me again

[Tmar]

Here it is:

will be changing the powerhead set up to circulation mode and hope it doesnt blow the sand into a haboob! (500gph)
my light is a coral lite flourescent 18w will take pics later since I will not have it on for the first couple of weeks.
I will have a clean homemade window screen covering the top of my tank by tonight (this was set up yesterday)
I added my CaribSea live pink fiji sand at setup & the bio pack followed per pkg directions shortly thereafter

QUESTIONS:
Do I do 100% water changes at first? or just 25%? Weekly? Twice a week?
Lights on (risk algae)? or Lights off (avoid algae)? If off, do I cover to block all light?
Do I need a protein skimmer if I plan on doing weekly water changes?
Can I eventually (when cycled) fit just one lone 3" fish? (damsel, clown, dottyback OR chromis)
WILL be asking more and more questions as I think of them... or as I come up with some new dilemma :angel:

 

[CKI]

- I only ever did weekly changes, now i change bi-weekly
- If doing weekly changes you could get by with no skimmer
- I see no problem keeping any of those fish you have listed

 

[Dalmatia]

Here it is:


will be changing the powerhead set up to circulation mode and hope it doesnt blow the sand into a haboob! (500gph)
my light is a coral lite flourescent 18w will take pics later since I will not have it on for the first couple of weeks.
I will have a clean homemade window screen covering the top of my tank by tonight (this was set up yesterday)
I added my CaribSea live pink fiji sand at setup & the bio pack followed per pkg directions shortly thereafter

QUESTIONS:
Do I do 100% water changes at first? or just 25%? Weekly? Twice a week?
Lights on (risk algae)? or Lights off (avoid algae)? If off, do I cover to block all light?
Do I need a protein skimmer if I plan on doing weekly water changes?
Can I eventually (when cycled) fit just one lone 3" fish? (damsel, clown, dottyback OR chromis)
WILL be asking more and more questions as I think of them... or as I come up with some new dilemma :angel:

Was the sand wet or dry when you bought it in a bag?

 

[NanaReefer]

Was the sand wet or dry when you bought it in a bag?

OP states CaribSea Live pink therefore it would be wet



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[Eienna]

OP states Live pink therefore it would be wet



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You mean SHOULD be wet. It could be dry, in which case you'd have live sand gone dead.

 

[Dalmatia]

They both come wet or dry

 

[Dalmatia]

Ones a bit more $ for less lbs

 

[mike007]

If this a new tank you can leave the lights out if you want untill it cycles. Before you add fish have your lfs test your water to make sure tank has cycled. I f you are only planning on one fish probaly biweekly 25% water changes should be fine. Be carefull when you add fish and don't overfeed. Looks like you have a great start go slow and enjoy.

 

[Tmar]

Oct 21

Got home and changed the powerhead to circulation mode. I am pretty stoked. :bigsmile:

Stopped by the LFS on the way home from work and picked up a little cheapy heater for the salt water premix and got a GREAT deal on a cover for this little tank! $6.99!! Here it is today:

leaving the light off for the first couple weeks. The sand was dry. It had a separate envelope that I opened into a jar of the aquarium water, stirred and then slowly added to the aquarium anyway. I am pretty happy with how clear the water looks already, but the sand said no rinsing required but I rinsed it anyway....
Should I test for ammonia already? See if a cycle is starting? Add ammonia if the water tests negative? Could use some input... not sure how "live" my sand and rocks actually were...

 

[Tmar]

Oh,
I also did an ammonia test tonight and it showed 0.50. How long does it take "die off" to make ammonia spike? Is this a sign that the cycle is actually starting?

 

[Tmar]

update

4 full days after setup:

having some issues with my powerhead, i am working on correcting (need to learn to adjust my flow properly still)
tests as of 8:30pm October 24, 2013 (remember this is just setup new tank going for SLOW fowlr system to start)
FISHLESS cycle

pH = 8.8+
dKh (alkalinity) = 10.2
phosphates = 0.00
salinity = 1.022
temp = 80F
ammonia = holding at 1.00 (adding 5 drops of pure household ammonia daily = 0.5ml)
tested for nitrates at 7:30pm Oct 23 = 0.00 - no test on Oct 24.

I know my pH is very high but my alkalinity is good right?
I wasn't using my light but with phosphates bein 0 I turned them on this morning.
I think things are looking good so far. However, I do seem to have some "color" on two of the pieces of rock I bought from LFS so should I be testing for calcium, mag, etc if it is coralline algae or do I just let this go and worry only about the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp and salinity for now?

 

[robbrouse]

When I do an ammonia cycle.. I add enough to get my reading to 4 or 5 PPM and just let it ride out until I see a nitrite spike and then I add enough to get a .5 PPM reading until nitrites fall. Then I add enough ammonia to get me to 1.0 wait 24 hours and test to make sure the tank is cycled. As far as time can take from 2 weeks to 2 months.

 

[Dalmatia]

4 full days after setup:

having some issues with my powerhead, i am working on correcting (need to learn to adjust my flow properly still)
tests as of 8:30pm October 24, 2013 (remember this is just setup new tank going for SLOW fowlr system to start)
FISHLESS cycle

pH = 8.8+
dKh (alkalinity) = 10.2
phosphates = 0.00
salinity = 1.022
temp = 80F
ammonia = holding at 1.00 (adding 5 drops of pure household ammonia daily = 0.5ml)
tested for nitrates at 7:30pm Oct 23 = 0.00 - no test on Oct 24.

I know my pH is very high but my alkalinity is good right?
I wasn't using my light but with phosphates bein 0 I turned them on this morning.
I think things are looking good so far. However, I do seem to have some "color" on two of the pieces of rock I bought from LFS so should I be testing for calcium, mag, etc if it is coralline algae or do I just let this go and worry only about the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp and salinity for now?

You should raise your salinity to about 1.025-1.026 for reef! Ammonia, top it off when your reading for ammonia is back to 0 than give your bb some more food (ammonia)

 

[Tmar]

I just started cycling my tank 4 days ago! By "reef" do you mean the coralline algae? I am certainly NOT considering running out and purchasing corals yet or anything.
I can bring it up, but short of dumping salt in my tank I have to go slow method so will add salt water on top offs till it gets there. Just thought I would go a bit lower on salinity to begin with to ease it up instead of having it too high and having to do water change in cycle...
I won't really be ready for "REEF" for a very long time yet but any and all input is much appreciated

 

[Tmar]

Update pics.... I swear the color on the two rocks are indeed coralline algae :clap2:

at least I sure hope it is...

 

[NanaReefer]

Could be! Actually to early to tell for sure. Rock will go through several stages before it's mature


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[Tmar]

Thanks Nana!!
I am hoping and I spend an hour or so a day just staring at the tank. :clock:
I have begun to cycle the tank using the fishless ammonia method .... 10 gallon, shouldn't take too too long :brick:
trying not to worry too much about the rock, figure it will do it's thing all in good time but I AM curious bout the color! ound:

Full tests, 6:00pm October 27, 2013
temp: 81 F
sg: 1.023 - 1.024
pH 8.4
calcium 390
alkalinity dKh 10.2
phosphates 0
ammonia 4
nitrites 3
nitrates 20

 

[reefgeek96]

are you looking to do a reef or fish only

 

[Tmar]

At this time this is a FOWLR nano that I have only begun to cycle :smile:
I have NO future plans of THIS tank becoming a reef tank. However, I have plans for a larger REEF tank in the next 6 months! So trying to learn all I can, while dabbling with the basics in this 10 gallon. If I can learn to master THIS small tank, I should have less trouble in future when i can afford to setup my 90 gallon with a 50 gallon sump.

 

[robbrouse]

I've always heard it was hard going small (other than your debit / Credit card). I start with a 56 then went 75.. Don't have room for anything bigger. Did want the 90 (extra weight) on my floor.

SO I agree if you can master the 10 the 90 will be easier.