SRC Member yiling Posted January 13, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 Hi all fellow marine enthuaists, this is my first time writing in this forum. So greetings to all of you My problem starts here............ I started my 2 feet tank that contain close to 18 US gallons last week. Little do i know that i need to wait for the bacteria to cycle thus i did not wait at all:( here is a short report of what i have done.... 6/1-I bought a tank and external filter. I filled it up with seawater that i bought from a marine fish farm. Allowed the filter to run for a day. 7/1- got some life rocks and stack horns off a friend. Bought some new ones . Ive got about 5 kg of rocks and stackhorns in the tank. 8/1 - bought a tomato head nemo, moray eel and a small anemone. 9/1 - Got a few baby fishes (cheap ones- like damsels etc) 12/1- My fishes keep dying and im left with only the tomatohead, domino damsel eel and a gobifish. 13/1- bought a ammonia test kit and added bacteria growth My question here is .......will i be too late if i add in the bacteria now? will i be too late if i do the no2, no3 and ph level check now ? Pls pardon my ignorance and i thank u all for advices:) Yours sincerly Yiling Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Hi all fellow marine enthuaists, this is my first time writing in this forum. So greetings to all of you My problem starts here............ I started my 2 feet tank that contain close to 18 US gallons last week. Little do i know that i need to wait for the bacteria to cycle thus i did not wait at all:( here is a short report of what i have done.... 6/1-I bought a tank and external filter. I filled it up with seawater that i bought from a marine fish farm. Allowed the filter to run for a day. 7/1- got some life rocks and stack horns off a friend. Bought some new ones . Ive got about 5 kg of rocks and stackhorns in the tank. 8/1 - bought a tomato head nemo, moray eel and a small anemone. 9/1 - Got a few baby fishes (cheap ones- like damsels etc) 12/1- My fishes keep dying and im left with only the tomatohead, domino damsel eel and a gobifish. 13/1- bought a ammonia test kit and added bacteria growth My question here is .......will i be too late if i add in the bacteria now? will i be too late if i do the no2, no3 and ph level check now ? Pls pardon my ignorance and i thank u all for advices:) Yours sincerly Yiling Dear yiling, your problems start on 8/1! you were doing fine until 8/1. never add any livestocks when your tank is not fully cycle. Do not add anymore livestocks! Leave your tank to cycle until you notice a amonia and nitrite spikes after which (which easily means 3-4 weeks) you then can add your fisrt livestock. Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Read this link, its compiled by one of the seniors in SRC Newbies Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member decentkid Posted January 13, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 gouldian has said it...nothing to add but i have one thing to say welcome to the club!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member yiling Posted January 13, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 Oh no !! Ive just realized it till today:) with confirmation by seniors, its affirmative now. SO what should i do now? do i buy those n02, no3 test kits? Where do i keep my remainding fishes and eel? help !! thanks for all help and advices given... Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Achilles Tang Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 I am sure you can pack ur livestock up and have the LFS hold it for you temporarily until your tank cycles properly. In the meantime, do read up the basics and use the forum's search feature to go through many good info that has been posted up before in SRC! Welcome to the club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzzz Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 dare not say i'm senior.. oso setting up my new reef tank... i think it's best for u to wait for the tank cycle complete be4 add anymore fishes... mayb u can check wif the lfs whether they willing to hold the fishes for u while u wait for the cycle to complete, as the cycle usually take 3 to 4 weeks so it's better to ask them whether can hold for u for so long... n u do need to buy the no2 n no3 kit to help u monitor the cyele.... hopes its help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member diabolus Posted January 13, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 Oh no !! Ive just realized it till today:)with confirmation by seniors, its affirmative now. SO what should i do now? do i buy those n02, no3 test kits? Where do i keep my remainding fishes and eel? help !! thanks for all help and advices given... You can try to ask the LFS like wat AT suggested, either that, try to locate a fellow reefer staying nearby you to house the fishes 1st, the maroon clown should not be a problem, but the moray eel is, unless that reefer have a big refugium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member ciaolong Posted January 13, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 no comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member decentkid Posted January 13, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 no comments no comments also need to post!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member yiling Posted January 13, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 13, 2005 Ok...will leave my fishes with my friend first. thanks for the advice. so after i leave the fishes out, do i need to add in bacteria growth( which i had already bought), Ph , N02 ,NO3 tester (which i have aleady ordered)? or should i get new water and rocks to start the cycle all over again ? ( which i think i will less likely to choose this option) is there any other ways to fix this problem of mine ? Thanks for your time to read this noobie questions Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzzz Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 the onli way now is to wait for the cycle to finish on it's own... i dun think it's a gd idea to add in more rocks now as it'll onli lengthen ur cycle.. btw u never mention whether u add any sand in ur tank?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Ok...will leave my fishes with my friend first.thanks for the advice. so after i leave the fishes out, do i need to add in bacteria growth( which i had already bought), Ph , N02 ,NO3 tester (which i have aleady ordered)? or should i get new water and rocks to start the cycle all over again ? ( which i think i will less likely to choose this option) is there any other ways to fix this problem of mine ? Thanks for your time to read this noobie questions No. Let the tank run with proper circulation, skimming and filtration but without lights! The die-offs will feeds the bacteria currently in your tank and multiply. You may add the bacterias prepartions you have bought but please read instructions on the labels. Continue testing water until you notice a spike and after that wait for the fall and you have a cycled tank! Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member aStRoBo| Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 give away ur fishes, and do a cycling to ur tank. add more life rocks, a dead prawn to kick start ur cycling. Quote Everything's sold. Back in 2yrs time. If it's a WRX, it gotta be STI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member ciaolong Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 i am with astroboi or even give it to your friend i think u said u had one with a marine tank until your tank is fully cycled be4 adding them back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member yiling Posted January 14, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 hi all, thanks for the concern and advice. I tried asking my friend today but he said it is fine. What im curious is with the live rocks i have, which are 2nd hand from other cycled tanks. DO i still need to cycle ? All my fishes and eel are homeless now. Q1) So if i remain keeping them in the tank , will my cycle still take place? ( my livestock in there includes a a)small moray eel a tomatohead 2" c) domino damsel 1 " d)blue damsel 1 " c)1 1/2 " gobi fish Q2) Its been 8 days since my tank was form, and i just got my no2, ph level, ammonia tester. I just added bacteria growth yesterday and my readings are a) ammonia = safe NO2 = 0.3 c) pH = 7.5 temp maintaining at 26 degrees at nite and 28 in the day. thanks for the HELP !!! (Ive read the supposed reading but they never mention how to cycle with livestock in it.) Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member decentkid Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 no mention of cycling with livestocks cos its cruel...ppl dont recommend it....the lifestocks will die during the ammonia spike..... although is 2nd hand rock....its still safer to cycle...but it will take a shorter period to cycle...maybe around 2 weeks get a no3 test kit also, cos the cycling will see 3 spikes, first ammonia, second no2, lastly no3, wait till no3 goes down then add... lastly....dont cycle with lr...cruel leh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzzz Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 ur no2 may rise over the next few days n may cause the death of ur fishes again... although ur rocks may b 2nd hand from other tanks but there could b still some die off during the transporting... i think it's best to monitor ur tank paramteter closely now n leave the fish wif ur fren first... btw the bast ph range for marine is between 8 to 8.5 juz my 2 cent... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member 35Cents Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 What im curious is with the live rocks i have, which are 2nd hand from other cycled tanks. DO i still need to cycle ? During the transport to new tank, there will be some die-offs unless you seeded from your own tank in the same vicinity. Cycle the tank is not really 100% neccessary, but its always better to do it in all kinds of LR just in case. So if i remain keeping them in the tank , will my cycle still take place? I assume you are still talking about the LR yah?...yes cycle will still take place...but at your expense of doing harm to the livestocks. 8 days is not enough to cycle a tank. Normal tanks took ard 6 weeks to get fully cycled. Even my tank which is using LR and LS to cycle took about 2 weeks to see NH4 and NO2 to zero. Patience dude... its one of the most important character you must have for this hobby... good luck for your cycling, hope your livestocks can make it thru. Quote "Ah, Blackadder. Started talking to yourself, I see." "Yes...it's the only way I can be assured of intelligent conversation." - Melchett and Edmund Blackadder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member yiling Posted January 14, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 yes decent kid, thanks for the advice . I think my fishes already passed the ammonia stage now. ive got 3-4 casualties already. ANd yes, i think its cruel too. I should have read in depth So after my meter readings, does it mean that im waiting for my NO2 stage now ? Where am i ? Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member 35Cents Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 You are at waiting for NO2 to get zero. Quote "Ah, Blackadder. Started talking to yourself, I see." "Yes...it's the only way I can be assured of intelligent conversation." - Melchett and Edmund Blackadder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member decentkid Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 yes decent kid, thanks for the advice . I think my fishes already passed the ammonia stage now. ive got 3-4 casualties already. ANd yes, i think its cruel too. I should have read in depth So after my meter readings, does it mean that im waiting for my NO2 stage now ? Where am i ? most of the time...no2 should be 0, from your reading...your no2 spike just over...and is just starting to go down...somewhere in the middle....next will be your no3...or by right...your no3 shld be starting to spike by now as you see...your cycling is going pretty fast...cos u using 2nd hand rocks which are already filled with bacteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member steven Posted January 14, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 IMO, wait for nitrite and ammonia to be zero and nitrate to peak abt 20 to 50. do a 20% water change and yr tank will be cycled. however limit yr livestock till abt 6 mth. Patience is the word to successful reef keeping ! good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member yiling Posted January 14, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 14, 2005 Thanks for all the advice again! Im really impressed with this forum with the speed of how one member helps another. I think im going to send back the fishes to the LFS and wait for the NO2 hike. So if i continue from here, im still considered cycling the LR and Water right ? BTW i got only a 2 inch DSB ..is it enough? These are the accessories ive got so far, PLease tell me if i need to add in anything to make a good enviroment for the marines. I got Lights = a) dual light 2 feet florescent light (One blue , one white ), A FL light 2 feet () another blue and white combo Skimmer = got it off my friend... should be 10 dollars Made in China one. Filtration = Jebao Cannistor filter 915 See bed = crushed corals that makes up to about 2 inch. Blower = A mini Internal Water Blower to circulate water A stick on ammonia tester A stick on Thermometer A floating type hydrometer A Ph tester A NO2 Tester SO do i have anything else that i missed out ? And below is a picture of my tank. Pls Advice. Thanks again Quote [ My Humble Home] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzzz Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 mayb u can provide some info on the u intending to keep so the bros n sis here can advice u on ur equipment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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