View Full Version : my tank pic 3 weeks into cycle
tims28gnano
12/29/2008, 08:03 AM
ok, here is my 28 gallon nano 3 weeks after i put 30 lbs of dr fosters and smith fused live rock and 40 lbs of live sand. i am not running a protein skimmer and not running a mechanical filter. i simply have the wavemaker running and a heater. i put another powerhead in there to make a little more water movement.
my params are:
1.024 SG
79.4 F
8.2 PH
0 amm
0 nitrites
I am trying to be patient but after putting all the stuff in there on Dec 11th I thought that something would be happening by now!
also, there are some spots in the tank where there looks to be darker grey stuff on the sand, not really sure what that is - - - - - (looks like dust)
Hope you like the pic!http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/208145tank_front.JPG
Michael
12/29/2008, 08:42 AM
hi-tims, fantastic looking tank you got there, very nice, why no skimmer? and
[welcome]
Bernie21
12/29/2008, 08:49 AM
Welcome and I do agree w Michael, why no skimmer, I would also try to use a sponge or filter floss as mechanical filtration, lastly a small bag of carbon should help clear up the cloudy look to it, but I do like your aquascaping, it does seem like your headed in the right direction, GL!!
tims28gnano
12/29/2008, 09:09 AM
um - - - thanks for the reply, no skimmer because when i went to put it up the directions in the nano cube said no skimmer till end of cycle. i also hear that the skimmer takes a few days to actually start working.
if you are formiliar with nano cube, the last overflows before the water hits the wavemaker have sponges going down the walls, i kept those in and rinse them under tap water every couple of days.
as for the aquascaping, i just put the rock in there so that it can get max watermovement, i have moved the rock once to change exposure and to try to avoid dead spots.
thanks for the input, i have been reading here for months but will always have more questions!
Michael
12/29/2008, 09:12 AM
ask as many questions as you need to tim, im glad you re-posted, and im glad you have a skimmer, i wasnt sure by your first post, i suppose it wont hurt putting it on the tank after the cycle
nmbeg
12/29/2008, 09:14 AM
i think it's safe to add a skimmer.... no reason to wait.
tank looks awesome!
Bernie21
12/29/2008, 09:27 AM
nmbeg, I love your Avatar, I have had 1 for about 2 years & it is my favorite thing in my tank, I hardly ever get to see it, but when I do it makes my day!! I absolutely love the lil critter!!
tims28gnano I was also wondering if you were going to use a skimmer period as it wasnt clarified, but like I said before you seem to be headed in a great direction, I cant wait to see what this tank looks like once it has corals in it, it's going to look great!! As far as questions are concerned, we all have them & we will all be looking to help...
tims28gnano
12/29/2008, 09:34 AM
thanks again, this new nano is the first one to come with a skimmer, it has an airstone. ill put it up soon. this nano also comes with the metal halide lights with 4 fans and 4 night LEDS. so that is what got me to take the plunge into the salt water world.
i plan on having mushrooms and zoas and stuff like that, more of a coral tank than a fish tank. i will prob get 2 clowns and a pistol shrimp and goby combo. i love the gobies!
i was thinking a cucumber for the sand bed and natually i will start with a CUC after the cycle ends! - - - - (if it ever starts! LOL)
i pretty much plan to follow the system they have laid out on liveaquaria. just less fish/ biolode!
i have always used chemipure in my fresh waters and plan to use it here if i use any carbon. i already have some at the house.
as for the tank being cloudy, that would be the pic, my water is NOT cloudy - - - - - yet
Bernie21
12/29/2008, 09:41 AM
lol, I didnt mean to offend you by the cloud being cloudy, sorry, that wasnt my intention. I think you should be able to start putting stuffin there already, I mean do it slowly, but 3 weeks for a tank that small w plenty of LR, you should be good to go. Not you should start this way, but down the line if you would like to, you would definitely be able to do more sensitive corals as you have more than enough light to do so, LPS & SPS.
tims28gnano
12/29/2008, 09:45 AM
bernie, no offense taken!
you say i can start putting stuff in, the rock i put in is UNCURED from live aquaria and i still am reading 0 ppm ammonia and 0 ppm nitrites!
i would say that my cycle has not even started yet!
i am in no major rush, i have it in my head that nothing good happens fast in this industry so i am fine looking at my "water tank" for a few more weeks if need be!!!
i figures i would start with the easy corals at first - - - although i do love the electric scallop! - - - don't know if i can have one, but i love them!
Bernie21
12/29/2008, 09:52 AM
I was unaware the rock was uncooked, to get it started you might want to throw in a piece of shrimp, like the ones you buy for food consumption, that should kick start you, if you still are not reading anything a few days after that, then your cycled probably already happened. 3 weeks is a long time for a tank that small, I only say because I just upgraded from a 28 my self, It didnt take me that long tw the 28 or now w d 92 gallon, then again, my rock was from a mature tank this time around. Cycle also helps.
small alien
12/29/2008, 01:19 PM
I would suggested you rinse your sponges in clean salt water so you don't kill any colonies of beneficial bacteria. Good luck. Tank looks great.
asl4me76
12/29/2008, 02:59 PM
Have you been testing daily from the very beginning? It is possible that you had your spikes going and didn't notice it?
Did you put a source in your tank for the ammonia? In order for your cycle process to get started, you have to get ammonia in there. Did you ever add it to your tank?
This is what is going to cause all your levels in your tank to fluctuate until it's done cycling?
tims28gnano
12/29/2008, 03:11 PM
i have pretty much been testing everyday and writing it down - - - - i did not want to put the uncooked shrimp in there cuz i read alot that its best to just let the rock start the cycle!
ok, maybe i will throw a peice of shrimp in there!
now all i have to do is get invited to a cocktail party!!!! LOL
klepto
12/29/2008, 04:02 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14036409#post14036409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tims28gnano
i have pretty much been testing everyday and writing it down - - - - i did not want to put the uncooked shrimp in there cuz i read alot that its best to just let the rock start the cycle!
ok, maybe i will throw a peice of shrimp in there!
now all i have to do is get invited to a cocktail party!!!! LOL
I would stick with your initial thoughts to not add the shrimp- instead I think you should purchase some cured live rock, that way you can bring in some good bacteria/algae/microfauna and naturally, some will die from transplant shock--- kickstarting your cycle.
p.s. props for waiting three weeks!- wish I was that patient!
did you cycle the rock outside of the tank first or did you just start curing it directly in the tank?
oh and id definitely recommend that you get your skimmer up and running- that way when you do cycle (if you truly havent already) it will be already dialed in and help soften your cycle.
nmbeg
12/30/2008, 12:53 AM
i think you're cycled, dude. lack of spike means that you had enough good bacteria to take care of the ammonia,etc before it was even detectable.
your uncured rock was all you needed for the kick-start..no shrimp necessary, and your rock must have been somewhat "cured" so that you already had enough good bacteria to do their job.
let's get this party started!
nmbeg
12/30/2008, 12:56 AM
bernie: yeah i got like 3 or 4 as hitchhikers.... they are awesome!
slimy fish
12/30/2008, 01:40 AM
Great looking tank you have. The way you hav the rocks setup will work great for placement of your future corals.
tims28gnano
12/30/2008, 04:59 AM
ok guys - - - thank you all for your input! well, lets take a look at the original post, one question has never been brought up.
i was running my metal halide lights a few (3) hours a day (heard that it is good for anything that would live through cycle.
a few days ago i notice grey stuff, looks like sand (also looks like dust) on the LR and sand bed.
i stopped running my lights for a few days and it has cut back a little.
what is this? diatoms, algea - - - - ??????
also, thanks for all the praise on the aquascape, like i said, i just threw the rock in there but as i get compliments, i may just keep it like that! :bum:
one more thing. on dec 11 my 30lbs LR arrived from liveaquaria and i just threw it in the tank with 40lbs of Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand. ------- thats it!
MrsHaggis
12/30/2008, 06:14 AM
Hi Tims,
Could be Diatoms......it's a normal part of a new cycle (as Michael recently taught me!!). Do you have any brown spots on the glass??
tims28gnano
12/30/2008, 07:32 AM
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/208145tank_right.JPG
tank right
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/208145tank_left.JPG
tankl left
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/208145grey_stuff.JPG
grey stuff
ok, here are more pics!
you see the grey stuff - - - - not sure what that is!
Michael
12/30/2008, 07:59 AM
it looks a dream start tim, i wouldnt worry too much about the grey stuff yet, when your cycled and changing water every week the water clarity and params will settle and the grey stuff will be unoticable, hopefully you will get plenty of purple corraline and tim, whats you forward thinking about livestock
tims28gnano
12/30/2008, 09:18 AM
im planning on taking it slow and easy, being my first marine tank. i figure a CUC in the next week or so. then a beginner nano soft coral pack form live aquaria, then starburst and green zoas.
for fish, 2 clowns (maybe 1) a pistol shrimp and watchman goby combo. maybe a jaw fish.
we will see as time goes by and how comfortable i am with the tank!
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