Patiently waiting...

J

jb61264

Member
OK...so here is my 40 gallon breeder tank being filled up almost 2 1/2 weeks ago.

P1010165.jpg


I added 45lbs of live rock (purchased from LFS) on 1/22.

P1010180.jpg


At this point I am just playing the waiting game for my cycle to complete. My nitrites and nitrates are "off the chart" at this point (have been for the last four days. I did a 10% water change yesterday and another one again today...waited 4 hours and then tested again and nitrites and nitrates are still very high. My ammonia is zero.

My plan now is to wait for my nitrites to come down and then do another 10% water change. At that point (hopefully this time next week) I am having 25lbs of live rock and 5lbs of live sand shipped from TampaBay Saltwater.

In my stand I have a DIY 20 gallon sump/fuge with a pretty standard three chamber design (baffles after the first chamber which holds the protein skimmer) flows into the fuge (3-4" sand bed with live rock rubble...will be adding Chaeto once the system stablizes a bit)...from the fuge to the third chamber with the return pump.

I ordered an overflow box from LifeReef and plumbed the system with 1" PVC from the overflow box, 1" PVC return from the pump up to "T" where I reduce to 1/2" PVC all the way up the two sides and into the tank. 45 degree returns are not glued in so I can redirect flow if need be. I have a Koralia 2 in the tank for extra flow.

The light is a 36" Nova Extreme Pro (6 tubes with individual reflectors) on timers for two actinics start at 1:30, three light and one extra actinic come on at 2:30 and go off at 10:30...two actinics go off at 11:30. I have been looking at adding a couple moonlight LEDs in the near future.

So...here I sit waiting patiently for my tank to cycle so I can add some premium rock that will have tons of hitchhikers and live sand that will go in my fuge to begin what hopefully becomes a "pod" spawning haven :)

Cheers
 
Frankie

Frankie

Well-Known Member
RS STAFF
Yes! it look awesome. I waited a long time the first tank i built and never had any issues. You will be happy you waited. Good for you!
The rock looks great. Right off of Fiji!
 
goldenmean

goldenmean

Well-Known Member
Looking good!
Sounds like you have done your homework too. Good Job!
You'll love the TBS! I set up my 55g tank with it!

The cycle can try your patience. I am cycling a QT tank right now and my trItes are just dropping now at day 30. I have no LR or substrate in the QT so your cycle should go much quicker. Good Luck! and stay patient!
 
Royalscott

Royalscott

Member
Why are you doing water changes when the tank is cycling?

Still being a noob, I thought water changes will slow down the cycle.
 
Jason25

Jason25

Active Member
I wuld not do a water change as it will slow things down, also why aren't you adding the LR now and letting it cycle with the tank. There will be some die off from the LR once it is added and will cause some sort of cycle again.
 
goldenmean

goldenmean

Well-Known Member
The TBS LR he is getting is truly live. Live Rock - Tampa Bay Saltwater Aquacultured Live Rock
It is shipped in water and he will pick up the shipment from his local airport so the rock will probably only be in a box for 12 hours max. There will be very very little die off from the TBS rock.

Since JB is not using only TBS he needs to cycle the tank with that rock before adding the TBS LR. I was wondering about the current WCs but he said his plan now is to wait for the nitrites to lower before any other WC.

JB you will want to test for nitrates before the TBS arrives. You may need to do a larger WC after your trites go to 0 and before your TBS is added so that your trates are not at a high level.
 
goldenmean

goldenmean

Well-Known Member
TBSW also has the greatest "bad" hitchhikers.
Click to expand...
"bad" is slang for "best" :spinner:

okay the gorilla crabs are a bit much but they make nice kabobs!
And the cirolandis isopods are scary if you happen to get them but if you leave the tank with out fish for 6 weeks they will die off so no biggy.
My mantis shrimp have been model citizens for 6 months.
 
goldenmean

goldenmean

Well-Known Member
The smashers dont eat fish. The go for snails and crabs but I have yet to see them do that - or the aftermath shells. Nor have they bothered my scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp although I did catch one eyeing him

I feed them fresh calamari and sometimes shrimp a couple times a week. They dont always seem to like the shrimp and have refused it sometimes. That is probably a good thing.
 
J

jb61264

Member
Royalscott said:
Why are you doing water changes when the tank is cycling?

Still being a noob, I thought water changes will slow down the cycle.
Click to expand...

My nitrites and nitrates are literally "off the chart" for the last week...I was going to accept a shipment of live rock from TBSW today so thought if I did a water change it might help move things along a little bit...it was obvious that my cycle was rolling along (otherwise I wouldn't have zero on my ammonia and high levels of nitrite and nitrate).
 
J

jb61264

Member
Jason25 said:
I wuld not do a water change as it will slow things down, also why aren't you adding the LR now and letting it cycle with the tank. There will be some die off from the LR once it is added and will cause some sort of cycle again.
Click to expand...

I have 45lbs of live rock in the tank (have had since 1/22)...after my tank cycles, I will be adding another 25lbs...except this live rock will be the good stuff from TBSW :) although I am really happy with the stuff I got from LFS.
 
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