be the more dominant one.

 

IMG_3698_zps06b273cf.jpg

 

and another addition who was also brought home at the same time... a Bubble tip Anemone

 

I was looking at getting a small coral but the guy at the LFS kept talking about anemones and I knew I wanted one at some point but then afterwards I found out about the waiting 6 months to a year for the tank to establish.

So I'm keeping a close eye on how the nem is doing, it moved around for the first day but has settled into it's spot. I chose the one that I saw eat when the guy showed me how to feed it. The clowns have also taken a liking to it, swimming in and out sometimes looking like they take a dive in :)

 

IMG_3706_zps9d84d6ee.jpg

 

Will post a closer pic of little nemy soon, five days later and everything is still going well and once again ammonia and nitrite have been undetectable.

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