Waiting Sucks...

[wrassyreefer]

Hello all,

Brand new here and to the hobby. All the research tells me it will take a long time to get everything going so I am prepared but I hate it as I am already addicted.

20 Fusion with 10LB Live Sand and 17 LB Live Rock. Been running 10 days. Did a turbo start a week ago and added a couple of crabs and 1 snail. Added a 6 line wrasse as well, he is really cool.

Feeding and bio obviously came from this so my ammonia jumped to 1.0 from 0 which I was hoping to avoid for the fish sake, hoping the impatience does not cost my wrasse buddy but he is eating and seems to be doing well.

At the time I had 2 filter socks going and that was it but I have since yanked the socks and plugged up the Ghost Skimmer to try to rid ammonia.

I have O algae growth so far that I can tell. I have an AI Prime running about 14 hours a day but the light never exceeds 35% with the whites never exceeding 25% and 0 UV.

Super early in but what should I be expecting from algae? I don't plan on doing my first water change for the next 2-3 weeks but wondering what I should be looking for or expecting over the next month? I don't plan on adding any more fish and definitely not coral for a while until I feel certain the tank is healthy and breaking everything down.

 

[wrassyreefer]

Pic might help too...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Dont worry about the algae. get some bottled bacteria in the tank STAT and save the fish. DO a water change and get the ammonia out.

 

[cmcoker]

Remove the fish and return it. Not only is the tank not ready, since it's spiking ammonia, that wrasse has a reputation and is usually added last, if at all, because they can be jerks to any fish you try to add after it.
The skimmer is not going to help ammonia, only water changes and the maturity of your nitrifying bacteria will do that.
If you are going to leave the fish in there, you need to be prepared to do large water changes, probably daily, to keep the ammonia at zero, exposure to ammonia will cause long term damage to the fishes gills, even if he seems to be tolerating it now. I mean, ever sniffed a bottle of ammonia? Not pleasant for us to breathe either..

 

[adamk]

couple things...6 line wrasses are butt holes, odds are you will want him gone in the near future and the longer you wait the harder its going to be to get it out so i would get him out now while the tank is empty AND he's probably gonna die anyways with your ammonia levels....
turn your light off during cycle, its just going to promote algae growth.
last think, id pour in some bio spira that should help you cycle faster..
good luck and be patient

 

[wrassyreefer]

Well rested ammonia with Salifert test and think I am good on the ammonia.

 

[cmcoker]

Well rested ammonia with Salifert test and think I am good on the ammonia.

That's great. Personally, I'd still pull the fish, maybe sump him and add him back last if you really want to keep him... Definitely use an acclimation box for future additions if you keep him.

Maybe trade him for a pink streaked wrasse..

 

[wrassyreefer]

Yeaaa and I kinda didn't realize that when I got him. I was talking with LFS and they mentioned him as a good starter fish so about that. I want to keep him for now and then see how he does. They have that reputation but if he is a problem especially when he gets bigger I will find him a good home.

 

[Jisko]

Honestly I've start 4 tanks now and 3 of them have a fish in the first month... I always picked a clownfish as they're super hardy. I'd seed the tank with a nice chunk of live rock and some sand from an established tank then put in bio spira... biggest problem I've run into doing this is the clownfish doesn't like new additions down the road haha

 

[wrassyreefer]

That's great. Personally, I'd still pull the fish, maybe sump him and add him back last if you really want to keep him... Definitely use an acclimation box for future additions if you keep him.

Maybe trade him for a pink streaked wrasse..

I like the idea of trading him. Someone out there likes these guys for their tanks right? Ha. A shame they are aggressive cuz they are really fun to watch.

 

[wrassyreefer]

Honestly I've start 4 tanks now and 3 of them have a fish in the first month... I always picked a clownfish as they're super hardy. I'd seed the tank with a nice chunk of live rock and some sand from an established tank then put in bio spira... biggest problem I've run into doing this is the clownfish doesn't like new additions down the road haha

Yea that was the impatience kicking in. Tank is so new that if something happened (not expecting anything to based on the advice of the LFS, gave the green light) I didn't want to hurt 2 fish since I want my clowns in a pair, so did the wrasse...and that would have been more expensive.

 

[cmcoker]

I like the idea of trading him. Someone out there likes these guys for their tanks right? Ha. A shame they are aggressive cuz they are really fun to watch.

I think people like them for the pest control, they'll eat flatworms and other undesirable little critters. I see them used in frag tanks for that.

Could see if the lfs would take it back for credit towards a nicer wrasse. For your size tank a pink streaked, or any of the Wetmorella sp (possum wrasses) would be fine.
The Wetmorella should be added down the road as they do better in a mature tank with plenty of pods and microfauna to graze on. They are a cryptic species, so, in general, they tend to stay closer to the rock work and are not out and about like some other wrasse species.

 

[SuperDragon]

If you have access to natural seawater it's faster or even old/aged water from a fellow reefer will help speed things, as well as make a new friend/mentor.
+1 on bacteria if you have no access to nsw or aged tank water.

In the meantime I would plan out/research what inverts you want and fish for a nano tank. It will save you headaches later. You can't keep everything in a 20g. Beware of the schizophrenic Sixline.

 

[wrassyreefer]

If you have access to natural seawater it's faster or even old/aged water from a fellow reefer will help speed things, as well as make a new friend/mentor.
+1 on bacteria if you have no access to new or aged tank water.

In the meantime I would plan out/research what inverts you want and fish for a nano tank. It will save you headaches later. You can't keep everything in a 20g. Beware of the schizophrenic Sixline.

Yea I used some bacteria start a week ago so I am just going to relax for a bit and let nature do its thing.

That should give me time to figure out what else I want to put in here including corals at some point.

 

[Grey Guy]

Hello all,

Brand new here and to the hobby. All the research tells me it will take a long time to get everything going so I am prepared but I hate it as I am already addicted.

20 Fusion with 10LB Live Sand and 17 LB Live Rock. Been running 10 days. Did a turbo start a week ago and added a couple of crabs and 1 snail. Added a 6 line wrasse as well, he is really cool.

Feeding and bio obviously came from this so my ammonia jumped to 1.0 from 0 which I was hoping to avoid for the fish sake, hoping the impatience does not cost my wrasse buddy but he is eating and seems to be doing well.

At the time I had 2 filter socks going and that was it but I have since yanked the socks and plugged up the Ghost Skimmer to try to rid ammonia.

I have O algae growth so far that I can tell. I have an AI Prime running about 14 hours a day but the light never exceeds 35% with the whites never exceeding 25% and 0 UV.

Super early in but what should I be expecting from algae? I don't plan on doing my first water change for the next 2-3 weeks but wondering what I should be looking for or expecting over the next month? I don't plan on adding any more fish and definitely not coral for a while until I feel certain the tank is healthy and breaking everything down.

Find a successful reefer that can help you follow their success and method, and stay with it. Most LFS just want to sell you something. Rich guy's fill there tanks up with corals and fish right away. Be reasonable as you can with your goals, based on your resources. How much are you willing to spend? How much time each day will you realistically want to work on your tank, once the newness has worn off. You started well, but you are already moving way too fast. This is a hobby "obsession" that takes and lasts for years. You are going to get a lot of brown algae, and then you will get some snails, snails to eat it up. It's all part of the process. Take my advice, from someone who started out like you. The faster you try to go, the more animals you will probably kill. Eventually, the guilt builds up. Do what's best for the creatures you want to keep and you and they will do fine.

 

[Rueda]

waiting sucks but will save you headaches and money. if you get algae, a lawn mower blenny will do the trick

 

[burden2626]

if you like the wrasse keep him see how he acts every fish is differnt . look they say condy anemones dont host clowns but i see it all the time. keep him see how he turns out you can always trade him back.

 

[burden2626]

take time read up more . its always helful to read up and get idea's what works for one might not for another but rushing is not a good idea . i get caught up every once in a while (((( yeahhhh sale!!!))) but to go home then research and find out i added ssomthin that iam gonna have to remove cause he dont get along with my other fish or coral or i dont have a mature tank yet main goal research research and the patience will come with

 

[glb]

I agree with everyone else. Patience is tough, but it saves you a ton of headaches later. I would add Prime to the tank if you're planning on keeping the wrasse in there. If there's any ammonia, it will be neutralized, but not removed. Until your ammonia and nitrites are 0, the tank isn't finished cycling and I wouldn't put anything in it. Trust me, we've all make these mistakes ourselves and that's why we're trying to save you the trouble!