im starting again

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by kingterra, Apr 2, 2009.

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  1. kingterra

    kingterra Skunk Shrimp

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    sharja U.A.E
    thanks man hopefully i can make it better this time thanks for the encouragements and helpful tips.
     
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  3. kingterra

    kingterra Skunk Shrimp

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    one more question guys how do i know that my tank is starting to cycle?i test my waters and this are the results
    ph 8
    ammonium 0.25
    nitrite 0
    nitrate 0
     
  4. ZachB

    ZachB Giant Squid

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    Once the ammonia and nitrite hits 0 and stays there. You will also start showing some nitrates.
     
  5. Annie3410

    Annie3410 Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    your cycle has started! Take it slow and dont add anything for at least a month. In that time, you can research more. You asked about lighting for a reef.... I would recommend T5 lighting for your tank. You would be able to keep ANY easy coral under those lights. Good luck!
     
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  6. kingterra

    kingterra Skunk Shrimp

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    how do i know that my cycle is done?in a month how many times do i have to check my water parameters?
    if i will use t5 lighting how many bulb or bulbs do i need to buy and how about the colors?
     
  7. Annie3410

    Annie3410 Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    When your amm and nitrite are at ZERO then you will get nitrates. when the nitrates start going down, your good to go. It should take about 6 weeks or so. You can start adding some snails and/or hermits at about 4 weeks. Then at about 6 weeks, if your numbers are good, you can start adding fish. No more than 1 fish every week or two tho. If you add too fast, you will start another cycle. I wouldnt test more than every week or so.
     
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  9. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

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    glad you got the 30 Kingterra, you should have a lot better experience this time around

    +1 on all advice given above, testing once per week is adequate while cycling, but you do need to have something in the tank to cycle the tank

    there are many options/ alternatives on this

    1 - Slocal refers to as the dark side (or was the reference China related?) 1 x yellow tailed blue damsel, placed into the tank after it has been set up, with filters running etc for about 2 weeks
    2 - Throw in some food stuffs, thawed frozen shrimp and let it rot
    3- use one of the commercially available bacteria cultures to seed the tank ( mixed opinions on this method)

    any one of these 3 methods can and do work
    the target is to encourage the beneficial bacteria you need in order to deal with the waste of subsequent additions

    Clown fish I should add, do not make good 1st additions to a reef tank and should not be used in place of yellow tailed blue damsels or other damsels if you choose option 1

    Wish you well, and looking forward to some pictures

    Steve
     
  10. slocal

    slocal Doot!

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    Hahaha, I'm in no way referring to the PRC :uhoh:
     
  11. kingterra

    kingterra Skunk Shrimp

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    i was inspecting my tank this evening and i saw some live creatures like small snails,i also saw 1 small crab and 1 strange looking creature just like an umbrella and was grawling in the rocks,1 still have 1 clown who survives from my first try is it ok if i put him in the tank instead of theyellow tailed blue damsel?
    during the cycle do i have to run my skimmer and my filter especially if i will choose option 2??
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2009
  12. stepho

    stepho Panda Puffer

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    The small snail things are probably stomatella. Did they look like they have a flatter shell than regular snails? The umbrella thing is probably a small feather duster, maybe?

    You should not run your skimmer during the cycle, but do run the other filter. I wouldn't run any carbon or anything like that in it, but you need to build up the biological filtration on it as well.

    I wouldn't cycle with the clown fish now. Just hold off on him and add him when the tank is stable.

    Also I don't know if you got your lights yet, but t5s are good. You want around 4 watts/gal so for you thats going to be 120 watts.