Dawn On The Reef

[littleme1969]

As for your rock, I bought mine over the net and it came next day, so was about 20hrs out of the water. It did smell a bit strange. I dipped all my rock in fresh RO and gave it a quick rinse off to remove any dead stuff that was loose. I got 3 lots in all and 2 where full off life and one had pretty much nothing in it. As for colouration.. all my rock had a distinctive up and down side from where it had been stored in the vats while curing. Getting rock that is covered with coraline is a rare thing as there is always a side that away from the light.
If it had come out of a tank then I would have expected it to be full off life. Even a tank that has been badly looked after would have life in it. Lets face it if it had good coraline growth then there must have been pretty good conditions.
Hitchikers can come in many shapes and forms and just cos you dont see anything now does not mean there is nothing there. I'm still seeing new things coming out of and growing on the rock 6 months down the line
Its all about time in this game, and working your way through each problem as it comes along.
When I send you your frags I'll also send you some macro algae too and no doubt there will be hitchikers within the rocks and folage that will help with your system. Every bit of coral you buy will bring something new to your tank.
Slow and steady wins the race

 

[BigC]

Thanks for the reassuring words LM.

Well its diatoms everywhere at the moment I'm afraid and its a bit depressing to look at now, but I'm confident that the wise men and women of this forum are right in saying that once the CUC go to work then we will be back on track.
Couple of things are happening Algae is starting to form small green tufts here and there and the rock is turning white in places. Is this just the coraline dieing off or something more sinister.

Stats today are
Temp = 79.5'F
SG = 1.026
pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 5.0ppm
Nitrite = 0.1ppm
Nitrate = N/A until cycling finishes.

On that note the Ammonia levels are dropping very very slightly I would say (hard to distinguish the blue chemical colouration in my test kit between 7.5 and 5.0) But its slightly lighter than 7.5 anyway.
Nitrites have risen to 0.1ppm

Do I have anything to worry about. At this rate of testing I'm gonna have to perchase a new test kit before long.

Nasty brown Diatoms on substrate......

Thanks for any replies
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Well look at it this way BigC, you won't have to test for ammonia regularly once the cycle is over

 

[fishstick]

Whenyou are ready, BigC, I will send you a ver

y pretty zoanthid (pic enclosed) in thanks for a riveting thread! Keep at it - your problems are everyones' to an extent.

 

[steelhealr]

BigC...looks like everything is going as planned. The white covering the rock is coralline dieoff and usually occurs secondary to shock rather than any bacterial or nutrient issue. Changes in lighting, transportation, etc...all contribute. As the tank settles, the coralline will return.

Diatoms will regress, as well, with time. They are the first buggers to arrive and do so in response to a nutrient rich environment as the tank cycles. Obviously, don't even think about putting anything in the tank while you have positive ammonia and nitrite. When the ammonia and nitrite hits zero and you start to see your nitrate climb, that is when I recommend that you do your first large water change. I tell members to start out with a large 25% change. If you can bring the nitrates in under 20..preferably about ten, you can toss in your cleanup crew. If it makes you feel more comfortable, here is a pic of my tank in the equivalent phase. Patience and, again, welcome to modship. SH

Coralline dieoff and diatoms:

 

[BigC]

Many thanks Guys,
Just a bit dis-heartening at present whilst the old hands are tied until cycling finishes. Boy the janitors are going to have their work cut out.....
This is a great venture for me, just like the good old days when I was struggling to breed delicate killifishes. (Diapterons)
Cant wait to get of the leash
Regards
BigC

 

[@ombomb]

You'll be amazed just how efficient they are when they get them and it's amazing how interesting a few snails and hermit crabs (cleaning the sand one grain at a time ) can be.

 

[BigC]

You'll be amazed just how efficient they are when they get them and it's amazing how interesting a few snails and hermit crabs (cleaning the sand one grain at a time ) can be.

Reassuring words....Thanks
BigC

 

[1entra]

Dont worry about the diatoms BigC, they themselves in a way are part of the one big experience and adventure of turning to the marine side. I know they aren't exactly eye candy but we've all been there. You just got to take it steady and let things take their course!

On a side note, congrats on becoming a mod

 

[BigC]

On a side note, congrats on becoming a mod

Many thanks 1entra
Suppose I can do nothing but wait it out. Hopefully tomorrows stats will produce some better readings.
Regards
BigC

 

[steelhealr]

BTW...I saw some of your posts on what you have to do to feed baby killifishes. I think I'd rather do marine. LOL. SH

 

[SkiFletch]

BTW...I saw some of your posts on what you have to do to feed baby killifishes. I think I'd rather do marine. LOL. SH

Lol, yeah I remember seeing some of those a little ways back. Killi's are gorgeous, but man that looks like it's tough

 

[BigC]

BTW...I saw some of your posts on what you have to do to feed baby killifishes. I think I'd rather do marine. LOL. SH

Lol, yeah I remember seeing some of those a little ways back. Killi's are gorgeous, but man that looks like it's tough

Yeah guys sure was. I remember a certain species of Rivulus (xiphidius) I aquired back in the late ninties boy did they take a fair bit of my time.
I'd sometimes leave the fish-House at 1am, my wife was the proverbial Killi-Widow.

Anyway back to Salt matters
Nothing doing yet guys, full of apprehension as each day passes but the test vials dont lie. Ammonia still stuck at the top of the scale, and now I have rising Nitrites.
Aw well I suppose its only just been short of 2 weeks since I started serious tests. LFS has got some lovely mouthwatering critters and corals in, and there's bugger all I can do but admire them in the dealers tanks.
Come the day! Come the day! (whenever that is) I'll be buying like the rest of the customers.
Any views on rising Nitrite and red tufted algae.
Regards
BigC

 

[badlandz]

I have been watching this thread with great interest. Looks like an amazing setup. While I won't be starting my own venture for a while, journals like this seems like great sources of information. I look forward to seeing your progress

 

[@ombomb]

Any views on rising Nitrite and red tufted algae

Sounds positive to me.

You do seem to have very high ammonia though, was the rock you bought new into the shop?

I've bought two batches, one was completely cycled in two weeks and another didn't cycle at all.

I suppose a different supplier on a different day is a totally different kettle of fish though