Chronicle to Christopher's 1st Reef Adventure! - Page 4

Anselth · 08-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Wait a couple days and test again. It's better to be safe than sorry. Did you see a nutrient spike in earlier tests?

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-09-2007, 01:37 PM

5-8 of which kind? Should I have hermits?

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-09-2007, 01:38 PM

No, I did not see any spikes because I have only tested it this time and another time, and the other time was by the LFS... My tank has only been cycling for 2 weeks!

Anselth · 08-09-2007, 01:45 PM

5-8 algae eaters. 3-4 Nassarious should be enough for your sand bed. I'd test it again in a couple days, just to make sure. Cycles can last from a couple days (like mine) to a month or more depending on how well cured your live rock was before you added it to your tank. If you test on say Sunday, and you still have no nutrient response, I'd be inclined to believe your cycle is complete, although I'd feel better if you were seeing 5-10 ppm of nitrate. As the final stage of the nitrogen cycle that we test for, it means that Ammonia is in check when you start seeing Nitrate.

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 11:32 AM

Tests as of today:
pH-8.2
Nitrate-5
Nitrite-0
Ammonia-0
Specific Gravity-1.027
Temp-76 F

Good, except Specific Gravity...
The fish that was injured, I have discovered, was being pestered by the other tankmates. He always hides from them. Hopefully, he'll get better!

Anselth · 08-10-2007, 12:02 PM

SG is an easy fix. When you do your next water change, shoot for 1.025. That will bring it down slightly. Remember to make any changes to the tank gradually, or you'll shock the inhabitants. Your damsels should be pretty resistant to anything like that, but it's a good habit to get into. As far as the injured Damsel is concerned, if he's being harassed, there's no reason to believe that will change. He's not going to heal without being separated from the others.

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 12:07 PM

OK, is my cycle now over? Can I now trade in the damsels? Can I put the pair of clowns at the same time?

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 12:09 PM

The original thread wouldn't let me edit, so I'll put it here. My real stocking plan is.

2 false percs
1 royal gramma
1 coral beauty
1 cleaner shrimp
other cleaning crew

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 12:10 PM

Sorry, I'm not trying to rush...

Anselth · 08-10-2007, 12:15 PM

I'd say yes, since you're seeing nitrates with no residual nitrites. It's time to do your first water change. Since you've been running with several damsels, you may be ok adding two fish at once when you remove them. I'll wait for a second opinion though before I tell you it's ok. Just remember to go slow, wait a few weeks to a month between adding fish. You'll generally get a mini cycle as the tank adjusts to the increased bioload, putting too many in at once can cause problems.

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 12:17 PM

OK thanks!

rebekwl · 08-10-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anselth

I'd say yes, since you're seeing nitrates with no residual nitrites. It's time to do your first water change. Since you've been running with several damsels, you may be ok adding two fish at once when you remove them. I'll wait for a second opinion though before I tell you it's ok. Just remember to go slow, wait a few weeks to a month between adding fish. You'll generally get a mini cycle as the tank adjusts to the increased bioload, putting too many in at once can cause problems.

I agree. I would think it would be ok to put 2 fish in once you take the Damsels out. Let us know how it goes catching those guys! Happy Hunting!

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-10-2007, 01:48 PM

Yeah, what is a good way to catch them?

rebekwl · 08-10-2007, 01:51 PM

Well the easiest way would be to take out all of your rock and keeping it submerged in a separate container while you catch them. You could use a fish trap if you didn't want to do that. I made a trap out of a 20 oz. soda biottle that worked pretty well when I had to catch one. I'll see if i can find the thread and give you the link...

GeeWizzItsMe · 08-11-2007, 07:38 AM

No more damsels! My tank has now.
2 big snails (forgot their name...)
5 medium-sized snails
6 tiny hermit crabs
drumroll please...
and 1 ROYAL GRAMMA! it is really beautiful! It hasn't come out yet though.
The clownfish were not available, but a new shipment of clownfish and cleanershrimp on Tuesday, so I'll get those later.
3 healthy damsels were healthily (if that is a word) brought back, but 1 died silently in the quarantine...

With the new additions the aquascaping is much different and very cool! I can't wait to put up pictures once the gramma comes out. How long will that take?

08-09-2007, 01:32 PM	#46 (permalink)
Anselth Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 929 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank Wait a couple days and test again. It's better to be safe than sorry. Did you see a nutrient spike in earlier tests? __________________ -Adam Learning on the fly My 70 Gallon Reef My 110 Gallon Build

08-09-2007, 01:37 PM	#47 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank 5-8 of which kind? Should I have hermits? __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-09-2007, 01:38 PM	#48 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank No, I did not see any spikes because I have only tested it this time and another time, and the other time was by the LFS... My tank has only been cycling for 2 weeks! __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-09-2007, 01:45 PM	#49 (permalink)
Anselth Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 929 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank 5-8 algae eaters. 3-4 Nassarious should be enough for your sand bed. I'd test it again in a couple days, just to make sure. Cycles can last from a couple days (like mine) to a month or more depending on how well cured your live rock was before you added it to your tank. If you test on say Sunday, and you still have no nutrient response, I'd be inclined to believe your cycle is complete, although I'd feel better if you were seeing 5-10 ppm of nitrate. As the final stage of the nitrogen cycle that we test for, it means that Ammonia is in check when you start seeing Nitrate. __________________ -Adam Learning on the fly My 70 Gallon Reef My 110 Gallon Build

08-10-2007, 11:32 AM	#50 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank Tests as of today: pH-8.2 Nitrate-5 Nitrite-0 Ammonia-0 Specific Gravity-1.027 Temp-76 F Good, except Specific Gravity... The fish that was injured, I have discovered, was being pestered by the other tankmates. He always hides from them. Hopefully, he'll get better! __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 12:02 PM	#51 (permalink)
Anselth Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 929 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank SG is an easy fix. When you do your next water change, shoot for 1.025. That will bring it down slightly. Remember to make any changes to the tank gradually, or you'll shock the inhabitants. Your damsels should be pretty resistant to anything like that, but it's a good habit to get into. As far as the injured Damsel is concerned, if he's being harassed, there's no reason to believe that will change. He's not going to heal without being separated from the others. __________________ -Adam Learning on the fly My 70 Gallon Reef My 110 Gallon Build

08-10-2007, 12:07 PM	#52 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank OK, is my cycle now over? Can I now trade in the damsels? Can I put the pair of clowns at the same time? __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 12:09 PM	#53 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank The original thread wouldn't let me edit, so I'll put it here. My real stocking plan is. 2 false percs 1 royal gramma 1 coral beauty 1 cleaner shrimp other cleaning crew __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 12:10 PM	#54 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank Sorry, I'm not trying to rush... __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 12:15 PM	#55 (permalink)
Anselth Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 929 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank I'd say yes, since you're seeing nitrates with no residual nitrites. It's time to do your first water change. Since you've been running with several damsels, you may be ok adding two fish at once when you remove them. I'll wait for a second opinion though before I tell you it's ok. Just remember to go slow, wait a few weeks to a month between adding fish. You'll generally get a mini cycle as the tank adjusts to the increased bioload, putting too many in at once can cause problems. __________________ -Adam Learning on the fly My 70 Gallon Reef My 110 Gallon Build

08-10-2007, 12:17 PM	#56 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank OK thanks! __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 01:48 PM	#58 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank Yeah, what is a good way to catch them? __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

08-10-2007, 01:51 PM	#59 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank Well the easiest way would be to take out all of your rock and keeping it submerged in a separate container while you catch them. You could use a fish trap if you didn't want to do that. I made a trap out of a 20 oz. soda biottle that worked pretty well when I had to catch one. I'll see if i can find the thread and give you the link... __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

08-11-2007, 07:38 AM	#60 (permalink)
GeeWizzItsMe See Golden Compass Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,857 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Yes! Everybody who likes new pics of a new tank No more damsels! My tank has now. 2 big snails (forgot their name...) 5 medium-sized snails 6 tiny hermit crabs drumroll please... and 1 ROYAL GRAMMA! it is really beautiful! It hasn't come out yet though. The clownfish were not available, but a new shipment of clownfish and cleanershrimp on Tuesday, so I'll get those later. 3 healthy damsels were healthily (if that is a word) brought back, but 1 died silently in the quarantine... With the new additions the aquascaping is much different and very cool! I can't wait to put up pictures once the gramma comes out. How long will that take? __________________ VP of Dork Club http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-new-tank.html

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