First thread.. First tank! (1 Viewer)

[jstj0sh]

Hey MARSH folks! So I just got my first tank today: a 20 gallon Innovative Marine Peninsula and I'm super excited! We have about 8.9 lbs of live rock and a bag of CaribSea live sand in there right now, in addition to some fresh RO/DI water and a little used water from our friends at FJW.
I also am a little overwhelmed.. I knew from the beginning I didn't buy enough live rock, but the tank looks really sparse so more of that will be coming soon. I also think I filled the pump area up too much, might have to get a little out of there.
So now I need some answers to a few noob questions:

• I bought a bottle of FRITZ TurboStart 900, should I throw that in today? Or wait a few days?
• Should I run my pump right now or just let the water and sand settle?
• A big concern is the amount of water my tank took. Unless those Lowes buckets hold more than 5 gallons, my tank only took 3 full buckets and a splash from the 4th.. did I do something wrong already?

First and very crappy picture: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

 

[Clownfish Chris]

First, welcome to Marsh! Second, there was s a lot to take in with this hobby and can be overwhelming at times. Sit back, don't panic, and enjoy the ride.

Make sure the live rock stays live by being in water with proper salinity. I would shoot for 1.026. As to the tank volume, it is calculated as total volume without rock or sand. Stuff in the tank reduces actual water volume. Also, I would avoid mixing water from LFS tanks into your tank. That is a sure fire way to introduce diseases into the tank. If your salinity is below 1.009 you likely don't have an issue. I made many of these mistakes myself and many more.

 

[jstj0sh]

Thanks for the words of encouragement - I've been doing tons of research and still feel like I've only learned whats at the tip of the iceberg!

I'll scoop up a refractometer and make sure those salt levels are looking ok. If I need to add more - where are the best deals around town for bucket/bag? Good to know about the LFS, I''ll refrain from doing that again. Will the TurboStart help kill anything off that shouldn't be in there?

 

[johntdaballa]

You should be able to pick up some nice deals this weekend . PetSmart has a deal for 30% off on one item. Pick up a instant ocean reef crystals.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fish Keeper82]

Will the TurboStart help kill anything off that shouldn't be in there?

No, TurboStart and other additives of the sort add nitrifying bacteria that speed up the nitrogen cycle making it safe for quicker addition of livestock. This product adds bacteria that transforms toxic ammonia to less toxic nitrite and then to nitrate that in low parts is completely safe. This process happens naturally but takes time. These products have us spoiled now. These products will do nothing for pests or disease.

Dr G's Marine Aquaculture - Fritz-Zyme TurboStart Live Nitrifying Bacteria

 

[jstj0sh]

Makes sense! So it looks like I already have some mistakes to fix haha

From what I'm reading, the water, even just with the live rock, needs to be heated so I will get that order placed. I need to make sure the salt levels are correct, and then how do I make sure theres no bad crap in my water now - ammonia and nitrate tests? Also should I scrub my rocks down at all, there seems to be some white film on them in a few places.

 

[Luman01]

Welcome to the hobby! You will need amonia nitrite and nitrate test kits. I would get API they are cheaper and they do the job! As for the rocks it's up to u. I'm not really qualified to answer that I'm about a year and a half In this hobby. But I would leave it. That matter will die off and start ur cycle! U will see a spike in ammonia, then see that drop to 0.Then see a spike in nitrite, then see that fall to 0. Then u will see a spike in nitrate. And when it gets to 60 ppm I would do a 20% water change. And then it will go to a diatom bloom let it be do not add any livestock! In about two weeks it will get to be hair algae then add in ur clean up crew and 1 or 2 fish. But still do regular water changes in those two weeks. That is what worked for me in my 13. And it worked for others outside of marsh. And what I'm doing to my 65. But that should put u in the right direction. As for salt I saw that infinity fish had some good prices on salt. And I would also recommend to go to all the LFS and check them out and decide which one you like the best!


Lucas. Happy reefing!

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Hello and welcome. The best piece of advice I can give is be patient. Allow your tank to cycle properly before you start adding livestock. There are plenty of very informative video series on Youtube about this topic. Keep in mind it may take up to 4-5 weeks to properly cycle, but your patience will be rewarded. If you rush it you will likely be fighting various nuisance algal blooms of differing types for months before the tank is fully matured.

From what I'm reading, the water, even just with the live rock, needs to be heated so I will get that order placed. I need to make sure the salt levels are correct, and then how do I make sure theres no bad crap in my water now - ammonia and nitrate tests? Also should I scrub my rocks down at all, there seems to be some white film on them in a few places.

Yes you need to run a heater and keep the water temp around 76-78F. A light isn't needed during the cycle. And no you don't need to scrub the rock.

As far as the water, start testing for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphates. The best thing to do is get a large shrimp from the store and toss it in the tank and leave it in there for about 3 days. This will feed the bacteria you have seeded but be sure to ghost feed the tank every few days to keep the bacteria alive. You will see an initial spike in ammonia, then after about a week or two the nitrite will start to climb. At that point the ammonia should start to fall. At about week 2 you should not have any more ammonia and nitrite will spike. Then around week 3 the nitrite will fall, and everything will look good. DO NOT ADD LIVESTOCK YET. You're in the valley at this point and a big nitrate spike is on it's way. Give it another week and the nitrate levels should have spiked. This is when you want to do your first of weekly water changes. A 5% water change is all you need. At this point your tank is ready for the clean up crew. Give it another week and you can start adding livestock and soft corals. Be sure not to add too much too quickly as you do not want to shock the system.

 

[jstj0sh]

Thanks so much for this info! I really appreciate it. I got an API test kit today and got my heater in there yesterday, so hopefully I can start seeing some of these results!

 

[jstj0sh]

Hey guys, a lot has happen since I've posted and I plan on making a build/progress thread soon, but right now I'm having a problem with Asteria starfish and I'm seeing a few Amphipods. Is it time for me to introduce a CUC? And do I need a Harlequin shrimp to take care of the starfish?

 

[Luman01]

Hey guys, a lot has happen since I've posted and I plan on making a build/progress thread soon, but right now I'm having a problem with Asteria starfish and I'm seeing a few Amphipods. Is it time for me to introduce a CUC? And do I need a Harlequin shrimp to take care of the starfish?

ok so if there only a few of those stars just picked them out. As far as livestock and cuc have u done ur first water change yet? What were ur parameters at? I believe u started this tank up a week ago so it's still not cycled and won't be for maybe another week or so. And make sure before u add ur cuc u had gone through ur algae bloom. As in brown diatom. Then u can add some snails and hermits but what I would say is wait a week after u see the algae. Then add ur cuc. That is so the algae will eat up all ur nitrates and won't kill ur cuc. In the next few weeks I'll be doing a video on my understanding of the cycle process and the algae bloom! But that won't be till my 65 is towards the end of its cycling process. And no need to get a harlequin shrimp unless u have hundreds or thousands! So if u have a few just pick them out and u should be fine. And the ampihapods are just there probaly came from ur live rock.


Lucas. Reefin Rios on YouTube! Happy reefing!

 

[Clownfish Chris]

It is possible you have completed your initial cycle. If ammonia and nitrite are zero and you have nitrate, you are safe to add a cuc. If you have an explosive population of asterinas and pods, you are probably good to go. I would not worry about them at all. The stars are good detritavors and their population will go up and down with the food supply.

If you constantly show a trace of ammonia on that API kit it may actually be zero. They are notorious for that.

 

[oneasianguy]

Welcome to Marsh. I would wait to introduce any livestock till the cycle is complete. Don't get a Harlequin shrimp for sure. I got a pair and I got to feed it a whole chocolate chip starfish at least one every other week or they will starve.

 

[jstj0sh]

ok so if there only a few of those stars just picked them out. As far as livestock and cuc have u done ur first water change yet? What were ur parameters at? I believe u started this tank up a week ago so it's still not cycled and won't be for maybe another week or so. And make sure before u add ur cuc u had gone through ur algae bloom. As in brown diatom. Then u can add some snails and hermits but what I would say is wait a week after u see the algae. Then add ur cuc. That is so the algae will eat up all ur nitrates and won't kill ur cuc. In the next few weeks I'll be doing a video on my understanding of the cycle process and the algae bloom! But that won't be till my 65 is towards the end of its cycling process. And no need to get a harlequin shrimp unless u have hundreds or thousands! So if u have a few just pick them out and u should be fine. And the ampihapods are just there probaly came from ur live rock.


Lucas. Reefin Rios on YouTube! Happy reefing!

It is possible you have completed your initial cycle. If ammonia and nitrite are zero and you have nitrate, you are safe to add a cuc. If you have an explosive population of asterinas and pods, you are probably good to go. I would not worry about them at all. The stars are good detritavors and their population will go up and down with the food supply.

If you constantly show a trace of ammonia on that API kit it may actually be zero. They are notorious for that.

I was initially concerned too about possibly moving too fast. I consulted with 3 of my coworkers who have been in the hobby for YEARS and also got advice from some people on Nano-reef. In addition to using Turbostart, everyone said I was just very lucky and had some great rock and it looks like I'm ready to move forward. I've been testing my water and everything is where it should be except the nitrate. I did my first water change yesterday so I'm going to test again tonight and see how everything is looking. All I have seen happening as far as growth is purple stuff on my rock (coralline apparently) and some green algae scattered about very lightly in a few places. Introduced 3 trochus snails to my tank and they are doing great so far As far as the asterinas - I've been picking them out here and there like yall suggested. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Luman01]

I would highly suggest u check for nitrates! If there is a lot it can kill those snails! But other than that you seem to be doing good! I hope my 65 kicks off soon! Still waiting for the nitrites to spike! Anyway good luck!


Lucas. Happy reefing!