3 days in

cydian · 01-10-2007, 04:22 PM

Hello Im cyd

I need some help. Im only 3 days in on my new cash cow endeavor. I dont have an impressive set up as yet but hope to in the coming months. ATM I have a 55 gallon tank with a fluval canister filter. I only have 13 pounds of live rock as that was all the LFS had. I will be getting more as soon as I drive to the hardcore salt store about 30 mins away. My lighting stinks, It is just one 48" fluroesent bulb that came with the tank. I think my first upgrade will be lighting or a protien skimmer or both. So on to my problem... Im three days into my cycle and i have 13 pounds of LR and a damsel and 40 pounds of LS. MY nitrite is at 0 and ammonia is at 0 PH is at 8.4 and SG is at 1.022. Now what i dont understand is shouldnt my ammonia and nitrite be out of whack going through the cycling stage. I mean my understanding is with those readings is the tank is cycled already.. Is it because i dont have enough LR in the tank, or maybe not enough water movement due just to having the canister filter output. I dunno im stumped. Any help is appreciated and im sure ill have many more questions as problems arise. Also if anyone has any suggestions on what my first upgrade should be,please tell, i would love to hear em.

Birchell · 01-10-2007, 04:40 PM

are you using live sand?? Your tank is doing like mine, lol. With the live rock, and the sand, your one fish is not gonna make enough wast to have a big cycle. But that is a good thing. I would wait like a month, and see what your readings are. After you add all the new live rock, your gonna have some die off, so that will triger another cycle. After that cycle is done you should be good to go. As far as upgrades goes, what do you want to do with the tank?? Reef, or fish only?? If your goning reef, I would get both a good skimmer, and upgade the lighting. If you dont have them already, your gonna need some power heads to make water movement. In a 55 gallon I would put alteast two maxi-jet 1200 or simularly rated heads. Im not a big fan of the canister filters, but if it is working for you, then keep it till you can get a sump/refug. And um... good luck, he he. Mybe some else will fill in any holes I left.

Michael

Dyngoe · 01-10-2007, 04:41 PM

Be patient young grasshopper. You will see both amonia and nitrates. In fact, you want to see them. Unfortunately your damsel won't like it. It will take a while for the bacteria to build up so they can break down the waste from the damsel. For right now you don't need to really "check" the water daily. Just watch your damsel for splitting in his fins and watch for algae. Keep us posted.

cydian · 01-10-2007, 04:48 PM

Ok will do ill be patient. As far as what kind of tank, I believe i want corals but it is just so expensive to get started... I already dropped about a 800 bucks on the tank and crappy filter and lighting that came with it, so it may take a little time for me to get everything i need for my first coral. But the good thing is I'm young and have nothing but time. Thanks to the Reply guys and i look forward to learning much more.

cydian · 01-10-2007, 04:50 PM

OH and i like your picture....I also have a boxer

milesm4 · 01-10-2007, 04:52 PM

Good luck and those readings will spike soon enough just you wait. Congrats on the tank!

Dyngoe · 01-10-2007, 04:54 PM

Want to save money? Let your tank run for a few more weeks and do your research. Once you figure out what you want (refugium/skimmer

), then look on Craigslist for full tank systems. Take what you want and piece out the rest. I got 55 Gal worth of corals, 350W MH lights and ~80lbs of live rock for $380. Throw that together with two free tanks and ~$350 worth of extra equipment and you get what I have in my 46Gal tank. Just takes time, patience and best of all timing. good deals don't stay on Craigslist long. Good luck.

coral reefer · 01-10-2007, 05:28 PM

The reason why you haven't seen any elevation or trace of the beginning stages of a cycle is that you don't have much of a bioload. One Damsel and a little live rock in the 55gallon tank will take more time to cycle through, but it will happen in due time>
Welcome to 3reef by the way and best of luck with your switch to salt!
You will want to upgrade your lighting, especially if you want corals. A nice skimmer will be a plus and help you to be successful with your tank!
Read and research is the best advice to you to familiarize yourself with the reef environment!!!

cydian · 01-10-2007, 05:34 PM

Ok i figured that was the reason can anyone reccomend some decent price lighting if i only want some soft coral. As soon as my wife is over the shock of the initial purchase i will def get some better lighting and a skimmer...I just hope shes over it by this weekend

)

Birchell · 01-10-2007, 05:45 PM

you can get a nice 48 inch PC light for 250 bucks, or a good t-5 hood for 199.99 from Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums. That is were I get most of my stuff. I would shoot for t-5 lights. They are brighter than power compacts, and you dont have to run a chiller like with metal halide. Oh yea, thanks for the good word on my boxer. That is an old pic, he is just over a year now. He gets almost the same attention the fish do, lol.

Michael