NakiFantaki's Nuvo 20 first time reef tank
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NakiFantaki
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12 days in.. skipped Ph today because my Ph has been acceptable this whole time.
I'm being patient, but it's so hard! Re thinking my choice in using dry rock.. also doubting the goo bacteria I put in on day one wasn't enough. Planning on throwing in a bottle of bio spira in a few days..
I'm being patient, but it's so hard! Re thinking my choice in using dry rock.. also doubting the goo bacteria I put in on day one wasn't enough. Planning on throwing in a bottle of bio spira in a few days..
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NakiFantaki
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2 weeks into my cycle.. just an update. This is my current water test results.
Yesterday morning I added a bottle of bio spira because I felt I didn't have enough good bacteria. About 9 hours later I tested ammonia and it was at about .50ppm... so I went ahead and re dosed 10 drops (1.0ppm) of ammonia.
24 hour later and this is what I got... looks like the ammonia has been eaten up at a faster rate. I will test tomorrow and hope for 0... at that point I will re dose 2ppm ammonia and hope it gets turned into nitrates in about a 24 hour period.
I feel like I'm getting close!
Ordering my wave maker and powerhead this coming week along with some poly filter pad. My phosphate testing kit should be here on Monday.
Does anyone have any advice?
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Yesterday morning I added a bottle of bio spira because I felt I didn't have enough good bacteria. About 9 hours later I tested ammonia and it was at about .50ppm... so I went ahead and re dosed 10 drops (1.0ppm) of ammonia.
24 hour later and this is what I got... looks like the ammonia has been eaten up at a faster rate. I will test tomorrow and hope for 0... at that point I will re dose 2ppm ammonia and hope it gets turned into nitrates in about a 24 hour period.
I feel like I'm getting close!
Ordering my wave maker and powerhead this coming week along with some poly filter pad. My phosphate testing kit should be here on Monday.
Does anyone have any advice?
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
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NakiFantaki
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Finally! Test shows zero ammonia!! I dosed 2.0ppm ammonia tonight and hope it see it converted in a 24 hour period. Really hoping that by the weekend the cycle will be complete and I will do a 25% water change and add my first critter! I plan to add very slowly... any suggestions as to what I should add first?
My stock list is a pair of perc clowns and a pistol shrimp and goby pair and a small clean up crew.
What needs to go first?
My stock list is a pair of perc clowns and a pistol shrimp and goby pair and a small clean up crew.
What needs to go first?
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NakiFantaki
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Ladies and gentlemen... I think I have a cycled tank! Can anyone confirm?
I went ahead and dosed 2.0ppm ammonia after I did this test just to double check that the ammonia would be converted into nitrate in a 24 hour period...
If it looks good tomorrow I will let it sit for a few days and then hopefully Sunday I will be getting my first livestock!
What should I be getting? A CUC? Or can I get my clown?
I went ahead and dosed 2.0ppm ammonia after I did this test just to double check that the ammonia would be converted into nitrate in a 24 hour period...
If it looks good tomorrow I will let it sit for a few days and then hopefully Sunday I will be getting my first livestock!
What should I be getting? A CUC? Or can I get my clown?
USMC 4 LIFE
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Looks cycled.
I would get a small CUC. I personally would get 5 tronchus sails for your 20 gallon tank.
You can also get a clown if you'd like. However, I would quarantine him first for a month before adding him to your main tank.
I would get a small CUC. I personally would get 5 tronchus sails for your 20 gallon tank.
You can also get a clown if you'd like. However, I would quarantine him first for a month before adding him to your main tank.
USMC 4 LIFE
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They're cool too look at but not as efficient as snails. Totally up to you.
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NakiFantaki
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Ammonia and nirites gone in less then 24 hours! Woot! Going to the LFS Saturday make some choices! Super stoked!
I have a few questions.
When I do my first water change to get rid of the nitrates and before adding my first live stock does the water need to be up to temp? Right I am not mixing my own water and I am buying it from my LFS.
If I don't plan on adding any livestock till Saturday afternoon... should I be feeding the tank with something? (Ammonia or food) to keep the bacteria working?
Please excuse the cheesy snapchat pic... lol
I have a few questions.
When I do my first water change to get rid of the nitrates and before adding my first live stock does the water need to be up to temp? Right I am not mixing my own water and I am buying it from my LFS.
If I don't plan on adding any livestock till Saturday afternoon... should I be feeding the tank with something? (Ammonia or food) to keep the bacteria working?
Please excuse the cheesy snapchat pic... lol
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NakiFantaki
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One more question... when do I start running media? I have the 3 pack of IM sponges. Phosphate carbon and filter. Right now I have them loaded into the stock caddy.. which I went ahead and drilled some holes in. But at what point do I need to add that in?
I also have chemipure blue..
Help!?
I also have chemipure blue..
Help!?
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NakiFantaki
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100% confirmed.. tank is cycled. Ammonia and nitrites is out and broken down into nitrates within 24 hours. Had my LFS test my water and they gave me the thumbs up. They did mention that my carbon hardiness was a tad low but not to worry about it. I did a 25% water change and nitrates when from about 40-50ish to about 5ish. So I am happy with that.
Tomorrow I will go pick out my first livestock! I was pretty set on a watchman goby and pistol shrimp pair.. however after watching them today at the store I found them shy and timid and honesty.. boring. Lol. So now I'm not sure what to get..
Does anyone have any ideas? I know for sure I want 2 bonded clowns in this tank but I was trying to get them last... but does that really matter?
I'm also set up my media and added it to the tank this evening and I have turned on the lights.. going to tinker with the timer outlet I have to see if I can get these lights somewhat timed... it might be awhile till I can get my LED light upgrade.
What do you guys think? What am I missing?
The pics are before and after the water change..
Tomorrow I will go pick out my first livestock! I was pretty set on a watchman goby and pistol shrimp pair.. however after watching them today at the store I found them shy and timid and honesty.. boring. Lol. So now I'm not sure what to get..
Does anyone have any ideas? I know for sure I want 2 bonded clowns in this tank but I was trying to get them last... but does that really matter?
I'm also set up my media and added it to the tank this evening and I have turned on the lights.. going to tinker with the timer outlet I have to see if I can get these lights somewhat timed... it might be awhile till I can get my LED light upgrade.
What do you guys think? What am I missing?
The pics are before and after the water change..
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NakiFantaki
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Things are going pretty nicely I think. I have had the 2 clowns for 4 days now and they look happy and healthy and like to eat! Still haven't seen much of an algae bloom as of yet though. The snails seem to be doing okay though. I did notice that one of the hermit crabs shell turned white.. when I got it it was a very nice shade of light pink but now it's 100% white so I'm not sure what's up with that. The other snails with coralline on them are still a pretty purple color.
I put in a wavemaker this evening.. it's a Jebao PP-4. Awesome little thing for the price I think.. the size is great and it was super easy to set up.. where to put it and what setting to use is a whole different story!!! I'm so confused as to where I should put it and how strong the flow should be.
Can anyone offer me any suggestions?
As you can see in the picture right now it's in the upper left corner and I have it on the lowest and slowest setting. I turned it all the way up and the clowns hated it! Lol.
I'm not too sure where my flow needs to be or how to even achieve it..
I put in a wavemaker this evening.. it's a Jebao PP-4. Awesome little thing for the price I think.. the size is great and it was super easy to set up.. where to put it and what setting to use is a whole different story!!! I'm so confused as to where I should put it and how strong the flow should be.
Can anyone offer me any suggestions?
As you can see in the picture right now it's in the upper left corner and I have it on the lowest and slowest setting. I turned it all the way up and the clowns hated it! Lol.
I'm not too sure where my flow needs to be or how to even achieve it..
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NakiFantaki
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Some exciting stuff!!! Looks like the clowns are slowly starting their pair up.. sezuire like activity and a little bit of fighting. I have had them for almost a week and they seems happy and healthy.
Also i just noticed some brown spots on my rocks for the first time... this is normal correct? Are those spots Dinos? Is there anything i should be doing to get rid of them? Or should I just let it run its course?
Also i just noticed some brown spots on my rocks for the first time... this is normal correct? Are those spots Dinos? Is there anything i should be doing to get rid of them? Or should I just let it run its course?
Kilo
Active Member
I'm am not an expert but this are what i have learnt and practicing:
Believe those for first sign of Diotoms. Your tanks is getting nutrients ( nitrate & phosphorous) and light. These are good combination to grow algae
Focus on nutrient reduction and since you don't have corals now, you can also reduce your light duration or go blue light only. But nutrient limitation is important as you progress.
Protein skimmers, GFO & regular water change helps. Vinegar dosing helps on nitrate reduction ( with good skimmer)
