Newguy33190 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 had really high ammonia for a couple weeks (greater than 8), that zeroed out about a week ago. Nitrites were really high for a week (soon as I put 3 drops in the test tube it was already turning purple) and last night they dropped to 0. Nitrates were between 20-40ppm. I did a 40% water change this morning and havnt turned the lights on yet. Just trying to prepare myself for what's to come. I'm thinking of adding a damsel from my small tank to keep the bacteria in the tank fed. Figured I should be getting algae soon Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Did you run the lights during the cycle? It'll probably happen soon, within a week maybe? Link to comment
brandon429 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 can you post pics of your live rock if its white, one set of actions if its purple coralline, a different set. Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Did you run the lights during the cycle? It'll probably happen soon, within a week maybe? No I have yet to turn them on. Did a water change earlier and tested but my nitrates are still around 40ppm. Going to take my job filter off and give it a good cleaning. Should my lights be on? I don't want more algae than what's already going to appear Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Without light algae won't appear. So if you want something to feed CUC like snails, you'll need algae in which case you should turn the lights on. Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Without light algae won't appear. So if you want something to feed CUC like snails, you'll need algae in which case you should turn the lights on. Doesn't the algae compete for nutrients that your want your growing bacteria to have? Link to comment
Balix Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 once you get diatoms then your all set. Algae can come much later. Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 I went ahead and put a damsel in and turned the lights on. I'll run them for 6 hrs a day for a little bit until I get some algae Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Doesn't the algae compete for nutrients that your want your growing bacteria to have?The nitrifying bacteria feeds on ammonia and nitrites whereas the algae is using phosphates and nitrates so I don't think so Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 I'll have to find a phosphate test kit and see what's in the tank Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Is the damsel going to be your only fish? If not, then its more pain than its worth. It may get aggressive with new fish once its established and could harbor parasites. You can just feed the bacteria with fish food (turns into ammonia) and snail poop. Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Is the damsel going to be your only fish? If not, then its more pain than its worth. It may get aggressive with new fish once its established and could harbor parasites. You can just feed the bacteria with fish food (turns into ammonia) and snail poop. No I had a damsel, pajama Cardinal, and 2 adult clowns in a qt. was to many fish in the qt as the ammonia and nitrite was getting high so I figured they were safer in the main tank. The damsel will get taken out as soon as the tank is ready. I ended up putting the damsel and Cardinal in the tank Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 No I had a damsel, pajama Cardinal, and 2 adult clowns in a qt. was to many fish in the qt as the ammonia and nitrite was getting high so I figured they were safer in the main tank. The damsel will get taken out as soon as the tank is ready. I ended up putting the damsel and Cardinal in the tank Just keep an eye on the damsel and make sure it leaves the cardinal alone. I love damsels but sometimes they turn into jerks. I recommend springers damsels. Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Just keep an eye on the damsel and make sure it leaves the cardinal alone. I love damsels but sometimes they turn into jerks. I recommend springers damsels. Will do. The 4 of them have been in a 26 gallon qt tank for a week and never had a issue so moving to a 46 I would think would be fine. Either way he's gone once I put the clowns in Bc I want a lawnmower blenny and a cleaner shrimp Link to comment
Newguy33190 Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 can you post pics of your live rock if its white, one set of actions if its purple coralline, a different set. It's white. It was dry rock I got from reefcleaners Link to comment
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