goisles1
Aquarium Advice Freak
I'm using that same light in my fuge with cheao. I replaced another CF fixture. The cheato has grown so much faster with the new light. Best part was it cost me under $20
75G Reef Build
- Thread starter Dad & Matt
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
I'm using that same light in my fuge with cheao. I replaced another CF fixture. The cheato has grown so much faster with the new light. Best part was it cost me under $20
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Still trying to figure out the timing of the lights, and how to hook them together. I'm thinking:
Acitinics: 11am-9pm
Daylights: 12pm-8pm
Moon & Fuge: 9pm-11am
I got a Coralife powerstrip that has day/night settings, but I can't fit all the plugs in it because the outlets are too close together. Looks like another trip to Home Depot.
Acitinics: 11am-9pm
Daylights: 12pm-8pm
Moon & Fuge: 9pm-11am
I got a Coralife powerstrip that has day/night settings, but I can't fit all the plugs in it because the outlets are too close together. Looks like another trip to Home Depot.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Need Some Help
Water test again today. Pics and my interpretations of the colors are below. I sometimes have trouble matching the colors in the tube with the colors on the sheet (kind of like shirts, ties, and jackets). Any help (on the test tube colors, not shirts and ties - get enough of that from my wife and kids) appreciated.
Temp = 78.6
SG = 1.021
Ammonia = 8.0+
pH = 8.4
Nitrite = 1.0
Nitrate = 10
Water test again today. Pics and my interpretations of the colors are below. I sometimes have trouble matching the colors in the tube with the colors on the sheet (kind of like shirts, ties, and jackets). Any help (on the test tube colors, not shirts and ties - get enough of that from my wife and kids
) appreciated.Temp = 78.6
SG = 1.021
Ammonia = 8.0+
pH = 8.4
Nitrite = 1.0
Nitrate = 10
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
What is this?
One other question: I found this "thing" sticking out the back of one of the live rocks. It's a bad pic (I'll try to get a better one later), but any idea what it is?
One other question: I found this "thing" sticking out the back of one of the live rocks. It's a bad pic (I'll try to get a better one later), but any idea what it is?
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
That ammonia is almost off the chart. How long has it been there and remind me how you're cycling. How much rock, etc too.
Also, I wouldn't even worry about the ph and nitrate right now. That ammonia is something!!! And whatever it is in that pic is gonna die if not already IMO with that ammonia so high.
Also, I wouldn't even worry about the ph and nitrate right now. That ammonia is something!!! And whatever it is in that pic is gonna die if not already IMO with that ammonia so high.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Austinsdad, the ammonia is actually more green than the pic shows, so it may not be as bad as it could be. I added 45 lbs of LR last Wed, Oct 28; I already had 50 lbs of dry rock. Parameters were good before that (Ammonia was 0.5) but it was an old test kit so idk. I tested the water the next night (24 hrs after adding the rock) and Ammonia was already at 8, but I don’t think the test was as dark green as it is now (if that makes sense). All I'm doing for cycling is adding the LR, no shrimp or anything else. When the ammonia spiked I figured the shrimp was kind of overkill. I'll test the water again tonight.
Also, any ideas on how to make the water clearer???
Also, any ideas on how to make the water clearer???
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
Thought about any of the Coralife timer power strips?
Aquarium Light Timers: Coralife Power Center Your lighting schedule sounds good. heck I'd even start it later in order to look at my fish past 9pm. Also, you can leave the lights on totally while cycling.
Didja just put the rock in or didja do the soft scrub brush rinse first? If you didn't, maybe the very high ammonia is a result of the excess debris from the rock - which might make it cloudy too. You got a powerhead running in there? Skimmer running yet?
Aquarium Light Timers: Coralife Power Center Your lighting schedule sounds good. heck I'd even start it later in order to look at my fish past 9pm. Also, you can leave the lights on totally while cycling.
Didja just put the rock in or didja do the soft scrub brush rinse first? If you didn't, maybe the very high ammonia is a result of the excess debris from the rock - which might make it cloudy too. You got a powerhead running in there? Skimmer running yet?
i left my lights on during cycling so i can have a quick look at my rocks and maybe find some hitchhikers but you can totally just leave it off during the cycling.. but your timer looks good. i usually just turn on my lights whenever i wake up 7-10am and turn it off around 7-10pm then moonlight while i sleep XD
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
I tried one of the Coralife strips but the two timed ON outlets can't be set to different times, and the space between the outlets isn't big enough to handle the converters and the regular outlets from my lights. (I'll send a pic tonight from home; can't do it from work
.) I ended up with two digital two-outlet timers from Home Depot and the Coralife strip. Seems to work okay. I may end up keeping the lights on later, depends on how late I stay up (but I get up at 5 am so I usually call it a night by 10). Maybe I'll just change it for the weekends.I rinsed the rock pretty heavily (I thought) in SW and blew it off with a turkey baster. Maybe I'll take it out and scrub it tonight. Just to make sure everything is off.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
And I've got two PHs running and the skimmer is doing it's thing.
fishmonkey
Aquarium Advice Addict
wow, that ammonia is something. i anything dead/dying in theree that might be causing it to spike that high?
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
The live rocks have been in the tank since Wed afternoon. The only thing dead or dying is whatever die off from the LR.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
I checked Xtalreef. I think the thing growing out of my LR is a Digitate Hydroid. It looks like it's dying but I'll pull it off anyway.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Turned a corner?
I think the cycle is working. Came home today and the water is much clearer. Did a water test: Ammonia is down to 4.0 (or so) and nitrites are on the rise (looks like around 5.0). Also noticed green spots on the dry rock. I assume it's algae. Took some pics:
Full Tank Shot
Something growing or alive on the LR. It's orange on the inside but you can't really tell from the pic.
Another thing that might be alive?
This is the first living thing that I found a couple days ago. I think it's dead, but I'll pull it off tomorrow when I do a PWC.
I think the cycle is working. Came home today and the water is much clearer. Did a water test: Ammonia is down to 4.0 (or so) and nitrites are on the rise (looks like around 5.0). Also noticed green spots on the dry rock. I assume it's algae. Took some pics:
Full Tank Shot
Something growing or alive on the LR. It's orange on the inside but you can't really tell from the pic.
Another thing that might be alive?
This is the first living thing that I found a couple days ago. I think it's dead, but I'll pull it off tomorrow when I do a PWC.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Thanks Salty Tony! I'm wondering if I can add my CUC yet, but not sure there's much for them to eat.
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
Don't add the CUC until the cycle is finished. The ammonia and nitrite needs to be at zero.
Also, the PWC you're planning tomorrow will extend the cycle time. I'd let it ride until finished, then do a PWC, test in a day or two, and if all is fine, then add a small CUC.
Also, the PWC you're planning tomorrow will extend the cycle time. I'd let it ride until finished, then do a PWC, test in a day or two, and if all is fine, then add a small CUC.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Cool. Thanks all. I'll keep you updated.
Dad & Matt
Aquarium Advice Regular
Another question: What is a drip system for acclimating new arrivals? Now that I'm getting close - and trying to be patient - to adding livestock to the tank, I want to make sure I have the system ready to receive them. Thanks.
