First Corals, Need Help, Too Soon?

[Roboson]

So after a long time and a strange journey, I'm getting my "first" corals.

But I have a problem.

My big tank isn't ready. I just checked it and it still has some nitrites. I don't remember off the top of my head how long it's been cycling, a couple weeks or so.

But I have my 10 month old nano tank. But I've been struggling with nitrates in that tank. It really wasn't designed to be a saltwater tank and that's part of why I'm moving to a larger tank. My dad set it up for me when I accidentally brought a marine hermit crab home from the beach. But that's a story for my soon to be constructed tank thread.

And here's the big problem: I already ordered the coral. It was a big Fourth of July clearance sale and I couldn't resist since I knew the small tank could house them. I just sort of got caught up in it.

So here are a few of my questions.

Coral dips. It seems like everyone swears by the Bayer dip. Is that dip (I looked up a recipe) sufficient by itself? Or do I need to so something more than inspection for pests and dipping? (Also will the Bayer dip kill micro starfish?).

Question two. In addition to water changes, is there any way I could lower nitrates quickly in my nano? It only has a brittle star, some hermits, a pencil urchin, and two snails. And a ton of macro of different kinds. I was going to add fish, but I decided to get a bigger tank instead and do fish later. It also has a couple mushrooms and a bit of Xenia in it. I got those from my LFS when I got some extra hermits to combat algae. They seem to be doing fine despite my constant nutrient issues.

Is there a quick way to finish up my cycling tank? I probably won't do anything because I'd hate to risk the tank not being ready and coral suffer because of it.

Things to consider:

Nano tank: inhabited, over 10 months old, has some corals in it that are doing well. Nitrate problems.

40 bowfront: just not ready yet.

Coral coming: 5 kinds of Zoas, 4 kinds of mushrooms, an acan frag, a war coral frag, a candy cane coral frag, some snails. Maybe one or two other random cheap frags. No SPS. Average size of frag 1".



Any advice is welcome and appreciated. Opinions, experiences, facts, anything would be helpful.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Acclimate slow. Just put them in the nano.

Leve the other tank alone. Only bad things happen quickly.

Edit. I have nitrate problems. Seems to make my SPS grow a lot.

 

[Diesel]

I love to have a No3 problem as that means that I don't have to dose.
Yes Bayer will kill everything with a nerv system that means your mini star will be history if you expose it to bayer.
After and before the dip you can inspect corals on eggs as bayer won't kill those, also if you see any mini stars remove them as they will stay alive before the bayer dip.

 

[BoneXriffic]

So after a long time and a strange journey, I'm getting my "first" corals.

But I have a problem.

My big tank isn't ready. I just checked it and it still has some nitrites. I don't remember off the top of my head how long it's been cycling, a couple weeks or so.

But I have my 10 month old nano tank. But I've been struggling with nitrates in that tank. It really wasn't designed to be a saltwater tank and that's part of why I'm moving to a larger tank. My dad set it up for me when I accidentally brought a marine hermit crab home from the beach. But that's a story for my soon to be constructed tank thread.

And here's the big problem: I already ordered the coral. It was a big Fourth of July clearance sale and I couldn't resist since I knew the small tank could house them. I just sort of got caught up in it.

So here are a few of my questions.

Coral dips. It seems like everyone swears by the Bayer dip. Is that dip (I looked up a recipe) sufficient by itself? Or do I need to so something more than inspection for pests and dipping? (Also will the Bayer dip kill micro starfish?).

Question two. In addition to water changes, is there any way I could lower nitrates quickly in my nano? It only has a brittle star, some hermits, a pencil urchin, and two snails. And a ton of macro of different kinds. I was going to add fish, but I decided to get a bigger tank instead and do fish later. It also has a couple mushrooms and a bit of Xenia in it. I got those from my LFS when I got some extra hermits to combat algae. They seem to be doing fine despite my constant nutrient issues.

Is there a quick way to finish up my cycling tank? I probably won't do anything because I'd hate to risk the tank not being ready and coral suffer because of it.

Things to consider:

Nano tank: inhabited, over 10 months old, has some corals in it that are doing well. Nitrate problems.

40 bowfront: just not ready yet.

Coral coming: 5 kinds of Zoas, 4 kinds of mushrooms, an acan frag, a war coral frag, a candy cane coral frag, some snails. Maybe one or two other random cheap frags. No SPS. Average size of frag 1".



Any advice is welcome and appreciated. Opinions, experiences, facts, anything would be helpful.

What level are nitrates at? Those corals all love dirty water.... i havent check nitrates since my cycle ended. Aside from the occasional curiosity test

Nitrates can get dangerous but a 10 month tank with good maintanence will have no issues, especially these kinds of corals.

My tank runs between 5 and 10 on nitrates and .15 and .2 phos.... sps lps and softied of all kinds colored nice and growing well.

 

[Roboson]

There was a thread about Bayer dip that seemed to have it in a negative light. Are there risks to using this method?

Are there any types of corals that will suffer terribly if I have some extra nitrates?

 

[Diesel]

The risk is by not rinsing good by swooshing your corals after the dip and a small bucket of tank water.
What I do is I dip corals for 15min in a milky solution, and drop them in a 5 gallon bucket for 15 min as the coral will release all toxic.
After that it's save to bring it in your tank.
Make sure that the water you dip it in and rinse it in is the same as your tank water to prevent coral shock.

 

[cmcoker]

A number for nitrate would help everyone help you..
Are we talking 10ppm, 20ppm, 80ppm, 160ppm?
Also, How big is the nano tank?

 

[JasReef]

My big tank isn't ready. I just checked it and it still has some nitrites.

But I have my 10 month old nano tank. But I've been struggling with nitrates in that tank.

It sounds like he still has nitrites showing up in the new tank. What test did you use and what was the reading?

 

[Roboson]

Yeah I just went to check it. I used the little strips so it wasn't as accurate as it could be.

Yikes, right now I'm at about 80ppm. But I'm due for a big water change this Thursday.

The tank is a 10g.

 

[Roboson]

I've eliminated the new tank as a candidate. It's not worth the risk since it's so new.

 

[BoneXriffic]

I've eliminated the new tank as a candidate. It's not worth the risk since it's so new.

Couple of big water changes, but yes the strips are all but usless.

Acclimate coral slow. And test the alk calc and mag

 

[cmcoker]

I've eliminated the new tank as a candidate. It's not worth the risk since it's so new.

I think if you do a large water change on the nano now that should help, Turkey baste your rocks before the water change to stir up any detritus. Can you do 7 gallons or so?
The corals you have coming shouldn't be overly sensitive to nitrate but, personally, I would try and get it 20 or below.
I would recommend a liquid test kit to verify that level though, as I don't trust those strip tests. Salifert or red sea pro is what I would use. Or Take a sample to the lfs tomorrow for verification at least...

 

[Roboson]

I have a liquor test kit for nitrate. It was just down in the basement and the strips were upstairs by the tank [emoji16].

Should I do the seven gallon change all at once or should I do it in several sets? I normally do 5 (50%) every other Thursday and 10-20% whenever I have a chance on between.


For acclimation, what is the best method for that? There seem like there are a couple ways to go about it.

 

[BoneXriffic]

I have a liquor test kit for nitrate. It was just down in the basement and the strips were upstairs by the tank [emoji16].

Should I do the seven gallon change all at once or should I do it in several sets? I normally do 5 (50%) every other Thursday and 10-20% whenever I have a chance on between.


For acclimation, what is the best method for that? There seem like there are a couple ways to go about it.

You do 50percen bi weekley and 10 weekly? Recheck nitrates, to be 80 plus you either have massive detrius build up or a 500lbs tuna pooping in that thing. I assume this is skimmerless? Some macro algae would be helpful.

Plus one on blowing rocks out and maybe vac sand bed gently before change. Imo 7 is a bit high i would do a couple 5 gal changes, maybe 2 before new corals arrive.

 

[Roboson]

Well I try. My maintenance hasn't been as rigid since I got my new job.

I think what's causing it is my macro algae. Some of it has disappeared from the back section of the tank. If it had gone sexual, could that explain the increased No3?

It is skimmer less with a crushed coral substrate. (Which I is not something that will make it into the new tank.)

 

[cmcoker]

I would do 7g at once, just make sure to match parameters on the new saltwater first.
The reason I would do so much is that 1 change will take you down to around 24ppm if your 80 is accurate.

2 five gallon changes would get you to 20ppm.

I have a liquor test kit for nitrate. It was just down in the basement and the strips were upstairs by the tank [emoji16].

Should I do the seven gallon change all at once or should I do it in several sets? I normally do 5 (50%) every other Thursday and 10-20% whenever I have a chance on between.


For acclimation, what is the best method for that? There seem like there are a couple ways to go about it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well I try. My maintenance hasn't been as rigid since I got my new job.

I think what's causing it is my macro algae. Some of it has disappeared from the back section of the tank. If it had gone sexual, could that explain the increased No3?

It is skimmer less with a crushed coral substrate. (Which I is not something that will make it into the new tank.)

Is it filter less as well? Macros only pull out nutrients and you should be trimming it regularly. It only add nutrients if it dies. It needs flow too.

Fwiw if your running a filter less skimmer less ten gal system. You should not be feeding hardly anything.

Drip acclimate. About 20 min. I double the water vol in a half liter container.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

And seven gallons in a ten gallon tank is almost 100 percent water change when you consider the rock sand etc. I personally wouldn't do that. Five gal is pushing it.
I don't see how anyone would match parameters without shock in a WC that large.

 

[cmcoker]

Eh, I've done 90% water changes in a fish less nano.
50% in a nano with fish. Everything was fine.
Pretty sure @brandon429 does 100% in his pico and corals are fine..

 

[Roboson]

The only thing that gets fed in there is the 8 inch starfish and the mushroom corals. I occasionally toss the hermits a sinking pellet.

It doesn't have a canister or anything like that, so I guess it is filterless. It was originally a freshwater tank that my dad set up in a hurry for salt water. That was before we had any knowledge of saltwater life and also had a dying hermit crab to save.

I'm thinking about doing a 50% tomorrow and then another one a day after. I am worried that it may stress my big starfish.