We Have Lift Of ! - Aquarium Advice

Steven_Askham · 12-31-2005, 01:44 PM

Well today I went and purchased the equipment etc ... and have set the tank up. Before I set the tank up I emptyed it (fully) and cleaned it out and cleaned the filter and replaced the sponge. Then the sand (Coral Sand) was added and 4 pounds of base rock (to become live rock) I have recently added the salt but have not yet tested the specific gravity.

Here are some images ......

Steven_Askham · 12-31-2005, 02:01 PM

Tank Description (ATM)

Size: 10 gals
Temp: 79 Degrees
Sand: 10 pounds of coral sand (will become live sand?)
Filtration: Currently 4 pounds of base rock. (When can I add live rock?)
Extra: Internal Box filter (Containing a sponge and carbon) Main use is to act as a power-head for the live rock.
Specific Gravity: Unknown at the moment. (When to test it?)

I do not have any information regarding water chemistry yet however today I purchased a Nitrite test kit and a [acronym:6407b94ff6="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:6407b94ff6] test kit.

Do I need more test kits?

Steven_Askham · 12-31-2005, 02:37 PM

Update - Specific gravity is now at 1.025 as suggested. At first it was 1.028 so I took some water out and addd some more.

Update - P.H. tested and is 8.3

Is that right ?

cmor1701d · 12-31-2005, 02:48 PM

You need to stat your cycle now that you have the temp and [acronym:2ac5343563="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:2ac5343563] set right. Here are some water parameters you should shoot for after cycling.

pH 8.0 - 8.3
[acronym:2ac5343563="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1.022 - 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 -20 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] for [acronym:2ac5343563="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:2ac5343563] or near 0 for reef
[acronym:2ac5343563="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1.5 - 3 meq/L ([acronym:2ac5343563="Natural sea water"]NSW[/acronym:2ac5343563]) or 7 - 12 dKH or 125 - 200 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:2ac5343563] equivalents
Calcium: ([acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2ac5343563]) 380 – 450 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] calcium ion or 950 - 1125 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:2ac5343563] equivalents
[acronym:2ac5343563="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]Mg[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1000-1500 (3x the [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2ac5343563] level)

You can add [acronym:2ac5343563="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2ac5343563] now and let cycle your tank, or add [acronym:2ac5343563="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2ac5343563] and throw in a shrimp.

Steven_Askham · 12-31-2005, 02:58 PM

Do I have to add live rock now or can I wait till after cycle. Bur still use the shrimp during cycle?

If you dont mind me asking how do I know cycling is taking place lol, and roughly how long will it take and when do I know it is done?

emorrison33 · 12-31-2005, 03:15 PM

You should also purchase an ammonia test kit and a nitrate test kit. You'll know the tank is cycling when your ammonia levels rise...then your nitrites will rise, and then your nitrates will rise...and then they will go down...when your ammonia is at 0, and your nitrites are at 0, and your nitrates are at 0 or almost...your tank is done cycling. I just want to be sure on this...when we say use a shrimp for cycling, we mean the kind you buy at the grocery store, not a live shrimp. It is best to add the live rock now because putting it in after the cycle, may cause your tank to go through another cycle, prolonging your total cycling time.

Steven_Askham · 12-31-2005, 03:25 PM

Ok, so live rock to be added a.s.a.p (will I be able to add it in two weeks because my only [acronym:1ee26840eb="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:1ee26840eb] that sells s/w is getting many shipments in in the next couple of weeks which means that there could be fresh live rock lol

. And I was aware of the shrimp thing, I useually use a prawn or beef heart for my tropical tanks. Can I just use a prawn for my s/w tank ?

I forgot to ask are there any visible signs of cycling taking place. ?
And when will my base rock start to develop a cover of algea etc... ?

cmor1701d · 01-01-2006, 12:33 PM

A prawn will work just as well as a shrimp or uncured [acronym:2e31dfc060="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2e31dfc060].

12-31-2005, 01:44 PM	#1
Steven_Askham Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England / Posts: 1,146	We Have Lift Of ! Well today I went and purchased the equipment etc ... and have set the tank up. Before I set the tank up I emptyed it (fully) and cleaned it out and cleaned the filter and replaced the sponge. Then the sand (Coral Sand) was added and 4 pounds of base rock (to become live rock) I have recently added the salt but have not yet tested the specific gravity. Here are some images ...... __________________ 3 Foot : 4 Discus & 2 Blue Rams & 2 Bristlenose & 3 Cockatoo's 3 Foot : 2 Yellow Belly Turtles. 2 Foot: Salt Water

12-31-2005, 02:01 PM	#2
Steven_Askham Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England / Posts: 1,146	Tank Description (ATM) Size: 10 gals Temp: 79 Degrees Sand: 10 pounds of coral sand (will become live sand?) Filtration: Currently 4 pounds of base rock. (When can I add live rock?) Extra: Internal Box filter (Containing a sponge and carbon) Main use is to act as a power-head for the live rock. Specific Gravity: Unknown at the moment. (When to test it?) I do not have any information regarding water chemistry yet however today I purchased a Nitrite test kit and a [acronym:6407b94ff6="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:6407b94ff6] test kit. Do I need more test kits? __________________ 3 Foot : 4 Discus & 2 Blue Rams & 2 Bristlenose & 3 Cockatoo's 3 Foot : 2 Yellow Belly Turtles. 2 Foot: Salt Water

12-31-2005, 02:37 PM	#3
Steven_Askham Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England / Posts: 1,146	Update - Specific gravity is now at 1.025 as suggested. At first it was 1.028 so I took some water out and addd some more. Update - P.H. tested and is 8.3 Is that right ? __________________ 3 Foot : 4 Discus & 2 Blue Rams & 2 Bristlenose & 3 Cockatoo's 3 Foot : 2 Yellow Belly Turtles. 2 Foot: Salt Water

12-31-2005, 02:48 PM	#4
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,800 Images: 43	You need to stat your cycle now that you have the temp and [acronym:2ac5343563="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:2ac5343563] set right. Here are some water parameters you should shoot for after cycling. pH 8.0 - 8.3 [acronym:2ac5343563="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1.022 - 1.025 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 -20 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] for [acronym:2ac5343563="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:2ac5343563] or near 0 for reef [acronym:2ac5343563="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1.5 - 3 meq/L ([acronym:2ac5343563="Natural sea water"]NSW[/acronym:2ac5343563]) or 7 - 12 dKH or 125 - 200 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:2ac5343563] equivalents Calcium: ([acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2ac5343563]) 380 – 450 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] calcium ion or 950 - 1125 [acronym:2ac5343563="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:2ac5343563] [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium carbonate"]CaCO3[/acronym:2ac5343563] equivalents [acronym:2ac5343563="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]Mg[/acronym:2ac5343563] 1000-1500 (3x the [acronym:2ac5343563="Calcium"]Ca[/acronym:2ac5343563] level) You can add [acronym:2ac5343563="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2ac5343563] now and let cycle your tank, or add [acronym:2ac5343563="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2ac5343563] and throw in a shrimp. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

12-31-2005, 02:58 PM	#5
Steven_Askham Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England / Posts: 1,146	Do I have to add live rock now or can I wait till after cycle. Bur still use the shrimp during cycle? If you dont mind me asking how do I know cycling is taking place lol, and roughly how long will it take and when do I know it is done? __________________ 3 Foot : 4 Discus & 2 Blue Rams & 2 Bristlenose & 3 Cockatoo's 3 Foot : 2 Yellow Belly Turtles. 2 Foot: Salt Water

12-31-2005, 03:15 PM	#6
emorrison33 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pitman, N.J. Posts: 101	You should also purchase an ammonia test kit and a nitrate test kit. You'll know the tank is cycling when your ammonia levels rise...then your nitrites will rise, and then your nitrates will rise...and then they will go down...when your ammonia is at 0, and your nitrites are at 0, and your nitrates are at 0 or almost...your tank is done cycling. I just want to be sure on this...when we say use a shrimp for cycling, we mean the kind you buy at the grocery store, not a live shrimp. It is best to add the live rock now because putting it in after the cycle, may cause your tank to go through another cycle, prolonging your total cycling time.

12-31-2005, 03:25 PM	#7
Steven_Askham Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England / Posts: 1,146	Ok, so live rock to be added a.s.a.p (will I be able to add it in two weeks because my only [acronym:1ee26840eb="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:1ee26840eb] that sells s/w is getting many shipments in in the next couple of weeks which means that there could be fresh live rock lol . And I was aware of the shrimp thing, I useually use a prawn or beef heart for my tropical tanks. Can I just use a prawn for my s/w tank ? I forgot to ask are there any visible signs of cycling taking place. ? And when will my base rock start to develop a cover of algea etc... ? __________________ 3 Foot : 4 Discus & 2 Blue Rams & 2 Bristlenose & 3 Cockatoo's 3 Foot : 2 Yellow Belly Turtles. 2 Foot: Salt Water

01-01-2006, 12:33 PM	#8
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,800 Images: 43	A prawn will work just as well as a shrimp or uncured [acronym:2e31dfc060="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2e31dfc060]. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Moral of the story: Don't lift weights next to your tank.	exodus	The Lounge	9	06-02-2006 10:15 AM
theraP, Micro-Lift product	windswept4	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	7	10-24-2005 08:09 PM
need to lift my tank to level it	elke	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	9	07-27-2005 03:58 PM
Berlin Air Lift 60??help??	LIMentality420	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	3	04-11-2005 08:07 AM
Idea for a lift system	DHS	DIY Projects	12	02-24-2003 05:19 AM