Simulated Fish Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Hello all, I picked up a test kit today to check my tank for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Looks like everything is right where it should be! but i was hoping some seasoned reefers could weigh in. Thank you in advance! Here is the photo of the test Link to comment
Mr. Clownfish Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 How long has the tank been running? And what did you use to start the cycle? Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 Setup with 10lb of live rock, 8lb of aragonite sand, 6gal of premixed saltwater from LFS that was at 1.025 - we tested with a Optical Refractometer to make sure. LR came from their tanks and is about 3-4 months old, i asked them to hold them for me tell I was ready. Tank has been running a few days, my LFS guy said it shouldn't take long with so much established LR in a small tank an 8gal biocube. I know most people say a month but my ammonia has already dropped to 0, every one i have spoke with has said that is the time to add livestock if your other levels are good. Link to comment
Mr. Clownfish Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 My concern is that since its only been running for a few days is that it hasn't even had a chance to start the cycle yet. Did you add anything like fish food or a chunk of raw shrimp to start a cycle? Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I put in some fish food to get it going. That's my worry also, but a friend has had tanks lvl out in a few days when using established rocks and water. That is why I am here though, wider pool of knowledge Link to comment
Mr. Clownfish Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I would say to add more food or a small piece of raw shrimp and let it do its thing. Then test the water every day for at least another week. Better safe then sorry. Me personally I hate waiting for a tank to cycle. I'm a very impatient person and I have to get things my way right now. But unfortunately that does not work in this hobby and since your want to add living creatures to this tank I'm sure you want them to survive. I would restart the cycle and just wait a week or so. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 Solid advice I'll add some more food and test again Link to comment
Mr. Clownfish Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I would test everyday over the next week and if you don't see any changes then your probably good to go. After you add some fish and corals be sure to continue testing to make sure everything is stable. That hardest part about a small tank like this is that it will be very easy for thing to change and go bad quick. So just watch everything very carefully. But good look. I'm be following your progress. I love biocubes. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 yeah, I'd wait a bit, continue ghost feeding and testing. While it might be ok for now, it hasn't had time to establish a biofilter to keep up with livestock. Just my opinion. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 yeah, I'd wait a bit, continue ghost feeding and testing. While it might be ok for now, it hasn't had time to establish a biofilter to keep up with livestock. Just my opinion. No worries that's what I joined for! I'm new and any advice is always welcome! I'm a patient man, and less money spent jewels my wife happy, I don't mind waiting aa few weeks if I need to. BTW spotted a brisle worm tonight! Link to comment
cuber14 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 When I started my Bc14 my Lfs pulled water right from their big display tank to help me get started along with live rock. I still waited 12 days before my first stocking. Im naturally impatient and if it wasnt for my LFS refusing to sell me livestock till the tank was ready I most certainly would have bought and killed something (thank god for people with more knowledge and patience ). Link to comment
cuber14 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 No worries that's what I joined for! I'm new and any advice is always welcome! I'm a patient man, and less money spent jewels my wife happy, I don't mind waiting aa few weeks if I need to. BTW spotted a brisle worm tonight! Congrats on your water first critter now it wont be long before your sitting in front of your tank at 2 am with a flashlight looking for more.Lol Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Congrats on your water first critter now it wont be long before your sitting in front of your tank at 2 am with a flashlight looking for more.Lol and a magnifying glass! I swear I spend hours Link to comment
brandon429 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 If you post a pic of your rocks we can tell if they ever needed to cycle in the first place,consider this The MACNA trade show with hundreds of reef and frag tanks just completed None of those tanks were set up with raw shrimp and re cycled 4 weeks, how'd they pull off instant start reefs? Same way I suspect this tank above did. Shrimp cycling is never indicated when live rock is used, only for dry white base rock. Live rock is ready Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 If you post a pic of your rocks we can tell if they ever needed to cycle in the first place. Here is a photo of the tank and rock as requested! Levels were still spot on today Bonus! Picture of the brisle worm! Link to comment
brandon429 Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Yes I do expect that to be fully cycled I can see some coralline spotting and it came with life (worm) indicating it came from a live rock bin where rocks had been underwater a long time which is why driving ammonia levels higher won't help. There is as much bacteria on that rock day 1 in your tank as there will be after cycling *regarding steady state populations. Not meaning to imply bac levels won't go up and down with nutrient provisions, but we cannot go so low that the prior aged surfaces will go sterile by not adding a shrimp. The mere coverage of that rocks surface area by nitrifiers means its good to go. It is matured base rock, not as porous as holey-with-channels tonga rock for example, but per its coloration details it was pre cycled no shrimp is needed here What is needed is some zoanthids, maybe a few mushroom corals, and get to reefin The whole point of this isn't rushing or breaking rules, its being able to spot where your tank is at undoubtedly so that you command, not wait for arbitrary timeframes which may or may not be enough if we were shy of these visual details confirming its already ready. This ability translates into other actions or non actions that determine how long your reef will live. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Yes I do expect that to be fully cycled I can see some coralline spotting and it came with life (worm) indicating it came from a live rock bin where rocks had been underwater a long time which is why driving ammonia levels higher won't help. There is as much bacteria on that rock day 1 in your tank as there will be after cycling *regarding steady state populations. Not meaning to imply bac levels won't go up and down with nutrient provisions, but we cannot go so low that the prior aged surfaces will go sterile by not adding a shrimp. The mere coverage of that rocks surface area by nitrifiers means its good to go. It is matured base rock, not as porous as holey-with-channels tonga rock for example, but per its coloration details it was pre cycled no shrimp is needed here What is needed is some zoanthids, maybe a few mushroom corals, and get to reefin The whole point of this isn't rushing or breaking rules, its being able to spot where your tank is at undoubtedly so that you command, not wait for arbitrary timeframes which may or may not be enough if we were shy of these visual details confirming its already ready. That's what my thinking was expecially since I've got coralline algae growing like you said and the life my levels are still holding steady and putting a little bit of food in the actually brought out a couple more bristle worms. I'm going to pick up a $10 zoanthid, my LFS as small easy starters, and a clown because they are hardy. Also a couple snails. My live rock is actually sprouted a little bit of life there are a couple of marine plants on a few of the rocks that I believe have carried over to mine. So far it's been very positive so I'm comfortable putting in these guys and seeing how they do. I'll keep you guys updated with my levels to make sure everything's going okay. Because this is my first reef I just want to make sure they don't cause the needless death of a fish or coral. Although with everything my tanks telling me it's happy and ready to go! Link to comment
brandon429 Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'd also add that fish are where the necessities begin so no rush for them. Cheap entry coral or corals to go along with your active micro life is no real tax on the system Its the fish I'd add slowly and ramp up. By this timeframe in my pico reef I'd already added $500 of coral lol. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'd also add that fish are where the necessities begin so no rush for them. Cheap entry coral or corals to go along with your active micro life is no real tax on the system Its the fish I'd add slowly and ramp up. By this timeframe in my pico reef I'd already added $500 of coral lol. I hear ya. I don't plan on adding any other fish, maybe down the line another clown so they pair up. I really love corals so that is what I'll be caring for. Clown is more for bio diversity, my wife also really wants an urchin. Being its a small tank I don't want to over load it, and I plan on adding to it very slowly after I get this first softy and clown. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 Hey guys, just a quick update - my levels have not changed so I decided to pick up some coral!Just some intro softies, making sure not to rush into harder to care for species. then last night my wife got home and saw the coral so we picked her out a little clown. He is extremely active and seems very content in the tank. Only alarm is when he was sleeping, as clowns do, laying down on some rock in the back corner.Excuse the dirty glass! I need to pick up a magfloat tonight after work. Link to comment
Muraki Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 I forget the name of it, but the coral on the top right. It will grow like a weed, I suggest moving it to where it won't attach to other rock, or even put it against the back wall to let it grow up the wall. Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 I forget the name of it, but the coral on the top right. It will grow like a weed, I suggest moving it to where it won't attach to other rock, or even put it against the back wall to let it grow up the wall. Thanks for the tip! I need to move a few things for sure, to much LR Link to comment
ajmckay Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Lots of cool replies - I would tend to agree with what Brandon said though. Not that waiting is necessarily bad - but it's really only productive in certain circumstances. So here are some thoughts on the topic from prior threads that may help. http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/365643-confused-with-my-tank-cycle-need-advice/?view=findpost&p=5144090 http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/365650-when-can-i-add-my-first-coral/?view=findpost&p=5145336 Link to comment
Simulated Fish Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Lots of cool replies - I would tend to agree with what Brandon said though. Not that waiting is necessarily bad - but it's really only productive in certain circumstances.Thanks for the links! Here is my tank today, did a bit of rearranging to the aquascape and moved the guys a bit, my toadstool had grown and need more wiggle room! Picked a couple red legs for clean up crew. Tank is very happy, especially after the cleaning! Link to comment
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