Update (and A Few Questions)

[mike_danger]

Hi all,

It has been running for a week now, and I have done my first tests...

PH = 7.8
Ammonia = 0-0.25
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20

I was thinking about adding some more LR for extra filtration and too make the tank look more full, is this a good idea? Also I was thinking about getting a skimmer for extra filtration, is this a good idea, and should i do this now or wait? I'm not really sure what the next step is and i dont want to rush anything...

Thanks, michael

 

[SkiFletch]

More LR is always a good thing as far as filtration goes. Just make sure its in a stable formation. Next step is to wait for a diatom bloom and check your alkalinity and calcium... With a low pH like that I'd worry that they are not quite in balance.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

I suppose you could add the skimmer but weekly 10-15% water changes have served me well without one. I guess every little helps though.

My PH was 7.8 during the cycle but it is now at 8.2, it should come up as the system stabilizes

 

[mike_danger]

Thanks for the info.

I take it the tank is not ready yet, any ideas on how long it will take? (I dont mind waiting, saves money on livestock ) And I dont think i will get a skimmer then, just worried im under filtered!!

Do you have the same tank Sf05, if o do you know what the lighting is by any chance?

Michael

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

It's hard to tell how long the cycle could take, you haven't recorded any nitrites yet so it could still be a few weeks.

Nope, different tank but most nanos do fine without the skimmer, if you're still worried go ahead and add one but the main role you will have to play is weekly water changes and you should be good

Tank looking good Btw

 

[sukie]

Mike,
First off - nice tank!!!

As for more live rock - you could add one moe piece but with the pic I think you're good.

As for skimmer - it depends what you're planning to put in the tank. What are your plans?? Corals? Fish?

Flow - do you have power heads? I can't tell by the pic.

What is your lighting schedule? I'm surprised because I don't see the brown diatom stage on your glass (unless you're cleaning it like mad )

You could add hermits and snails. . .

 

[mike_danger]

Hey,

Thanks for the kind comments sukie, i saw it in the shop and fell in love with the design.

Yes Ive got a powerhead behind the rocks andd an undergravel filter (do I need the undergravel filter?)

Well at the moment Im planning on adding 2 clowns, hermits and shrimp. Not aure on corals, would like to if honest as it will look better, but not sure what to get (any ideas on a good book?)

I am leaving the lights on for 8 hours a day (for the last week).

On a different matter I have just noticed LOADS of little things moving around the tank, less than 1 mm, they are all over the place!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Those little things are probably copepods or some similar pod life form. Harmless scavengers and a good food source for certain fish.

As for the undergravel filter, remove it immediately. UGF's went out of style over a decade ago, especially when used with crushed coral. If not properly cleaned and maintained over time the UGF will buildup with waste and turn your little aquarium into a rotting septic tank . Your LR is all the filtration you need.

 

[mike_danger]

Hey,

Ive just googled 'copepods', and i think that might be them, they seem to have sprung up over the last 2 days, and they are everywhere, need my nemo to eat them! lol

Cool, I will remove it tommorrow. With regards to the crushed corel, do i need to stir it up from time to time to stop a nitrate build up. If so, how often?

As im taking the undergravel filter out should i get another power head for more water movement, or is my maxi-jet mp600 already in there enough? I could possible use the powerhead from the undergravel filter as the 2nd one but it is not very powerful.

Sorry for my constent questions, just want to get it right.

Thanks, Michael

 

[SkiFletch]

Better to ask now than to be SOL later . Dont worry about the copepods, they're beneficial organisms. The crushed coral should be vaccumed when you do your weekly water changes to keep excess detritus from building up. It should also be prefferably no more than 1" deep.

As for the pump, an MJ600 is a 160gph powerhead. Usually you want minimum of 20x flow in gph in the tank. So a 160gph powerhead is suitable for tanks up to 8 gallons. Above that, more or bigger powerheads are required. Your tank looks around 20gallons in capacity, so you'd want 400gph of total flowrate in there, if thats the case.

 

[mike_danger]

Hey,

Cool I will do the same with the vaccum as s I do in my freshwater (but wont use the same one lol).

My tank is only 40l, so about 10g. I will possibly get another maxi-jet mp600, or if i did get a skimmer would that do the same?

Ive also seen some posts about using an external filter instead of a skimmer and filling it with live rock, is this another idea?

Michael