Lights On

[bing_ph]

Cycling process is now on its 8 week . Water parameters are PH 8.2 / Ammonia 0 / Nitrite 0 / Nitrate >10<20 ppm ( hope to get this down soon) . Havent tested for Phosphate at this time. I have some turbo and a pair of nassaurius snails added a week ago. A ball of chaeto in the refugium as well.

Diatoms are now all over but starting to recede.

Should I now start simulating my photoperiod? I plan to have the lights on for 10 hrs max. This is from 11 AM to 9 PM. I have not used the lights except for some moments when I want to view the tank at night.

TIA

 

[reeferfoxx]

Cycling process is now on its 8 week . Water parameters are PH 8.2 / Ammonia 0 / Nitrite 0 / Nitrate >10<20 ppm ( hope to get this down soon) . Havent tested for Phosphate at this time. I have some turbo and a pair of nassaurius snails added a week ago. A ball of chaeto in the refugium as well.

Diatoms are now all over but starting to recede.

Should I now start simulating my photoperiod? I plan to have the lights on for 10 hrs max. This is from 11 AM to 9 PM. I have not used the lights except for some moments when I want to view the tank at night.

TIA

Wow! I say your patience is superb? I think I would have had the lights on a few weeks back, personally. You going to start a build thread? Be nice to see how this progresses?

Might look into some astrea or trochus snails too. They are good for diatoms and hair algae. I've seen some munch on a little cyano too.

 

[bing_ph]

Wow! I say your patience is superb? I think I would have had the lights on a few weeks back, personally. You going to start a build thread? Be nice to see how this progresses?

Might look into some astrea or trochus snails too. They are good for diatoms and hair algae. I've seen some munch on a little cyano too.

thanks a lot @reeferfoxx ! patience come with age? hehehehe will be updating this as my tank progresses . need a lot of tips from this group

if i can find a lfs selling astrea and trochus in my place i will surely take your advise.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Should I now start simulating my photoperiod? I plan to have the lights on for 10 hrs max. This is from 11 AM to 9 PM. I have not used the lights except for some moments when I want to view the tank at night.

Oh and I would start with maybe 8 hours at low- medium light. If low light than 10 hours is ok to start. 15-20% water change wouldn't hurt followed by a new fish.

 

[bing_ph]

Oh and I would start with maybe 8 hours at low- medium light. If low light than 10 hours is ok to start. 15-20% water change wouldn't hurt followed by a new fish.

when you say low to medium that will be around 50% max in color and intensity? agree i think i should go for 8 to 10 hrs max...thanks!

 

[reeferfoxx]

when you say low to medium that will be around 50% max in color and intensity? agree i think i should go for 8 to 10 hrs max...thanks!

Hmm..Hard to convey intensity.. Yeah, if those are kessil in your picture? I think 50% for 8 hours is great till you start adding coral.

 

[bing_ph]

Hmm..Hard to convey intensity.. Yeah, if those are kessil in your picture? I think 50% for 8 hours is great till you start adding coral.

Yes those are kessil lights. I was thinking of doing some ramping up and down for the 8 hr photoperiod or it will be better to stay at 50% straight for 8 hours?

did a 20% water change last weeekend and will do another round after 2 weeks

 

[reeferfoxx]

Yes those are kessil lights. I was thinking of doing some ramping up and down for the 8 hr photoperiod or it will be better to stay at 50% straight for 8 hours?

did a 20% water change last weeekend and will do another round after 2 weeks

Is the ramping up and then down a preset schedule? I would say 50% for 8 hours straight is more what you are looking for. I don't have Kessil LEDs but I do program mine to ramp up. My LEDs ramp up for an hour, then ramp down for an hour. The in between is 7-8 hours of constant light.

 

[bing_ph]

Is the ramping up and then down a preset schedule? I would say 50% for 8 hours straight is more what you are looking for. I don't have Kessil LEDs but I do program mine to ramp up. My LEDs ramp up for an hour, then ramp down for an hour. The in between is 7-8 hours of constant light.

No it is not @reeferfoxx .
I will do my own program and thinking it this way:
11 AM - 12 Noon Color and Intensity at 5%
12:01 PM - 8 PM Color and Intensity at 50%
8:01 PM - 9 PM back to 5%
9:01 PM - lights off

 

[reeferfoxx]

No it is not @reeferfoxx .
I will do my own program and thinking it this way:
11 AM - 12 Noon Color and Intensity at 5%
12:01 PM - 8 PM Color and Intensity at 50%
8:01 PM - 9 PM back to 5%
9:01 PM - lights off

That looks good!

What's your first fish going to be?

 

[bing_ph]

That looks good!

What's your first fish going to be?

Thanks! Then I will go for that schedule starting this weekend onwards.

Planned fishes are:

Pair of clowns
HYT
Foxface
Banggai
Bi color blenny
6 line wrasse
Mandarin ( if I can populate pods in the fuge)
Royal gramma

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thanks! Then I will go for that schedule starting this weekend onwards.

Planned fishes are:

Pair of clowns
HYT
Foxface
Banggai
Bi color blenny
6 line wrasse
Mandarin ( if I can populate pods in the fuge)
Royal gramma

I always start with clowns. That way if any parameters fall out of wack, it won't bother the fish. Then add the more peaceful fish like the gramma and banggai. Make sure you quarantine too. That will save you loads of time and frustration.

 

[bing_ph]

I always start with clowns. That way if any parameters fall out of wack, it won't bother the fish. Then add the more peaceful fish like the gramma and banggai. Make sure you quarantine too. That will save you loads of time and frustration.

@reeferfoxx .... adding the clowns is the first rule at home... wifey and kids expect them to be the first tank inmates hahahaha!!!!

really need to add them nice and slow just to make sure things will turn out good in the future

 

[recess62]

Just an aside. A water change is needed to bring down your nitrates

 

[bing_ph]

Just an aside. A water change is needed to bring down your nitrates

have scheduled a 20% water change ... thanks @recess62 !

 

[bing_ph]

Just an update.

Tank is on its 10th week of cycling and I started running my lights from 11-30 Am to 9-30 PM. I noticed that diatoms are all over the rockscape and on the sand as well. Is this okay? Normal?

Also Nitrates is still hovering at 20 PPM ( API test kit) and I don't seem to pull it down. Is this normal? Wil. Be doing a 20% water change this Friday.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I noticed that diatoms are all over the rockscape and on the sand as well. Is this okay? Normal?

Very normal. Diatoms take on different roles. Diatoms consume silicates being leached from new equipment. Diatoms also provide food for micro fauna such as copepods. If left untamed, can grow to almost an unsightly and seemingly uncontrollable state. This is the perfect time for CUC or clean up crew. Since Diatoms are the first issue, diatom eating snails are needed. Astrea or Trochus snails are perfect for the job. It may seem like a lot but 1 snail per 2 or 3 gallons is recommended. I do equal amounts of Cerith snails for detritus and then 1 turbo snail for every 15 gallons.

Also Nitrates is still hovering at 20 PPM ( API test kit) and I don't seem to pull it down. Is this normal? Wil. Be doing a 20% water change this Friday.

There is a good possibility your API test is incorrect. Before worrying about nitrates, look into quality test kits such as Red Sea, Salifert or Hanna checkers.

 

[bing_ph]

Very normal. Diatoms take on different roles. Diatoms consume silicates being leached from new equipment. Diatoms also provide food for micro fauna such as copepods. If left untamed, can grow to almost an unsightly and seemingly uncontrollable state. This is the perfect time for CUC or clean up crew. Since Diatoms are the first issue, diatom eating snails are needed. Astrea or Trochus snails are perfect for the job. It may seem like a lot but 1 snail per 2 or 3 gallons is recommended. I do equal amounts of Cerith snails for detritus and then 1 turbo snail for every 15 gallons.


There is a good possibility your API test is incorrect. Before worrying about nitrates, look into quality test kits such as Red Sea, Salifert or Hanna checkers.

thanks @reeferfoxx .... i was worried since this is the firs time i saw such kind of bloom. have CUCs now in the tank a couple of turbo, astrea and a pair of nassaurius snails hovering around the tank. whew ... hope all will be well soon.

okay will get a new test kit for my nitrates. my excitement is being curtailed by these diatom and nitrates issues ...

 

[reeferfoxx]

couple of turbo, astrea and a pair of nassaurius snails hovering around the tank.

How many astreas?

 

[bing_ph]

How many astreas?

@reeferfoxx ... got 4 turbo and 4 astreas in the tank...and a pair of nassaurius. 10 snails all in all ... the only tank inhabitans as of the moment