Newbie to the forum

[greatgrief]

I've had saltwater tanks for about 25 years (minus the past 7), and it seems like a lot has changed. Never heard of the fishless tank cycle before reading this forum. Cycling for me has always taking months, and my preparation of the tank before fish is a few days to a week. I know I'm fixin to get bashed here, but;
I always start with a live rock in a dark tank with no light for days.
Add damsels and monitor chemicals
partial water changes to balance toxins
after 4 to 6 months no more water changes ever, just top off due to evaporation.
I also use undergravel filter, that seems to have lost favor as well. I understand about the trapped material in the substrate. I use 1/2 sized undergravel filter seperated in the middle (currently a 10gal in a 36 gal tank), and alternate sides with the powerhead.
Only time I can remember losing a fish, is when I added an aggressive fish to the tank. That's my old school method;
With that said, we hope to get a much larger tank next spring (46 gal is smallest I've ever had), and I think I'm gona try the fishless cycle on it. I'll try any thing once, twice if i like it

 

[ShadoeFox]

Yah know, when I started in this hobby my father didn't understand why I wanted to avoid Undergravel Filters. Seems he loved the things and they worked great for him. I do know there's some trick that's being done by some people with an UGF not being used "as a filter" but under their sand or gravel. I don't remember the details though. Now I'm gonna have to go look that up... heh

Welcome to AA.

 

[starquest]

Hi there.greatgrief, and welcome the AA forum, from a fellow Texan and former SW tank keeper! I, also, found that things had changed dramatically, from 20 years ago. It's amazing how much they have learned in a few years, and how the technology has improved and developed. Hope you enjoy the forum, as I'm sure you will, and your renewed hobby.

 

[greatgrief]

Hi there.greatgrief, and welcome the AA forum, from a fellow Texan and former SW tank keeper! I, also, found that things had changed dramatically, from 20 years ago. It's amazing how much they have learned in a few years, and how the technology has improved and developed. Hope you enjoy the forum, as I'm sure you will, and your renewed hobby.

thanks. am sure i will learn a lot

 

[greatgrief]

Yah know, when I started in this hobby my father didn't understand why I wanted to avoid Undergravel Filters. Seems he loved the things and they worked great for him. I do know there's some trick that's being done by some people with an UGF not being used "as a filter" but under their sand or gravel. I don't remember the details though. Now I'm gonna have to go look that up... heh

Welcome to AA.

can't imagine doin without.

 

[Wy Renegade]

I've had saltwater tanks for about 25 years (minus the past 7), and it seems like a lot has changed. Never heard of the fishless tank cycle before reading this forum. Cycling for me has always taking months, and my preparation of the tank before fish is a few days to a week. I know I'm fixin to get bashed here, but;
I always start with a live rock in a dark tank with no light for days.
Add damsels and monitor chemicals
partial water changes to balance toxins
after 4 to 6 months no more water changes ever, just top off due to evaporation.
I also use undergravel filter, that seems to have lost favor as well. I understand about the trapped material in the substrate. I use 1/2 sized undergravel filter seperated in the middle (currently a 10gal in a 36 gal tank), and alternate sides with the powerhead.
Only time I can remember losing a fish, is when I added an aggressive fish to the tank. That's my old school method;
With that said, we hope to get a much larger tank next spring (46 gal is smallest I've ever had), and I think I'm gona try the fishless cycle on it. I'll try any thing once, twice if i like it

Welcome aboard mate. Nice to see another old schooler around once in a while. UGF works great if you know what you're doing and keep up with the maintanence.

Yah know, when I started in this hobby my father didn't understand why I wanted to avoid Undergravel Filters. Seems he loved the things and they worked great for him. I do know there's some trick that's being done by some people with an UGF not being used "as a filter" but under their sand or gravel. I don't remember the details though. Now I'm gonna have to go look that up... heh

Welcome to AA.

Probably thinking about a plenum, which uses old UGF under a deep sandbed in saltwater tanks. There is also a reverse UGF that is done using reverse flow powerheads like the penguin to push water and gunk up through the UGF instead of trapping it underneath.

 

[greatgrief]

Welcome aboard mate. Nice to see another old schooler around once in a while. UGF works great if you know what you're doing and keep up with the maintanence.



Probably thinking about a plenum, which uses old UGF under a deep sandbed in saltwater tanks. There is also a reverse UGF that is done using reverse flow powerheads like the penguin to push water and gunk up through the UGF instead of trapping it underneath.

Thanks WY

 

[greatgrief]

Just a follow up. I am guessing oldschool still works pretty well for me. At 2 weeks our tank has settled in nicely. I did 3, 15 % pwc to reduce toxins during the nitrite spike. on day 12 i did a 50% pwc to lower both no2 and no3. 30 hours later no2 was .25ppm and no3 was 5ppm. day 14 it is 0 across the board.