My Nano Diary......for A Real Beginner!

[ice maiden]

Thanks for this info guys.....already you are leading me down the right road....I will increase the amount of LR then....

SH so you think I dont need the ceramics then are they more trouble than they are worth....

Should the tank be ready for the Live rock at the weekend, from what I have read the sooner I get that in there the better is this the case?

 

[steelhealr]

Ceramics, in general, get the thumbs down in the nano world. They work TOO well and are associated with nitrates and detritus trapping. Use media like a phosphate binder and if you can find the equivalent of ChemiPure in the UK....sorta a resin/carbon mix. I don't use sponges either.

If your tank is running well...good temps...no leaks...all equipment/pumps doing well, I don't see why are you wouldn't be ready for LR. Remember to take out about 1/3rd of the SW so you don't overflow. Orient the LR with colors up, pale sides down (probably oriented like that in the wild). You can use some of the reserved SW to rinse off/clean the LR if needed. Keep the rock from contacting the glass and leave room for your hand to get in the tank between the glass and the LR for maintenances, flow, etc. Avoid the 'clump of rock' look...ledges, caves, flow thrus are good. SH

 

[trekbear]

I agree 100% with SH on this issue of ceramics. We all take them out. If you have the Nano-Cube from JBJ the instruction sheet (hardly very informative), on it states- if you are going to use the tank as a reef tank then remove sponges, bioballs, and ceramic rings. Only use the carbon. I would not use the carbon until after your tank has cycled.

And go for it with the live rock if your tank and temps are stable... The sooner you start the sooner (after cycle is complete) you will have a reef started .

HTH,
TrekBear

 

[ice maiden]

My tank didnt come with any instructions........I am in the Uk things arent as easy for us over here lol.......I am guided totally by the books I have bought and u guys........

so u recommend i remove the ceramics and carbon then?

 

[trekbear]

IceMaiden,

Definitely remove the ceramics. I would remove the carbon and let it dry out for when you will want to clear the water of the organics... usually this is after the cycle is complete.

Some say using carbon extends the cycle time. I have always just cycled my tanks w/ liverock and sand and after the nitrates go to 0, I put in my chemical filtration socks...

HTH,
TrekBear

 

[ice maiden]

Got the live rock today.......

there is 12kg in there so hopefully that should do the trick.....am quite pleased with the results!!!

now the cycling begins!!!!!!!!!

 

[steelhealr]

I"d pull that LR off the glass. Why?

-extra weight...reduce the risk of cracking
-leave room for maintenance. If you can't get your hand in there to scrape, the glass will become an obstructed view by coralline algae
-dead spots...obstruction to flow...will reduce future coral health and perhaps contribute to cyano.

SH

 

[ice maiden]

It isnt actually touching the glass, but it is pretty close......what sort of gap do u recommend all round?

Think it must be the way the pic was taken.....

This is why these diaries are such a good idea, you guys who have been there done that can advise us what we are doing wrong right from the start...then hopefully both I and others can learn from you.

 

[bunjiweb]

Have you noticed many critters emerging from the rock? It doesn't look particularly porous so it will take longer for your tank to mature than if you used something like fiji rock.

Nice Aquascaping though

Ben

 

[steelhealr]

Enough room to get a scraper or hand in there. If something falls down there, yoiu want to be able to retrieve. Scrapers need a little bit of an angle to leverage. Also...enough clearance for a Magfloat, so, as a minium, you probably want 2 inches if possible. This is the time to adjust it before you start getting livestock. SH

 

[ice maiden]

It isnt actually touching the glass, but it is pretty close......what sort of gap do u recommend all round?

Think it must be the way the pic was taken.....

This is why these diaries are such a good idea, you guys who have been there done that can advise us what we are doing wrong right from the start...then hopefully both I and others can learn from you.

 

[ice maiden]

The pictures dont do it justice, it is pretty porus, and was very light which is why i needed so much......the only critter I have noticed is a tiny little white starfish hopefully a few more should appear shortly.....

I will sort out the space down the side tonight....thanks for the advice as always

 

[trekbear]

IceMaiden, Very nice looking rock... looks like lalo rock to me.

If the starfish you saw is a micro brittle star.. you will have more if you see 1.. LOL I put 2 in my 25 gallon from my 24gallon NC.. I have over 100 now that I see all the time which means I have many many more I don't /can't see.. I like having them though.. they keep the detritus down for sure...

Good job on the aquascape! And SH is right on, 2"+ is a good safe distance for the rock off the walls!

HTH,
TB

 

[ice maiden]

ok, heres an update....am a little worried atm......have browny greeny hairy time algae covering my live rock, which is growing all the time.....

Upon advice from members here I have added 5 redleg hermits and turbo snails, and although they are cleaning, I cant see them ever catching up and controlling it......is there anything else I can do to remove this stuff

At the moment my tank looks awful

 

[ice maiden]

update time......

After adding my clean up crew, red legs, turbo snails, emerald crab and a bristle star...the algae has gone....and my tank looks better than ever.....

all my water tests are great now.....so things are really looking up!!!!!

suggestions for first corals please guys, as this will be the next move in about a week!