Just Started

[mattyg12uk]

Well thought i would up update with what i was doing. I have now got my Tl 550 before i sold my 300 jewel . Sand in salt in water in, then sg was all good (1.025) so i picked up my 8-9kg of LR and put that in as best i can, tank has been a little cloudy from all the sand being kicked up and then me messing with LR but all calming down now but has taken its time . First things i have seen on my LR are a free bumblebee snail and what looks like small shrimps (2-3mm), only way i can describe them is big flees mixed with a woodlice . Im sorry i dont have a camera other than that on my phone and i have no idea how to transfer anything so no pics! I am trying to scrape together some more dosh for at least another 4kg of LR and my test kits and such. Mate of mine in LFS coming round today to check all is well with my tank so thats all for now. I have read other threads on here and they were really good so now know a lot of what to do but will still be annoying everyone for advice .

 

[seffieuk]

Matty, great to see you junmping into the salty side

You will find this a very addictive hobby, so hope you have deep pockets

As you rightly say you need a bit more live rock to fully filter your orca 550, you will need about 14/16 kilos - I had between 17/ 20 in mine

Anyways, hurry up and find out how to put those photos on the computer - we are all waiting to see

Seffie x

 

[mattyg12uk]

Matty, great to see you junmping into the salty side

You will find this a very addictive hobby, so hope you have deep pockets

As you rightly say you need a bit more live rock to fully filter your orca 550, you will need about 14/16 kilos - I had between 17/ 20 in mine

Anyways, hurry up and find out how to put those photos on the computer - we are all waiting to see

Seffie x

Ok another update! Got another 3kg of LR so it total around the 11kg mark now. Will try with the camera but i cant promise lol.

 

[mattyg12uk]

Ok first tests i have ever done so bare with me!
Ammonia 0,01 mg/l
Nitrite 0,2 mg/l
Nitrate 30 mg/l
These tests were carried out using a Tropic Marine test kit. The bottoms 2 were inbetween but i think wre nearer these values.
What do you think?

 

[seffieuk]

Yep, your tank is in it's cycle

Seffie x

 

[mattyg12uk]

Whens best to test again? Every couple of days at this stage?

 

[-Nemo-]

Give it about 3 days, it looks like you're nearly done with it

 

[mattyg12uk]

Give it about 3 days, it looks like you're nearly done with it

Result thanks peeps! Hoping to add cuc first (not sure on shrimp maybe cleaner), snails and hermits (red or blue?). Then a couple of clowns (i know predictable! lol). After that its on with the corals but will read read read first! Any advice on all of the above? Thanks.

 

[-Nemo-]

It doesn't really matter whether you add fish or cuc first. Many people just like to add the inverts first so they can clean up the tank as you should see it getting pretty yucky by now. Cleaner shrimp are good, they seem to be the most active shrimp IMO. Hermits, red or blue don't matter too much; I've always thought hermits to be the laziest little creatures anyways.

Clowns

 

[mattyg12uk]

It doesn't really matter whether you add fish or cuc first. Many people just like to add the inverts first so they can clean up the tank as you should see it getting pretty yucky by now. Cleaner shrimp are good, they seem to be the most active shrimp IMO. Hermits, red or blue don't matter too much; I've always thought hermits to be the laziest little creatures anyways.

Clowns

Thanks for the advice, yes i thought it might be getting a yucky by now but its not bad at all??? Its only been around a week if that but the LR was cured and only out of water for 5 to 10 mins at the most (LFS round the corner ). Will test today and see any progress! Then water changes if its good and try adding something but will wait and see how it goes.

 

[mattyg12uk]

It doesn't really matter whether you add fish or cuc first. Many people just like to add the inverts first so they can clean up the tank as you should see it getting pretty yucky by now. Cleaner shrimp are good, they seem to be the most active shrimp IMO. Hermits, red or blue don't matter too much; I've always thought hermits to be the laziest little creatures anyways.

Clowns

Thanks for the advice, yes i thought it might be getting a yucky by now but its not bad at all??? Its only been around a week if that but the LR was cured and only out of water for 5 to 10 mins at the most (LFS round the corner ). Will test today and see any progress! Then water changes if its good and try adding something but will wait and see how it goes.

Hi anyone got experience with tropic marine test kits? I have them and did my first tests a few days ago and results were
Ammonia 0,01 mg/l (ppm)
Nitrite 0,2 mg/l
Nitrate 30mg/l
Results today
Ammonia 0,1 mg/l (hard to tell its not light green for 0,1 but not yellow for lower its a very light green lol)
Nitrite 0,02 mg/l
Nitrate 5 mg/l
What do you guys think?
How far do you think i am with cycling?
Nothing in the tank apart from 11 kg LR (coral sand of course) (orca tl550 128l) Been almost a week since i set up.
HELP! LOL.

 

[-Nemo-]

Those new numbers seems odd to me considering what your previous values were.
Which company makes the test kits you're using?

 

[mattyg12uk]

Those new numbers seems odd to me considering what your previous values were.
Which company makes the test kits you're using?

Yes i thought they were odd, not sure on company (just tropic marine) German i think. So confusing!

 

[mattyg12uk]

Those new numbers seems odd to me considering what your previous values were.
Which company makes the test kits you're using?

Yes i thought they were odd, not sure on company (just tropic marine) German i think. So confusing!

Ok did it again just to make sure the tests were not my fault now im more confused!
Ammonia 0,2 (nearest i can make it)
Nitrite 0,02 (0,05 at the very most!)
Nitrate clear! <1mg/l
New test kit you think? Or just me somehow!

 

[-Nemo-]

I'm not familiar with that testing kit. Re-read the instructions and try again, see what results you get. Most test kits are very specific and everything needs to be done as so.