A Few Questions

[CTS]

I have live rock in my tank, but i had it in the tank for about a week with out fish (before it was cycled.) Dose that mean that anything in the live rock died off? I can't seem to see anything cool on my live rock. I also got live sand.

Second are all satwater fish shy, as soon as i come to the tank they get all freaked out and go to there hiding spots (till the food comes.) thanks for any help!!

 

[Chac]

How long was the LR out of water

Can you give us some specs on the tank & Test Readings

 

[CTS]

Well I bought the live rock before work, but I had it at work in a bag with water. It was also in my locker and not in the cold outside. So maybe 15 hrs from the pet store to my tank (i work 12hr shifts.) I did some tank readings and the results are:

Ammonia - .25PPM
Nitates - 0PPM
Nitrites - 5PPM
PH - 7.5 or higher (dont have a proper PH test for SW yet.)

The tank has only been up for 3 weeks now and is not cycled.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Navarre]

Are these the current tank readings?

If so then you are gith in saying its not cycled (ammonia). Watch it closely though as it might well complete the cycle very quickly now.

 

[CTS]

ya these are the reading as of 1hr ago. I thought that saltwater takes twice as long as FW to cycle. Do you think that my LR "friends" might have died off.

 

[Chac]

You may have some die off - but hitchhikers are normally quiet hardy - it really is a wiat and see - but give it a few months & you will see loads of Hitchhikers come out of your rock

 

[CTS]

Really! a few months. I would have never guessed that long. I though a week or so. cool thanks

 

[Chac]

Sorry - didnt mean a few months for the cycle - meant that over time (1st couple of months) you will see a variaty of life coming from it

 

[Navarre]

It really depends on tank conditions etc. I had growth and all sorts of critters showing withing the first 10 days. Some others take up to 2 months or so.

Just watch the rock closely and you will be surpsied just how it changes ever so sowly each and every day. then before you know it you will see some sort of lifeform that you never saw befgore and then things really take off.

 

[CTS]

lol, I have taken a picture of the live rock. To me it looks like there is nothing but some sort of algae on it. Can you pros see anything that i cant?

thanks you guys are a big help!!

 

[Navarre]

Looks like the rock is going through its diatoms stage. I can see a red algae, not sure if its coraline algae o ra macro algae. Seems like some greenhair algae too.. nothing that shouldnt be there for a tank of this stage.

Eventually you will see sponges and seasquirts etc. Small fan worms as well usually appear at time goes by.