First Timer

[lewiss]

Hello,

for those of you I haven't met yet, hello. I'm a first timer at salt water fish. My tank in a 155lt one, and I filled it with live rock two days ago. First day readings were fine, today they are
PH - 7.8
Nitrate (NO3) - 0
Nitrate (NO2) - 0.25
Ammonia - 0

Do these look right for new live rock in the tank? My PH has been low like tht since the start, will it rise itself??

Thanks guys, I'll add some pictures soon!

Lewis

 

[ben1987]

Looks ok to me. did you go to your fish shop to buy the rock? as im guessing you did cos it cant have been on the water long?

 

[lewiss]

Yeh local fish shop. Can't wait to add the inverts but I'm being patient!!

 

[ben1987]

you might not see much more of a cycle than that tbh. if it was out the water less than an hour. just test it for a few more days

 

[lewiss]

Hey day 2,

PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate NO2 - 0.50
Nitrate NO3 - 0

Nitrate still on the up! hopefully it'll go dwn soon!!

 

[MissG55]

Hello,I have just started my first marine tank too. I am about 2 months in now.

My Live rock was out of the water for about 30 mins.. if that.. and i did not really have a cycle to speak of! Was expecting to have to wait for at least 2 weeks and was surprised when people on here told me cycle over!
There are so many helpful people on here who have really helped me out and answered all my little questions.
Looking forward to the piccies.
D

 

[lewiss]

Cool, gd to hear from people like me. The increse of the nitrate no2 has gone down now, nd PH is up.

PH - 7.9/8
Ammon - 0
nitrate no3 - 0
nitrate no2 - 0.25

 

[seffieuk]

To bring the ph up aim a powerhead at the surface

Seffie x

 

[lewiss]

Thanks Seffie, sorry to be an idiot but what's a powerhead??

PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate NO2 - 0
Nitrate NO3 - 0

 

[seffieuk]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HYDOR-KORALIA-NANO-1600-POWERHEAD-EVOLUTION-RANGE-1-/190379249554?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2c537ccf92

Something like this - creates the flow in your tank

Seffie x

 

[lewiss]

Cool, I'll get one.

 

[lewiss]

Yesterdays readings were same as the day before.

Adding inverts today!! Any suggestions for my clean up crew?

 

[seffieuk]

Well,t hink about the different jobs to be done

sand sifting - maybe 10 vibex, dove, or ceriths
algae eating - mexican turbos - get two for now
everything - halloween hermits - four for now

later on: a conch

Seffie x

 

[lewiss]

Hello, sorry I've been rubbish with this :

well I added my clean up crew about two weeks ago, added 2 cleaner shrimp, an emerald crab, a buscuit star fish, and 5 snails (although two barely move!)

they were fine, the water readings were fine too. a week after this I added my two clowns! They're wicked, although have some issues with them trying to dominate each other! One's really nice though and swims to the top when he see's me and rubs against my arm as he swims passed! Or nibbles my finger (not hard!!)

Anyway that's where I am. The levels have been good until the last couple of days and wanted to know what to do. My nitrates no3 sky rocketted over the space of 2 days, reaching about 10, so I did a 25% water change, that was two days ago. I've tested today and NO3's at 15.

Do I leave it and let it cycle out or do I do something else?

Just a lil worried as I heard it's really bad for inverts? Could this be why my snails don't move!!

 

[seffieuk]

Now tha tyou have stock, yes, keep on top of thsoe water changes is a top priority. Inverts are very fragile and dont take well to high phosphates, nitrates.

You could also start running nitrate remover

Seffie x