Cigar Sherlock's 20 Gallon Long nano build..

Dowtish · Apr 22, 2012

Actually, I wouldnt torture a fish like that. The ammonia burns their gills, if they make it through the cycle. Just go to the grocery store and get a single shrimp from the seafood dept. Put it in the tank and let it decompose. A perfect way to add ammonia, and get the ball rolling. You could also check out Dr. Tim's 'one and only'. You can cycle a tank in about 3-4 days with it.

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Cigar Sherlock · Apr 23, 2012

Already added 2 dead 1 inch feeder shrimp 5 days ago.

gmoney243 · Apr 23, 2012

What's ur nitrites? It may be in that stage if the amm is converted to nitrites but not nitrates yet.

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gmoney243 · Apr 23, 2012

Dowtish said:
Actually, I wouldnt torture a fish like that.

Yea I usually tie them to a rope and dunk them in and out of water while beating them with cane sticks. This makes them very happy to be in any tank conditions.

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Cigar Sherlock · Apr 23, 2012

Nitrite is the only test I don't have... I bought the API Reef master test kit and a separate Ammonia kit. That was my only thought as to where my tank is right now, in the Nitrite stage but I should still have some levels of Ammonia I would think. Anyways, thanks for replying guys and i'm hoping the two little shrimp I added with the one piece of liverock is enough to cycle the tank. I'm also thinking the 30#'s of livesand contained an adequate amount of bacteria to get the cycle done quickly.

Cigar Sherlock · Apr 26, 2012

Update: We have diatoms! I've had a dusting over the sand bed and rocks for the past two days. I added two damsels to the tank three days ago, and I did not register any ammonia before or after adding them. I got the bloom a day later and tested everything today. I'm at 1.025 Salinity, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrates, 0 Phosphates, Temp 77.6 degrees. Soooo..I'm guessing my cycle should be done in about 8 days. At that point I'll put my order in with reefcleaners to get the snails rolling.

Dowtish · Apr 26, 2012

the old familiar brown

bknapp · Apr 26, 2012

Like your rock work!

Cigar Sherlock · Apr 26, 2012

Thanks bknapp! I was going for the dead dragon skeleton look..without realizing the piece on the right actually looks like the top half of a skull.

gmoney243 · Apr 26, 2012

What test kit u use for phos. Because most phos kits are highly inaccurate I had one that measured 0 but then took a hanna reading and was 1.8 I would look into getting a hanna checker or salifert or red sea pro new kit if ur not alrdy using one. But u want to be able to read .00 levels for phos at least if u want sps id say. Lps and softies long as phos isn't causing algae problems doesn't have to be so low.

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Cigar Sherlock · Apr 26, 2012

I'm using the API reef masters kit..and it's not even close to the .25 color when I do the test. I'm planning on buying a Hanna Checker but am waiting for Scott to get some in if he can. I'm trying to limit my hardware orders online as the wife is already giving me the "eye".

gmoney243 · Apr 26, 2012

Cigar Sherlock said:
the wife is already giving me the "eye".

I hear that just wait till ur trying to get a big tank. Once upon a time my wife was like you didn't tell me that new tank was that big! This was only a 40g lol. I duno how I got away with the 180 lol

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Cigar Sherlock · Apr 26, 2012

I can't keep up with a 180 gallon tank much less afford the goodies that go with it. We are having a boy in June so I'm lucky to have a nano heh. I sold my Gary Fisher hoo koo e koo to purchase most of this stuff.

Dowtish · Apr 26, 2012

We have hanna phos and alk checkers available through the club to borrow...just fyi

Cigar Sherlock · Apr 26, 2012

I'd definitely be interested in using the phosphate checker..how do we arrange that Chris?

Dowtish · Apr 26, 2012

Just go to the sticky MTRC equipment thread and officially request it. Should be able to pick it up from Jay at the meeting.

Cigar Sherlock · May 9, 2012

Ok...New update on the 20L. I have had some GHA growing for the past week and I'm thinking it's either the Magenta/blue stunner I added or the terrible Odyssea T5 bulbs. I cut down the lighting time from 9 hours (9 actinic, 8 12k) to 6 hours (6 actinic, 5 12k). I also added a poly-filter to the AC70 to assist with removing any excess phosphates etc. I tested and only had .25 phosphates with my API kit but i've heard the phosphate drip tests are not that accurate. I added the clean up crew today that I ordered from reefcleaners and it arrived after I went to work. Sooo the wife had to add the snails to the tank using my very specific instructions (per reefcleaners website). She added them and the chaeto to my refugium. I will put some new pictures up in a day or two.