First Tank Ever - Updated Often

[seffieuk]

I wouldn't add anything - just watch, test and wait - if your lr was cured shouldn't be too long...

Seffie x

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Okay...back with some updates...

So it turns out the sand I purchased wasn't Aragonite based sand...so I got mad...and ended up tossing the sand.

I kept half of the water I had in the tank (top half of water) and emptied the rest. It is SSSOOOOO hard to get sand out of a tank! Man...it took me and a friend about 2 hours. I had sand all over carpet and tile...anywho...

I went and brought three 10lbs. bags of the Live Bio-Activ Sand. I just figured I'll stop BS'ing around and do it right. So I added the sand...and filled my tank up with Purified SaltWater. I took a 5gallon bucket and filled it up and mixed the salt into the bucket before throwing it into the tank.

I took pics, but didn't have time to update anything. I'll post the pics when I get back home...

The tank is very cloudy...so I figured I'll let it settle for awhile and buy some cheap fish later on tonight...after I test the water.



Thoughts???

Should I have emptied the tank completely or was it ok to save some of the water?

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds like what you did was just fine. In the future, if you or anyone else has to remove sand from a tank, it's best to siphon it out with a large siphon, say 3/8" or thicker ID tubing. If you have a sump, siphon the sand into a filter of some kind in the sump. Saves a lot of hassle

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Thanks Ski...where were you a few days ago???!!!

Anywho...it was a thing of the moment.

As promised...here are the updated pics:



After removing the sand and cleaning out the tank. I put in around 60% of the water that was already in there.

The sand I brought:

The tank after I put the sand in (yesterday around 11am):

Tank as we speak right now:

I had the water tested today...and the ammonia isn't right and neither is the Nitrate/Nitrite...I'm going to give it a few days to cycle fully.

Thoughts?



Also...I have a piece of Live Rock that has some skin on it...it's weird. Does anyone have any idea what it is:

No Flash

With Flash

 

[CageUK]

It looks like it could be a sponge of some kind! If it has been exposed to air though, it may not survive.

Water looks nice and clear though. It'll all take shape with a bit more live rock!

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, good start, just need to fill it in more

 

[pimp4cheddar]

It looks like it could be a sponge of some kind! If it has been exposed to air though, it may not survive.

All my Live Rock has been exposed to air...especially since I've had to redo everything 3 times...I've put the rock into a bucket for about 10 minutes without water. I think that's as far as it's gone...

Would that be long enough to dry out my live rock?


I agree...no even close to enough rock! There's 10lbs in my tank, but I gotta make another trip and pick about another 15-20lbs.


Thanks for the help folks. I have a feeling this 3rd time with be the charm ...If it's not, I'm closing shop. It's too expensive to keep redoing.

 

[CageUK]

The live rock will be ok but you'll have to wait and see if the sponge survives. They don't take kindly to being exposed to air.

 

[kj23502]

I've read after sponges are exposed to air they usually rot from within and die. In this case it'd give you more beneficial bacteria living in your rock b/c more would grow to take care of the ammonia/nitrite from the dying sponge.

 

[CageUK]

"In this case it'd give you more beneficial bacteria living in your rock b/c more would grow to take care of the ammonia/nitrite from the dying sponge."

This is true but in all honesty I would probably take it out if it looks like it is dying/dead. I seem to recall seeing something about toxins/bad chemicals released from dying sponges though that may just be my dodgy memory.
Also it would depend on the size of the sponge. You wouldn't really want the massive ammonia spike that a large dead sponge would cause.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Just curious, you've mentioned having your water tested at petco, but thats all. If you don't already have one, make sure you get a test kit.. You'll need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Also, what was the SG reading on your hydrometer? I wouldn't trust the LFS's readings of 'fine', because sometimes they are just trying to sell you things like a snowflake eel when your tank isn't ready.

 

[Jayarie]

Nice tank. And water is crystal clear cant wait to see it filled up with live rock.

Jay

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Just curious, you've mentioned having your water tested at petco, but thats all. If you don't already have one, make sure you get a test kit.. You'll need ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Also, what was the SG reading on your hydrometer? I wouldn't trust the LFS's readings of 'fine', because sometimes they are just trying to sell you things like a snowflake eel when your tank isn't ready.

Naw...They're usually really nice at Petco. They actually stop me from buying unneed items.

I go to Petco because they have a nice test kit. It's test for Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, SG and anything else that most test kits look for.

My SG reading was 1.20. Depending on who I tell that to, they either say raise it, leave it or lower it...Everyone has they're own opinions on this.

I'm going to get my water tested again this Wednesday...and I'll probably add some Damsels...1-2 of them

 

[pimp4cheddar]

THE DAY HAS COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally got to put some fish in my tank!!!!!!!!!!! 3 months of waiting and it seems like SO MUCH MORE!

So I went to Petco and got my water checked. Everything was on point. My nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, PH and SG were perfect.

So I went ahead and picked out to Damsels.


Here they are floating in the water:

Once they were in the tank...they spent most of their time in 1 corner:

I also brought them some food...and man that food stinks. It's little balls of food and it smells like old chicken breast...



Anywho...
I only have 1 problem. My tank looks great, but on the surronding walls there seems to be some "white lint" on the glass. It's floating around and it looks like little peices of cotton...I have no idea from where, but I took some pics. I think they might be some kind of worms because I thought I saw one moving along the glass...It also floats on top of the water:

It's even built up on my heater:

My filter has some on it...

Please help me figure out what this is.


Thanks,

 

[ben1987]

looks good, but unfortunatley i think you made a mistake on your fish choice