LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Hey everyone im knew in this forum.. but have had help in other forums just thought id get some other peoples INFO. I just started a 30 gal saltwater aquarium.. I have a emperor 280 GPH bio-wheel filter, 200 watt heater, live bio-active reef sand (20lbs), a PH @ 200 GPH, a newly added 25lb live rock, and 3 damsils. Tomorrow im getting my new lighting b/c what i had wasnt sufficient.. so i was told by many PROS! but im getting 2x65 (one white and one blue).. will 130 watts be enough to support coral? Give me all the info i need.. i was told my equipment is good except i needed to get new light which im getting tomorrow.. if you have any suggestions plz post it!! Thanks everyone Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 22, 2003 Author Share Posted July 22, 2003 .. sry for double post but FYI i want to add coral ASAP.. help me and tell me when i should.. Ive had it all set up for about 5 days now.. and i check my PH,nitrate,nitrite..etc.. everyday and everything is perfect.. HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT? Link to comment
coralreefengr Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 You are mostly on the right track with the exception of the bio-wheel IMO. With live rock, you should not need a bio-wheel. It will most likely produce unwanted nitrates. Also, is your live rock already cycled? If not, you will experience an extreme ammonia spike. Keep tracking your water parameters. The length of your cycle seems to depend on your live rock, without knowing if it is cycled already. With live rock cycling, the cycle can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months from what I've read of other people's experiences. CRE Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 22, 2003 Author Share Posted July 22, 2003 Ahh yes my live rock has been cycled.. well is it cycled if its been in my local pet store for more than 2 months? cuz ive noticed its been there a while.. its got all kinds of things growing on it from other coral.. HOPE ITS A GOOD THING.. they said it was Link to comment
caja Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I have used cured live rock in both my tanks and still experienced a small cycle, lasting no longer that a week to a week and a half. I suggest you let it run for at least two to three weeks before you add any kind of corals at all. You will more than likey experience a diatom bloom and/or a cyano outbreak, both fairly common in new tanks. Ditch the biowheel too! Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 22, 2003 Author Share Posted July 22, 2003 Ok.. if i were to ditch the bio-wheel, then what kind of filtration would i need to get? Link to comment
Jandree22 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 live rock IS your filter:happy: Live rock contains millions and millions of bacteria already living in it! Click here to better understand what I mean - http://www.nano-reef.com/articles/?article=3 I, however, have a hang on back filter where I have some Chemi-Pure for chemical filtration... good stuff IMO Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 24, 2003 Author Share Posted July 24, 2003 Well.. Jandree, im going to keep my little bio-wheel.. as well as add more live rock so .. well my first week is completed and my readings(PH,amonia, etc..) are perfect! Would it be to early to add a coral or clown fish or both.. in just a couple days?!?!?!?!? Link to comment
caja Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 I think you'll find after running the tank for a while that the nitrates will be up a bit all the time. I took my biowheel out after running the tank with it for three months and my nitrate problem dissapeared. I would wait at least another week or so and keep testing to be sure the readings stay down. Link to comment
Jandree22 Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Good reefers and good doctors both have a very key component to their success... PATIENCE!!! think about it:P Link to comment
JohnnyMTB Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Longorn- If you look through all the members tanks and their specs I think you'll see no one with a succesfull nano is running their bio-wheel. In the long run you'll curse yourself for not taking it out. Listen to others experience and you can avoid some of the pitfalls and potential loss of livestock down the road. Link to comment
kimura Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 I would have to agree with JohnnyMTB on this. The Bio wheel will cause you problems. I have yet to see anyone here run their biowheels in a nano and have no problems. You'd be suprised to see how many stories there are about now realizing that the biowheel was the main problem in their tanks. Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 24, 2003 Author Share Posted July 24, 2003 Well I dont have enough live rock nor live sand to supplement the filtering as of right now.. I WILL TAKE IT OUT BUT it seems like i should leave it in.. i only have 25lb live rock and 20 lbs of live sand. Thats not enough to filter it sufficently is it. (30gal)?? If so ill take it out and take it back to the pet store and get my refund Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 25, 2003 Author Share Posted July 25, 2003 Here are my latest statistics as of week 2 day 1 Amonia - .5 PH - 8.2 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - between 0-5 couldnt tell Are those right on track?.. am i doing good? HOPE SO! Link to comment
coralreefengr Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Sounds like you have a good amount of live rock. Usually people use the same number of pounds of live rock as they have gallons similarly for sand. For example 30 gallons would have 30 lbs live rock. You should be close enough. Ditch the bioballs. CRE Link to comment
Jandree22 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I agree, you're fine for LR for now... but maybe just adding another 5-10lbs in the future would be easier on the bioload and the eyes;) Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 25, 2003 Author Share Posted July 25, 2003 Ok thanks a tone everyone! The bio-wheel is now TOAST! As well today ill go pick up this nice rock i saw the other day that was like 18lb, and as well ill pick up another 20 lbs of sand. how are my lil stats that i posted up there? Here are my latest statistics as of week 2 day 1 Amonia - .5 PH - 8.2 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - between 0-5 couldnt tell Are those right on track?.. am i doing good? HOPE SO! Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 26, 2003 Author Share Posted July 26, 2003 Can i put both a flowerpot coral and a clown fish in my aquarium at the same time? Link to comment
westkyracer Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 I have a bio wheel and a succesful tank!!!! It has been going for a little over a year now with no problems. Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 Well i got rid of my bio-wheel.. and i added 20 lbs more live rock.. but i havent added any more sand. i added a new PH. bout it for now Link to comment
zizmans Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 Dont worry about more sand. I only add inhabs 1 at a time. Wait till all your readings (trite,trate,amonia) are 0. Also you are cycling with 3 damsels. Bad husbandry, there should be NO fish in there. You can't add any more fish anyways. You are at limit. + damsels are super sggresive and wiould attack your clown anyway. If I were you I'd catch those damsels and return them ASAP. Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 well im not putting any other fish in there with damsels... i know they are aggressive! i just have them in there to cycle! when can i add inverts? to help clean my bottom? Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 here are my new test results.. PH - 8.2 Amonia - .5 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 5-10 Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 29, 2003 Author Share Posted July 29, 2003 Ahh yes another thing that has just started.. I have that brown algae stuff growing in my tank.. what is best way to take care of that or what should i do? Link to comment
LonghornsFan1114 Posted July 30, 2003 Author Share Posted July 30, 2003 FYI .. everyone i did get my new lighting a couple days ago, just forgot to post it.. 2x65 watt (50/50) Link to comment
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