40 breeder build

glb · May 10, 2016

Looking good! You're ahead of me, so I can get pointers from you.

BlueDevil · May 10, 2016

glb said:
Looking good! You're ahead of me, so I can get pointers from you.

Thank you! I'm glad to help in any way I can. Won't be long before you're staring at an empty, cycling tank too [emoji4]

glb · May 10, 2016

BlueDevil said:
Thank you! I'm glad to help in any way I can. Won't be long before you're staring at an empty, cycling tank too [emoji4]

It's taking longer than I thought! Right now I'm working on getting a smooth paint job for the outside of the stand. So many details!

BlueDevil · May 10, 2016

glb said:
It's taking longer than I thought! Right now I'm working on getting a smooth paint job for the outside of the stand. So many details!

Make sure you use a Purdy or Wooster high quality brush. Yeah, they're pricey but they really make a huge difference!

glb · May 10, 2016

BlueDevil said:
Make sure you use a Purdy or Wooster high quality brush. Yeah, they're pricey but they really make a huge difference!

I was thinking about using one of those low pile rollers. Would one of those brushes be better?

BlueDevil · May 10, 2016

glb said:
I was thinking about using one of those low pile rollers. Would one of those brushes be better?

Thank you for bringing this up!! Yes a low pile roller is the way to go with paint. I mixed up paint and polyurethane. Other than detail work or in and around crevices, a roller is definitely the way to go. Gives you a nice smooth finish with no streak marks.

Sorry about the confusion!

Chriscrna · May 10, 2016

But get a Wooster for trim or edge work.

BlueDevil · May 10, 2016

^ agreed! Whatever you do, definitely stay away from the cheap brushes. They leave all sorts of streaks and blemishes in the finish. Just get some mineral spirits and/or paint thinner and clean your brushes well after each use and you'll be set for a long time!

Reeflogic · May 11, 2016

You sure have a Purdy, low pile Wooster. You should get to rollin'.

Yash, I think you're ready for some high-end SPS and maybe a mandarin or 3. Chop chop.

How is the cycling going? I'm about to order stuff for the 34g and I think I'm building a new stand. Do we have any welders in ETRC?

BlueDevil · May 11, 2016

Reeflogic said:
You sure have a Purdy, low pile Wooster. You should get to rollin'. Yash, I think you're ready for some high-end SPS and maybe a mandarin or 3. Chop chop.

How is the cycling going? I'm about to order stuff for the 34g and I think I'm building a new stand. Do we have any welders in ETRC?

Those brushes better my stand look purdy! I think I've inhaled enough paint/cement fumes to last me a lifetime so I'll let @glb enjoy some of them now

My NH3 finally zeroed out yesterday, though it still might be a couple of days until it can handle a 1 ppm daily spike which is what I'm doing right now. The nitrite on the other hand? It is a color of purple so bright that it is off the color chart! LOL! So yeah, I'll be waiting a while until those start falling.

BlueDevil · May 11, 2016

Oh and about the high-end SPS, I'm adding a JF Homewrecker tonight. Figured I'd go big or go home!

Reeflogic · May 11, 2016

That's what I'm talkin' about!!

BlueDevil · May 16, 2016

So my cycle has thrown me for a loop. I started it on 5/4 by initially dosing pure ammonia to bring it up to 3. I have been dosing Microbacter7 daily since that time. My ammonia initially shot up, and then gradually came back down, registering 0 at one point a few days back. The nitrites shot up as the ammonia came down, and then they started declining as well. For the past week I have been dosing ammonia daily to bring it up to 1. The past two days when I measured the two levels, my ammonia doesn't seem to be going below 0.25 while the nitrites are at 0.

Did I just accidentally register 0 on the ammonia for a few consecutive days? The nitrites shooting up (to a way dark purple on the test) and now showing 0 the past couple of days has me confused. Nitrates are pretty high right now and I was wondering if I should do a water change now or wait until later. Here are the tests from last night ...

Mark75 · May 16, 2016

API incorrectly shows 0 ppm ammonia as .25 ppm.

I would do a water change to lower your nitrates,...the actual water does not contain the bacteria doing the work so you will not "upset" your cycle if that is your concern. [emoji3]

BlueDevil · May 16, 2016

Mark75 said:
API incorrectly shows 0 ppm ammonia as .25 ppm.

I would do a water change to lower your nitrates,...the actual water does not contain the bacteria doing the work so you will not "upset" your cycle if that is your concern. [emoji3]

Thanks, Mark! That is really weird! I'll do a big water change tonight and will probably continue dosing ammonia and checking daily for this week. If things look good, the tank might just have completed cycling!!

Reeflogic · May 16, 2016

Based on the color index readings, it would seem your PH is low and your nitrates are off the chart. I think you should start over.

glb · May 16, 2016

I had a tank stall like this once. Check the other parameters and see if any can stall your cycle.

BlueDevil · May 16, 2016

Reeflogic said:
Based on the color index readings, it would seem your PH is low and your nitrates are off the chart. I think you should start over.

You think I should redo the acid bath too?

Reeflogic · May 16, 2016

No I meant from scratch, you need a new tank. Your glass is leaching phosphates.

BlueDevil · May 16, 2016

glb said:
I had a tank stall like this once. Check the other parameters and see if any can stall your cycle.

From everything I read online, the consensus is that API ammonia typically shows 0.25 ammonia all the time. My nitrites have been 0 the past four straight days now after dosing ammonia to 1 ~24 hrs prior to the test. Nitrates are at 10 but I have to still do my first water change. PH is little over 8. So I think I'm safe to assume the cycle has completed. Time to get some cuc in the tank! Woohoo! I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!