ccyyyyccclinnngggg

[lvnick]

Okay so I've had my tank up and running for almost a month now. I've been testing my water every few days for the last 2 weeks and here's what I've got:

Gravity: 1.024
Nitrite: 0
pH: 8.2
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0
Temp: 78F

I have 2 red legged hermits
2 clowns
20LB Live Rock
20LB dead rock
40LB live sand

Lots of little living things swimming around... I think they're copapods (spelling???) some hydropods (spelling???) a three or four itty-bitty feather dusters (two live on the shells of the hermits)

I also have a pretty decent amount of green algae (long hair like, maybe 1 inch) growing on my overflow and in places on the glass.

Some spots that were white on my LR now have some nice purple stuff growing on them.

Where's my ammonia spike???

I know.. I know.. be patient...

but it's sooo hardddd

[amcarrig]

Copepods and amphipods

When did you add the two clownfish?

[lvnick]

I put the clowns in on the 15th of September... so just a little over 2 weeks ago. The hermits have been in there since a week before then, but then someone told me they wouldn't make a difference...

[amcarrig]

Hermits won't make much of a difference in your bio-load so they won't start a cycle. What kind of test kit(s) are you using?

[coral reefer]

Make sure that your tank completely finishes the cycling process before adding anything else!!!

[lvnick]

I picked up a API Saltwater Master Test Kit from the LFS...

It tests PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, I also picked up a coralife SG test

[lvnick]

Gravity: 1.024
Nitrite: 0
pH: 8.4
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0
Temp: 79F

Did I miss something here???

My clowns have been in there almost a month.. my hermits have been in there over a month (I know they don't contribute much at all...) and my live rock and sand has been in there even longer.

Should I just leave as is, wait another month? Is there something else I can do? I never saw my ammonia spike

[Otty]

What is your phosphate (PO4), magnesium, calcium, and ALK at in the tank?
High PO4 will cause the hair algae to grow. You may not see a large ammonia spike in your tank. That stuff is never anything I tested for because of it being a waste of money and a test kit during your cycle. If you would just let the tank run for 8 to 12 weeks nature will take it course and all that stuff will rise and fall and your tank will be ready for your livestock.
Everyone is always in a hurry and testing for the second eveything drops to 0 so they can add a bunch of fish. I think it's silly how people spend so much money in this hobby and then rush the one thing that will cause them problems down the road.
Wish you the best my friend!

[lunatik_69]

Hey lvnick, as stated, be patient. This hobby requires alot of patience and common sense. The Api testing kit that you bought is good for now, but you will need to test for other things later on as Otty mentioned. As for test kits, I have always like Api and salifert. If your tank has been up and running for 1 month, wait 1 more before you add anything. Once you pass the extra month, test your water for sg, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, cal, mag, alk, phos and ph. If those numbers are were they should be, then start to add live stock slowly. Keep one thing in mind, everytime you add a new livestock to your tank( esp. fish ) your tank will go through a small cycle. So go slowly and always test the water before adding anything. Good luck with your new tank and we are here if you have any Q's. Luna

[lvnick]

Hey so...

Should I start doing water changes? I read a book and it said to wait until after the cycling to start doing my water changes... but it's been a month so far, so should I do one?

Also, how often should I change my sock filter?