Could the chemical Levels change now?

jakesmama · 04-06-2007, 11:18 PM

55gal, filter, SW no fish, no live rock, but have live sand, tested chemicals and the levels are perfect, I'm going to retest in the morning. Are any of the levels supposed to go up or down? or is it ready for fish now? just a couple of clowns. Do I NEED a live rock? or is the sand going to work for now?

saltwaterfarm · 04-06-2007, 11:25 PM

You should start with an ammonia spike. That will then convert to nitrites and then to nitrates. You will need something to start the cycle. Are you planning on not having any live rock? If you are going to add it... now would definitely be the time...

jakesmama · 04-06-2007, 11:28 PM

can i have a healthy tank without a live rock? and what do i have to do to get the ammonia spike?

saltwaterfarm · 04-06-2007, 11:35 PM

Live rock is very beneficial to a healthy tank. It is the biological filtration...

A lot of people will use a shrimp to jump start the cycle. Just a regular deli shrimp from the grocery store. Place it in a mesh bag and it will start to rot causing your ammonia spike. When the ammonia caused by the rotting shrimp starts to convert to Nitrite... then Nitrate those levels will go up. Once all levels are back down to 0, and stay there for a week... your cycle is done.
BTW, when the shrimp starts getting really nasty... yank the bag out.

jakesmama · 04-06-2007, 11:39 PM

thank you very much, lots of help, Can I get a live rock at the pet store down the street?

saltwaterfarm · 04-06-2007, 11:46 PM

Most LFS's (local fish stores) should carry live rock. If not... they should be able to order it for you. There are also several internet stores who will ship it to you. You can get away with uncured rock since you haven't cycled yet. The rock will have enough die off to start yout cycle. You will, of course have to be patient and wait for it to cure in your system though. Cured live rock will be faster, but will cost you more. The rule of thumb is 1-2 lbs of live rock per gallon of water...

lcstorc · 04-07-2007, 09:42 AM

You really need something for your biological filtration. The sand will just not be enough. Personally I would go with the live rock, but since this is a FO setup you could have a wet-dry with bioballs. They will help with a partial biological filtration. They will however leave you with high nitrates which will have to be removed with regular large waterchanges. The live rock will finish the cycle by convertint the nitrates to a harmless gas. You will still need water changes but not as many or as large since the rock provides a better cycle.
Do not add fish until you have a good biological filter. You need the levels to go up and then back down before adding livestock. If you add fish now they will provide the cycle but will likely die due to the levels created. That is why we use a piece of shrimp to start the cycle. Nothing is at risk while your tank cycles.
Go slowly and do it right. Otherwise you will always be playing catchup and constantly struggling to keep things going. A properly set up and aged tank really requires a small amount of maintenance since everything is in balance. A few minutes a day and a bit more on the weekend and everything stays good.

sasquatch · 04-07-2007, 10:44 AM

Jakesmamma, Ive gone back and read all of your posts and Im a little confused, so far from what I see you have a 55 gal tank and sand, what else do you have?.steve

04-06-2007, 11:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
jakesmama Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hell, just kidding Lawton OK, Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Could the chemical Levels change now? 55gal, filter, SW no fish, no live rock, but have live sand, tested chemicals and the levels are perfect, I'm going to retest in the morning. Are any of the levels supposed to go up or down? or is it ready for fish now? just a couple of clowns. Do I NEED a live rock? or is the sand going to work for now? Last edited by jakesmama : 04-06-2007 at 11:22 PM. Reason: forgot something

04-06-2007, 11:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? You should start with an ammonia spike. That will then convert to nitrites and then to nitrates. You will need something to start the cycle. Are you planning on not having any live rock? If you are going to add it... now would definitely be the time... __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-06-2007, 11:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
jakesmama Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hell, just kidding Lawton OK, Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? can i have a healthy tank without a live rock? and what do i have to do to get the ammonia spike?

04-06-2007, 11:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? Live rock is very beneficial to a healthy tank. It is the biological filtration... A lot of people will use a shrimp to jump start the cycle. Just a regular deli shrimp from the grocery store. Place it in a mesh bag and it will start to rot causing your ammonia spike. When the ammonia caused by the rotting shrimp starts to convert to Nitrite... then Nitrate those levels will go up. Once all levels are back down to 0, and stay there for a week... your cycle is done. BTW, when the shrimp starts getting really nasty... yank the bag out. __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-06-2007, 11:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
jakesmama Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hell, just kidding Lawton OK, Posts: 5 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? thank you very much, lots of help, Can I get a live rock at the pet store down the street?

04-06-2007, 11:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? Most LFS's (local fish stores) should carry live rock. If not... they should be able to order it for you. There are also several internet stores who will ship it to you. You can get away with uncured rock since you haven't cycled yet. The rock will have enough die off to start yout cycle. You will, of course have to be patient and wait for it to cure in your system though. Cured live rock will be faster, but will cost you more. The rule of thumb is 1-2 lbs of live rock per gallon of water... __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-07-2007, 09:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,528 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? You really need something for your biological filtration. The sand will just not be enough. Personally I would go with the live rock, but since this is a FO setup you could have a wet-dry with bioballs. They will help with a partial biological filtration. They will however leave you with high nitrates which will have to be removed with regular large waterchanges. The live rock will finish the cycle by convertint the nitrates to a harmless gas. You will still need water changes but not as many or as large since the rock provides a better cycle. Do not add fish until you have a good biological filter. You need the levels to go up and then back down before adding livestock. If you add fish now they will provide the cycle but will likely die due to the levels created. That is why we use a piece of shrimp to start the cycle. Nothing is at risk while your tank cycles. Go slowly and do it right. Otherwise you will always be playing catchup and constantly struggling to keep things going. A properly set up and aged tank really requires a small amount of maintenance since everything is in balance. A few minutes a day and a bit more on the weekend and everything stays good. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

04-07-2007, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Could the chemical Levels change now? Jakesmamma, Ive gone back and read all of your posts and Im a little confused, so far from what I see you have a 55 gal tank and sand, what else do you have?.steve

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