70l Nano Journal

[SkiFletch]

"NOTE TO ALL SETTING UP THEIR OWN TANK RUN ROWAPHOS (OR SIMILAR) FROM DAY 1!!!!!!"

wish I had done it

 

[rhysiboy]

what the hell is po3/4? is it a vital test kit?

 

[SkiFletch]

PO3/4 is Phosphate. Its not ESSENTIAL, but its nice to have.

 

[rhysiboy]

ooh i just got all worried and looked on my test kit and it wasnt there but if it isnt vital then i can always get when i get spare cash

 

[adam.crouch]

ooh i just got all worried and looked on my test kit and it wasnt there but if it isnt vital then i can always get when i get spare cash

My phosphate is 2. should i put ROWAPHOS into my filter? and how much do i need for 8 gallons.

 

[SkiFletch]

Absoloutely adam, you should have 0ppm or trace ppm, not 2ppm. A couple tablespoons should be plenty for 2 months or so.

 

[adam.crouch]

Absoloutely adam, you should have 0ppm or trace ppm, not 2ppm. A couple tablespoons should be plenty for 2 months or so.

Its been at 2 since ive had my tank at the start of november. I'll go get some tomoro. What to put a shrimp in my nano. What should i get?

 

[JaminRat]

Adam my peppermint shrimp were out all the time before my cleaner went in but now hide most of the time whereas the cleaner is always out looking for something to clean. With a 8 gallon I would look into minimum decisions and future stocking before making a choice but the cleaner is certainly my favorite.

Stats update
PO3/4 0.5 ppm
Am 0.25 ppm
Nitrite 0.1 ppm
Nitrate not tested
PH 8.2
Temp 78 F
SG 1.025

General update. The diatoms / algae are still going mad and I've noticed bubbles forming on the substrate. Is this a sign of bubble algae?
The cuc are making an impact on it and leaving trails of clean rock behind them every where they go. With the PO3/4 now dropping rapidly I'm hoping this should begin to clear. I've read on another thread about a cycle of algae but can't remember which thread, could someone refresh me.

Thanks
Ben

 

[SkiFletch]

Algae cycle (sometimes steps are skipped): Diatoms (0-6 weeks) --> Cyanobacteria (2-5 months) --> Hair Algae (3-12 months) --> Dinoflagellates (6-15 months). Those are just rough times when most people tend to experience them IF they do. Diatoms are almoast always experienced and dinos are rarely experienced. Diatoms are no biggie since most algae eating things gobble em up, its cyano and hair algae that stink. Keep running phosphate remover, vaccum our substrate and remove detritus regularly, and you should avoid major problems.

Sounds like things are coming around for you

 

[JaminRat]

Thanks Ski, saviour once again.

I was hoping to add fish today but unless the levels have dropped off I'm a little reluctant am I right in thinking ammonia and nitrate are the more imprtant values to keep low wih nitrite being less toxic to marine than fw fish?

That said they are not really high what are your feelings.

 

[SkiFletch]

Ammonia, exceptionally bad. Nitrite, the jury is still out on that one. I read some articles where people say its really bad, and others where they claim its no big deal. Either way, its still an indication of your originall dieoff cycle thats still proceeding, so caution before adding bioload isn't a bad thing . Nitrate I wouldn't start worrying about until it gets above 20ppm for most critters. Certain sensetive organisms will not tolerate high nitrates, but I wouldnt advise you keep any of those till you get more experience under your belt anyways

 

[JaminRat]

Thanks again Ski. I was reading through a few articles and most stated clowns were only affected by low nitirte levels at the egg and larval stages of their development and as they become older they become more imune to it but can never tolerate high levels.

Checked my levels again this morning and everything was back to normal
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite trace way below 0.1 ppm
Nitrate somewhere between 0 and 12.5 but much closer to 0 (cack test kit replaced this afternoon)
PH temp an sg all as before.
I also discovered my red leg's have molted, thought one of them had died at first. I never realised have solid the exoskeleton looked I thought it would be slightly transparent but it was solid red.

I think the reason behind the spike is due to a few factors. I am fairly sure the pepermint shrimp have molted but can't find the remains, I know the hermits have molted and have now removed the three leftovers also the diatoms are begining to die back a little due to the lack of PO 3/4 to feed them.

So with all that said I decided to take the plunge (sorry) and picked up the two Ocellaris clown fish I paid for at the weekend and they have settled in great. LFS has agreeded that should my stats go wild they are more than happy to take them back and look after them until the tank settles again. I'll post some pictures when I get them but it's a bit hyper in there at the moment with the clowns investigating everything and the cleaner desperately trying to catch up and offer his services. Not a good time to try and take photos especially when the camera you have is on your mobile.

 

[JaminRat]

Bit of an update, not much has changed since my last post livestock are all doing well and all sorts of stuff is growing some I can identify some I can't so a little help with that would be great (I'll put up some pictures in a bit). My cleaner shrimp had his first molt on xmas eve so on xmas morning the first thing I did before opening presents was remove the remains (just what you need 1st thing in the morning)

Water is still nice and clear but there are a lot of particles floating in it not sure what these are but they are white / light grey in colour.

Pictures to follow shortly.

On a side note here are a couple of good links to help with identification of hitchhikers. Link 1
Link 2

 

[JaminRat]

OK guys I need a little help. Lots of things have started to grow and I need some help ID this

I am concerned it is Aptasia but doesn't look like any pictures I have seen. In an ID guide I looked at it said to poke it with a stick so I tried. The guide said if it retracts into the rock it is aptasia if it folds up it is just a coral but when I poked it nothing happened.

A couple of shots of my Ocelaris / Percula LFS was unsure they were supplied to them as Percula but look more like Ocelaris IMHO.

And a picture of the diatom assault which is taking place. I'm running Rowaphos and have CUC but any other advice in the removal would be much appreciated.

 

[tmreynolds]

OK guys I need a little help. Lots of things have started to grow and I need some help ID this

I am concerned it is Aptasia but doesn't look like any pictures I have seen. In an ID guide I looked at it said to poke it with a stick so I tried. The guide said if it retracts into the rock it is aptasia if it folds up it is just a coral but when I poked it nothing happened.

A couple of shots of my Ocelaris / Percula LFS was unsure they were supplied to them as Percula but look more like Ocelaris IMHO.

And a picture of the diatom assault which is taking place. I'm running Rowaphos and have CUC but any other advice in the removal would be much appreciated.

What lighting are you running, and for how long?

Also, try syphoning/hoovering the gravel.