Brand New to SW and have questions

[carey]

Hi there. I've been lurking for a bit but finally registered so I can have some fun and get my stupid questions answered. LOL

Two weeks ago I started a 29 gallon SW tank. I put live rock in last week and live sand directly from a 300 gallon reef tank. I may have gone a tad over board on the rock, I have 48 lbs and 31 lbs of the sand. I have an aquaclear on back for my mechanical/chemical filtration and a protein skimmer (not hooked up). I just got my T5 fixture today so thats now up.

I have been testing the water everyday now and I have 0 of everything. (ph 8.2). No nitrites or anything. Is this normal? Do I need to do anything else? Or is it a waiting game?

I might add that I want this to be a reef only tank pretty much. I'm not even thinking fish, if any I'm thinking a goby, blenny and a yellow tang. I'm mostly interested in corals and other pretty things.

Looking forward to replies, I have soo many questions, I'm just starting with the basics.

I attached "hopefully" a shot of the tank. And yes, I know the bubbles on the background look horrible under flash. Gonna redo probably unless algae covers it.


I have to add that the LFS guys are insisting I add damsels to cycle. I do not want to harm some innocent fish and even if they do survive I don't want to go digging around my tank to catch them to return them.

 

[Trout11B]

From what I've read on this site I think the tang won't work in your tank. There need lots of room to swim and such. But that's just what think I read. I'm sure somebody who knows more will comment. Nice looking tank though.

 

[pat8you]

I have to add that the LFS guys are insisting I add damsels to cycle. I do not want to harm some innocent fish and even if they do survive I don't want to go digging around my tank to catch them to return them

I have been testing the water everyday now and I have 0 of everything. (ph 8.2). No nitrites or anything. Is this normal? Do I need to do anything else? Or is it a waiting game?

Go to the articles section and on there is a great write up about cycling your tank. The short version is, don't add a damsel. You are right that it is really not fun for the fish and even less fun dealing with a damsel in your tank after it is done cycling. You can use uncooked, unseasoned shrimp from the grocery store to cycle the tank. If the rock/sand is already cycled then it will be a really short cycle for you.

...thinking a goby, blenny and a yellow tang.

Yes, yes, No. Goby and blennys would be great fish for this tank. Tang needs a much much larger tank so pass on that one.

Welcome to the site. Don't worry about questions. I did the same thing when I got to the forum and so does just about everyone else. The articles section and the search tool are also your friend. There is a good chance that most of your questions are covered and you can get your answers instantly by doing a little digging. If not, post away thats what we are here for.

 

[carey]

Wow replies already. I feel so loved. hehe Well, the Tang was just a thought, I was kinda thinking the same thing. too small of a tank. Good enough.

I read the articles and some say you can use amonia instead of a shrimp? Will the stuff that is alive die tho thru the cycle? I have the tiniest little anemone growing i think, its pink and bout a 1/4 inch.

 

[AaronH]

have u got a pic of anemone. what about a pair of young clownfish they are quiet hardy and can host some corals and anemones.

 

[pat8you]

You can use ammonia as well but i think it is easier to just use the shrimp. You have to make sure you find pure ammonia with no other chemicals or additives. Some things may die durning the cycle but it will depend on how high your levels get and how tuff the animal in question is. Since your rock is cycled i would think that the anemone will probably make it. I wouldn't put any fish in the tank until you make sure that it is finished cycling though.

 

[carey]

Can't get a shot of the anemone, way too tiny. I hope he makes it.

Ok, so I have regular non scented non detergent ammonia. I'm supposed to dose it to 3-5 ppm i believe. Well, the thing is I just added about a cup of it and I'm still getting no reading. I have clear water in the test tube. I went to another bottle of drops and it hasnt changed. Still a clear result. I know its in there to a significant amount since I have one of those hang on insta read meters hanging inside and its reading max at .5ppm.
Did i totally just do a bonehead move by putting too much in? Anyone cycle their tank with ammonia? I feel like a fool putting that stuff in my tank now......

Ok just checked the tank and I'm doing a water change. The anemone closed up and I now have things that were once on the rock floating.
I added that ammonia tsp by tsp too. and tested after each dose. It took forever. I may have some bad testing fluid....[moderator edit]...I don't believe I did this..

 

[pat8you]

I would take a sample in to your LFS and have them test it for ammonia. That way you can rule out if your test kit is bad or not. You will always get a little die off when you do a cycle so there is no need to worry yet. Let us know when you get it tested by the LFS.

 

[carey]

I brought a sample of 2 of my tanks into petco and am confused about the whole thing.

They only use strips, no test tubes but as soon as she dipped the ammonia one it went off the charts. So yep, an issue with my testing solution. She replaced the two bottles i had and off I went. Now it gets confusing tho. I tested immediately when i got home and got the same results, no color. With both the new bottles she gave me. Seems odd that four bottles were bad....My strips and theirs both show high levels so I went and did a 50% or more water change and retested with all the materials.
Strips show max level and api kit shows no color just a milky kinda shade.

What now...more testing of course in the AM but then another water change?

 

[Cylias]

Do not add any livestock to the tank for at least another 2 months. You don't need to add any livestock to start a cycle. You just need time. I'm not familiar with your test kit but I use one that you have small test tubes and you fill them all with saltwater to the line. It comes with little bottles of chemicals that you put a specific number of drops into the test tube. Sometimes you add 2 chemicals. Sometimes its just one. Your also given a color chart and you match the colors that the water changes to to the chart to figure out where your at with your nitrites, nitrates, ammonia levels, etc.

I would definitely try and find a more specialized fish store then petco. I wouldnt put it past their employees to test it wrong and at the same time give you the wrong information.

And as everyone else has noted. A yellow tang or any other tang is out of the question for that size of tank. Blennies and gobies are great additions though, but I would stick to no livestock for at least another 2 months. You could however add some clean-up crew in the next 2 weeks depending on if you get your water parameters stable. This would help with cycling as well.

 

[carey]

Hi.

I already ruled out the tang. Just a thought I had.

I'm using the test tubes with the drops. All four tubes of tester are producing a milky color but nothing that matches anything at all on the chart. I also had no intention of adding fish for quite some time. I was more interested in corals actually.

Tomorrow I will drive the hour plus to talk to some other fish stores as I only used petco as a place to test my water in a pinch.

 

[Cylias]

That is quite odd. I haven't heard or witnessed any test kits doing that so either its faulty or your doing it wrong. I always like to take my water in once a month to the LFS just to make sure everything is adding up. Its always good to double check! If your water parameters are good in the next month you could add your first frag. Just stay diligent, and if you have any algae problems make sure to do a 20% water change. Goodluck!

 

[pat8you]

If the strips are showing ammonia and your new tests are still not showing ammonia i would guess you are doing something wrong when you test the water. I would take a water sample and your test kit to the LFS with you and have them show you how. That way you make sure you are not missing a step or something like that. The directions on those tests are not always great. I would take anything petco tells you with a grain of salt. They are notorious for not knowing much and providing bad advice.

 

[Trout11B]

From what I read you have the API test kit right? Are you sure it's for salt water? Perhaps your not mixing the chemicals enough when you get them in the water samples. It's strange to hear about the results your getting. Hopefully it all works out.

 

[mr_X]

since you got the live rock out of an established tank i would think you wouldn't have seen much of a cycle, however, that rock doesn't look like it's been in any tank very long, unless it was in the sump, void of light.
are you sure it's been in the other guys tank for a long time, or is that just what he told you? was he breaking the tank down of just re-aquascaping?

meanwhile, if you are seeing adverse effects, i would think you do have an issue with the test kit.
how about purchasing a more expensive, more accurate test? check out salifert test kits.

 

[carey]

Morning! I checked the ammonia levels with both strips and api test tube test. The strip showed it at max and the vial after adding the 8 drops showed a clear result. Least the milky color is gone.

I'm gonna go to a SW store later and try to do a test on my water in front of them and then have them do it and see what happens. lol

The tank the rock and sand came out of a break down of a 300 gallon tank. I saw the tank, and the rock was in big metal bins with skimmers inside. Live in Florida so he kept it outside on the screened in lanai.

I know I sound like an idiot if I cant check a water sample, I swear I'm doing it right. I used to have multiple tanks years ago and never had this issue.

Thanks everyone! I look forward to more questions and answers to my noob questions.

 

[Cylias]

I agree with mr.x about your live rock. It doesn't appear to have much Coraline algae growth on it at all. My tank has been up for 2 years and has tons. Unless the rock he gave you was his base rock. That could be more understandable. Good luck with the water testing!

 

[jenatron]

Have you checked the expiration date on the kit? If it says it's in date, and you're certain that you're doing it right and it is indeed a saltwater test kit, then I suggest returning it, if possible, and getting a new one.

 

[carey]

Just got back from my 3 hour journey to get answers. Wouldnt ya know the specialist SW shop was closed for the shuttle launch? LOL Not to have wasted a trip I stopped at a petsmart out there and for ha ha's picked up just an amonnia API test. I'd been using the "master" kit. Just tested my water and while its toxic I am now getting readings.

Guess the local petco had old stock on their master kits so at least now I can move ahead. Next stop water change.

Coralline is the purple stuff right? I do have some on my rocks, not alot tho. My photography leaves alot to be desired. I also got the last bits that the guy had, he had sold off the bulk already so I got what no one I guess wanted. :-(

Continued Thanks for everyones help. Be Back after I do my PWC

 

[jenatron]

Just got back from my 3 hour journey to get answers. Wouldnt ya know the specialist SW shop was closed for the shuttle launch? LOL

Lolzies, I live on the space coast and I didn't even know there was a launch. Guess that happens when ya don't watch tv and don't get the paper!