Nitrates still 160 ppm
- Thread starter gemini9
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This will still only show the free po4 in the water column. There can still be plenty of po4 bound in rock and algae that cannot be tested.
There's no set number of how many you will need, and difference in opinion with this. My 29 has about 6 turbo, 6 trochus, 8 blue leg, 6 red leg, 4 cerith, 5 nassasirus, and a breeding population of snails that hitch hiked...
Start with a few of each... Like 2 turbos, 2 or 3 trochus, a mix of 6 hermits. I'm not sure that nassasirus and cerith will do well without sand, they like to bury themselves.
No, its free food! You may want to feed the tank just a little bit of mysis every few days to give the crabs something to Munch on
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gemini9
Newb!
You mean dried mysis shrimp? San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp 89O | eBay
That stuff?
That stuff?
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there is a website I believe it's called reef cleaners and they will provide you with a customized CUC. I've heard people say good things about them. You can just ask you LFS to put together a mixed crew. I've noticed you mentioned the diatoms a couple of times. Diatoms are a "bloom" usually seen in the beginnings of a new tank. They will eventually fade as silica is used up. It's not a "stage" needed to go through to "complete" your cycle. Your test kits let you know when you've cycled. It sounds like you are making great progress. You're already on your way to being successful - being patient 
In terms of phosphates, I agree with pete (I think it was) - I test mine by looking at my tank - if I see increased green algae, I know my phosphates are increasing.
In terms of phosphates, I agree with pete (I think it was) - I test mine by looking at my tank - if I see increased green algae, I know my phosphates are increasing.
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gemini9
Newb!
Stars aren't compatible with crushed coral though, from what I've read about them. I would order online if I could, but I don't think I'd be able to get my livestock off of the internet due to being at work during the day. I wouldn't be able to get them in the tank quick enough if I'm at work and that worries me a little.
Fishroom: Yes, I'm being patient but I never said it was easy. It's hard sitting here staring at rocks all the time. I want some fish in there dang it! haha. Thank you for clearing up the diatoms issue. It was an assumption of mine that the diatoms were part of the required cycle. I read that the diatoms turn to cyno, the cyno turns to hair algae and then the algae is eaten by the cuc. Then when all is cleaned up, the fish can come in. I was actually trying to PROMOTE the diatom growth by moving some of my rocks around closer to the powerhead that weren't getting any diatoms LOL Oops.
Fishroom: Yes, I'm being patient but I never said it was easy. It's hard sitting here staring at rocks all the time. I want some fish in there dang it! haha. Thank you for clearing up the diatoms issue. It was an assumption of mine that the diatoms were part of the required cycle. I read that the diatoms turn to cyno, the cyno turns to hair algae and then the algae is eaten by the cuc. Then when all is cleaned up, the fish can come in. I was actually trying to PROMOTE the diatom growth by moving some of my rocks around closer to the powerhead that weren't getting any diatoms LOL Oops.
algae is part of your stages but not a requirement before you can add livestock (except of course things that need it ).
).
gemini, this doesn't make sense to me......
Diatoms feed off of silicates in the tank. Once they've eaten all the silicates they are gone, dead, gone, unless you start feeding the tank silicates again, they won't come back. And they are not a requirement of a new tank. There are alot of people that don't get em.
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gemini9
Newb!
It has to be the dry rock
are you sure that you're doing the test right? I remember you saying that the LFS had indicated you weren't reading it in the correct light? I can't believe that dry rock would leach that much in nitrates.
Not this consistantly
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gemini9
Newb!
I shake the bottle for a minute. Shake the tube a minute just like indicated. The test I did last week aglfter water change was only 40ppm. Now iys back up. The dry rock was pretty gross tho. What are these silicates reefing mentioned? Do they cause nitrates?
