Thanks for the reply Harv! I didnt get around to adding another shrimp, so hopefully this was enough of a cycle. I got the Salifert Ammonia Test Kit today which has a much more precise measurement -
still tested for 0. I havent done the nitrates/ies yet tonight, but will in a bit.
Also got a better Calcium test kit which measured 410ppm. I think thats right on.
As far as LPS/SPS/Soft - I have no idea. I think someone mentioned that a) the light is centered and there is only one MH b) the tank is deep rather than wide c) aquascaping will provide levels of depth - that I should be able to research an animal and place it at a location that gets more of less light due to one of thoes reasons. I guess for now i'll keep the light because the last thing i want it to decide i need some animal that requires a ton and come up short. hopefully i can raise the fixture u pin the hood some also.
I'll be down soon to raid your tank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thesauce  ScubaDrew!
(ScubaDrew's buddy from NY here). Killer tank! Just a few things to address some of your concerns in previous posts.
1.) The shrimp: It is possible to have a 'weak' cycle. Basically the bacteria your after will colonize in greater numbers the greater its food source. There's no harm in adding additional food sources to buff your colony. Registering 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and some getting a nitrate spike is indicative of a complete cycle and you could introduce some critters after a large water change. Although you mentioned when we spoke that your live rock is being shipped in water, I would still expect some 'die off' which will trigger another cycle.
2.) Lights: Yes, too much light can cause bleaching and will likely make heat a major concern. It depends on what you want to keep. LPS, SPS, Softies? SPS are generally the biggest light hogs. If you want, return the lights and use my discount when you visit.
It looks great though! I didn't realize that you are synching the entire thing to your laptop, thats sick. There are also some probes on the market that can be incororated into your system that will allow for remote testing of nitrate, ammonia, ph, etc. They are pretty pricey though. When you get the rock, try to arrange it so that there is a good amount of water flow throughout the tank. This will avoid 'dead spots'. Keep those pics coming! |