Feeling beat and I just began

[Lovge]

Hi all I am having some issues with my tank. Its been in cycle since feb 25. I have a shrimp in the sand but it COOKED during the first day. Is this a bad thing? My ammonia levels are very slowly rising however my nitrites are through the roof and the nitrates are at a low level. My biggest problem that im noticing is that my salinity levels are all over hell. I calibrate my refractometer with the included brs solution so the blue line is at 1.026/35ppm but I have never been able to get my tank water to that level. No matter the salt or the RO water i put in it, it seems to just hover around 34ppm/1.0249 ish. Am I doing something wrong because I feel like im beat and I havent even really got going yet.

thanks

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks/112078-lovge-tank-build-thread.html

 

[Paul C.]

Hey Pat. What part of W.Mass? Westhampton here.

What do u mean the shrimp cooked?

 

[Lovge]

What do u mean the shrimp cooked?

well i put the shrimp in the tank it was blue and translucent with in 24 hours it was white and red like a shrimp cocktail

 

[Diamond1]

Sounds like you have the start of a cycle with your ammonia and nitrites rising. The shrimp is doing it's thing, decomposing and getting your bacteria going.
As far as salinity 34ppm-1.025 is not a bad place to be.

 

[mrcoffee2]

I tried the shrimp in the tank. It was disgusting. The smell was awful. I ended up buying liquid bacteria to add to the tank.

Dont say your beat yet... You just started you have a long way to go. loooooonngggg wayyyyyyyyy

 

[Reefing Madness]

Put the shrimp in a net and lay the the water, if you don't it will deteriorate and get all over the place, very nasty stuff.
Your size tank should be easy to get the SG to 1.026. Most instructions for getting a certain SG level are on each bag. If you were to add just half a cup, you'd probably be right on the nose. But as stated, 1.025 is a good number to hit.

 

[Lovge]

Great. Ima let it go another day and see what has happened. Thanks for the support because its tough to see the numbers and try to keep it on the dot.

On a lighter note is their a way to clean the smudges off of the inside of the glass?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, wipe the glass down.
Mag-Float Scraper Magnet Cleaner (Glass) - Large (3/4 Inch - 20mm)
Mag-Flip 100 Aquarium Cleaner (For Glass Aquariums Only)
Aquarium scrubbing pads, algae pads - online aquarium cleaning tools and supplies

 

[SudzFD]

Are you just dumping salt in the tank? Because if so it just sits on the bottom and doesn't fully mix into the water. You need to mix it in an outside container, or better yet buy it premixed at the LFS.

Your tank is cycling. It needs to build it's bacteria. What type if filtration do you have? You need to have lots if surface area for the bacteria (porous live rock, bio balls, ceramic rings, etc...)

Don't add anything until your ammonia is zero and nitrites 0.

Good luck, hang in there.

I am a believer in those "instant cycle" bacteria additives. They help jump start the system.

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Dont feel beat! There is soooo much to learn in this hobby. Just keep trying, keep asking questions, and keep reading. Everyone will help you through your tough spots!

 

[Reef Viking]

Do you know anyone with a marine set-up? If so try get some water from their tank, even better if they can give you a little rock or sand too!
my friend gave me some rock, sand and water when i started and i never got anything like the cycles i read about!

 

[Lovge]

Are you just dumping salt in the tank? Because if so it just sits on the bottom and doesn't fully mix into the water. You need to mix it in an outside container, or better yet buy it premixed at the LFS.

Your tank is cycling. It needs to build it's bacteria. What type if filtration do you have? You need to have lots if surface area for the bacteria (porous live rock, bio balls, ceramic rings, etc...)

Don't add anything until your ammonia is zero and nitrites 0.

Good luck, hang in there.

I am a believer in those "instant cycle" bacteria additives. They help jump start the system.

yeah i have 40 lbs of rock in a 29 biocube, about 1.5" of sand. Im mixing my salt outside the tank. I have noticed that even though my ammonia isnt reading as a rule the nitrites are through the roof so thats a positive

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

yeah i have 40 lbs of rock in a 29 biocube, about 1.5" of sand. Im mixing my salt outside the tank. I have noticed that even though my ammonia isnt reading as a rule the nitrites are through the roof so thats a positive

Sweet you're on your way!