Beginner's 150g CDA Tank

[Brisk]

Tank has been cycling now for 12 days. My last testing from yesterday is showing I still have 0 nitrates, ammonia at <0.25 mg/L and 0 nitrite. I started to add some pellets and flakes into the tank hoping to bring nitrates up. I also added copepods 3 days ago but I think I may have killed them because I'm not seeing them on the glass. I turned off the pumps when adding them. 30 minutes later I turned the pumps back on and the skimmer. I then read that I should of left the skimmer off. I was supposed to get the live rocks tomorrow but realized it is Labor Day so we rescheduled for the following Monday.

Other things I did the past week, I finally finished my controller cabinet, installed a camera, and started to set up a QT tank.

 

[jdpierce21]

I love the control board setup. What is holding the tablet?

 

[Brisk]

I love the control board setup. What is holding the tablet?

Thanks! It's a wall mount for tablet I picked up from Amazon.

 

[Brisk]

Quick build update for the past week. I've been ghost feeding with flakes and pellets, but I still don't get any nitrate readings. Ammonia and nitrite both looks like it's at 0. I'm starting to see macro algae and what I think looks to be brown and green algae starting to grow. So I'm thinking the tank should be cycled. I just can't figure out why it is 0 nitrate.

The coming week should be exciting. The live rocks from KP Aquatics is shipping out tomorrow, so should be here Tuesday morning. I started to look into where I should get my first pair of Clownfishes. I'm debating from the LFS and QT them myself or just get them from Dr. Reef already QT'd.

 

[tbrown]

Quick build update for the past week. I've been ghost feeding with flakes and pellets, but I still don't get any nitrate readings. Ammonia and nitrite both looks like it's at 0. I'm starting to see macro algae and what I think looks to be brown and green algae starting to grow. So I'm thinking the tank should be cycled. I just can't figure out why it is 0 nitrate.

The coming week should be exciting. The live rocks from KP Aquatics is shipping out tomorrow, so should be here Tuesday morning. I started to look into where I should get my first pair of Clownfishes. I'm debating from the LFS and QT them myself or just get them from Dr. Reef already QT'd.

If they're going to be the first fish, you can buy them at LFS and stick them in the tank. That can be your QT if you let them be for a week or two of observation. Then QT any future additions?

 

[SaltyWalty]

Super cool build! Love the floating canopy! Will definitely be following along

 

[Brisk]

If they're going to be the first fish, you can buy them at LFS and stick them in the tank. That can be your QT if you let them be for a week or two of observation. Then QT any future additions?

That is good to know. I didn't think it can be done that way. Thank you!

 

[Brisk]

Super cool build! Love the floating canopy! Will definitely be following along

Thank you!

 

[mch1984]

Man, found this one with good timing. I’m all caught up now and it’s an awesome set up. The canopy is awesome and was smartly done. Plumbing can be a hassle, but then it’s there for a long time to come. Cant wait to see how this one goes.

 

[tbrown]

That is good to know. I didn't think it can be done that way. Thank you!

As long as they're the only fish in the tank, it's basically QT. The only problem with that is if they have something that requires a fallow period your tank will have to sit empty of fish afterwards.

 

[Brisk]

Got my live rocks in the tank today. I'm very happy with the KPA live rocks. It's porous like others have mentioned and it came with a lot of hitchhikers. I think there were some corals on it too, but I'm not sure if they are. Then there are other things on the rocks which I'm not 100% sure what they are either. Now I have to get the aquascape done but in a bit of a pickle on how I should tackle it. I have some dry rocks ready. Do I try to putty and glue the rocks under water or take it out? I was going to do it today, but got a small nick on my thumb and don't feel like getting my hands wet anymore .

 

[Brisk]

The past week I got my rocks in and the aquascape done. I think it looks ok but at the same time it feels like maybe I have too much rocks. I'm also not sure about having the powerheads on the back wall from a comment by someone about cruds will be left on rocks. There are some posts of other reefers who has powerheads on the back wall. I guess we'll see.

I know it has only been 5 days since I added the live rock, but I'm still not sure if the cycling is working. I still don't get any nitrate readings even with ghost feeding pellets and flakes. I also have an order for the 50g CUC package from reefcleaners for next week.

 

[Brisk]

I finally got a nitrate reading this week starting with 0.1 ppm. It has now been at 1.0 ppm for the last 3 days. Does this mean tank is cycled and can start adding a fish?

Since setting up the live rocks, the past week I have been taking out some pests out of the tank such as a fire worm, flat worm, and other bristle worms. I do have a dilemma. I have been hearing 2 to 3 clicking noises at a time from the tank. I saw a 1" green mantis on the left side of the tank. Then about 4 days later, I added the CUC package order to the right side of the tank and saw a 1" brown mantis on a different rock (not sure if they are the same mantis) coming out of the rock moving around the snails. I've been setting up bottle traps to catch them, but it's been about a week or so and no luck. I also don't see them coming out anymore, but I still hear the consecutive clicking noises (driving me crazy).

I was planning to get a pair of clownfishes this week about the size of 1.25". I put up another thread asking for advice, but so far the consensus is to get rid of the mantis before adding the fish. So I am sorta stumped here because having no luck catching the mantis and not sure if adding the fish would be safe.

 

[kevgib67]

Wow @Brisk, you have been a busy bee since I was last on your thread! Everything looks great, can’t wait to see more life in it. I hope you catch those pesky mantis shrimp soon.

 

[Brisk]

Wow @Brisk, you have been a busy bee since I was last on your thread! Everything looks great, can’t wait to see more life in it. I hope you catch those pesky mantis shrimp soon.

Thank you @kevgib67. It's been challenging and surprising as things develops.

 

[kevgib67]

Thank you @kevgib67. It's been challenging and surprising as things develops.

I’m just glad you are just two states over, I’m planning a waterbox 190.4 next year. Since you are an expert plumber and only 8 hours away I’ll let you know when I need help and you can come over . My father and stepmother lived on the upper east side of Manhattan for 20 years but after having triplets moved to Westport CT. My wife and I were going to head into the city when we were visiting in July, the train is within walking distance of their condo, but it was in the 90’s every day.

 

[Brisk]

I’m just glad you are just two states over, I’m planning a waterbox 190.4 next year. Since you are an expert plumber and only 8 hours away I’ll let you know when I need help and you can come over . My father and stepmother lived on the upper east side of Manhattan for 20 years but after having triplets moved to Westport CT. My wife and I were going to head into the city when we were visiting in July, the train is within walking distance of their condo, but it was in the 90’s every day.

Nice! Can't wait to see it! Trust me, I'm no expert in plumbing. . It was painful doing it.

 

[tbrown]

Nice! Can't wait to see it! Trust me, I'm no expert in plumbing. . It was painful doing it.

Don't worry, he knows a guy. One thing about Kev, he's not got a serious bone in his body! I think he used to, but then he broke it so...

 

[tbrown]

I finally got a nitrate reading this week starting with 0.1 ppm. It has now been at 1.0 ppm for the last 3 days. Does this mean tank is cycled and can start adding a fish?

Since setting up the live rocks, the past week I have been taking out some pests out of the tank such as a fire worm, flat worm, and other bristle worms. I do have a dilemma. I have been hearing 2 to 3 clicking noises at a time from the tank. I saw a 1" green mantis on the left side of the tank. Then about 4 days later, I added the CUC package order to the right side of the tank and saw a 1" brown mantis on a different rock (not sure if they are the same mantis) coming out of the rock moving around the snails. I've been setting up bottle traps to catch them, but it's been about a week or so and no luck. I also don't see them coming out anymore, but I still hear the consecutive clicking noises (driving me crazy).

I was planning to get a pair of clownfishes this week about the size of 1.25". I put up another thread asking for advice, but so far the consensus is to get rid of the mantis before adding the fish. So I am sorta stumped here because having no luck catching the mantis and not sure if adding the fish would be safe.

Man! Two Mantis???

Yes, your tank is ready for a fish or two if you're seeing nitrates, but I'd tend to agree with the Mantis being a possible threat.

 

[Gman83]

Looking good! I have no helpful suggestions on the mantis.