Was My Lr Uncured?

[tmreynolds]

I bought 20kg's of LR from STM in the UK, which I heard was good stuff, last Thursday.

It was delivered overnight by courier but was still wet, but cold, when it arrived. It was probably 24hrs out of water.

Anyway, since being in the tank, my ammonia, nitrite and nitrate have gone a bit mad. I expected a spike but it was quite high...

Here are my levels, temp is 25 degrees C, RO water used, skimmer and powerheads operational

Before LR was introduced:
pH - 8.0
KH - 9.5 dKH
Ammonia - <0.01 ppm
Nitrite - 0.05 ppm
Nitrate - < 1.0 ppm

Day the LR went in:
pH - 8.0
KH - 9.0
Ammonia - 1.0 ppm
Nitrite - 0.75 ppm
Nitrate - 40 ppm

3 days after LR:
pH - 8.0
KH - 10.5
Ammonia - 0.05 ppm
Nitrite - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate - 100ppm!

Do you think I just had a large amount of die off, or was the rock not fully cured?

 

[Matthew5664]

I would go with the large amount of die-off STM are pritty good on the old LR front as far as I'm aware.

The 24h out of water coupled with the cold would have produced more dieoff than if the packages had a heat pack.

Do you have any stock in the tank?

 

[tmreynolds]

I would go with the large amount of die-off STM are pritty good on the old LR front as far as I'm aware.

The 24h out of water coupled with the cold would have produced more dieoff than if the packages had a heat pack.

Do you have any stock in the tank?

No, not putting anything in until the water conditions are perfect.

Cheers,

 

[tmreynolds]

I bought another 5 kgs today actually from my LFS, its really good, really colourful and loads of life on this lot.

Loads of feather duster worms, and what looks like either tiny fish fry or they'll b e tiny shrimps, too small and quick to tell?

Although I have seen one Aiptasia...which I squashed instantly

 

[Matthew5664]

"Although I have seen one Aiptasia...which I squashed instantly"

Did you squish it out of the tank then wash the area with some SW in a bucket then into another bucket to rinse?

If not you may find that you have lots more to come these things can grow from the tinyest spec of matter!!

 

[tmreynolds]

"Although I have seen one Aiptasia...which I squashed instantly"

Did you squish it out of the tank then wash the area with some SW in a bucket then into another bucket to rinse?

If not you may find that you have lots more to come these things can grow from the tinyest spec of matter!!

No....

I will have to keep my eye out I think.

I will do it properly if I see any more. Thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

Since you had a large volume of dieoff and your nitrates are so high, I would reccomend doing a 100% water change with heated mixed saltwater a couple days after ammonia and nitrate dissappear. Since you have no stok in the tank its probably easier than lots of partials

 

[tmreynolds]

Since you had a large volume of dieoff and your nitrates are so high, I would reccomend doing a 100% water change with heated mixed saltwater a couple days after ammonia and nitrate dissappear. Since you have no stok in the tank its probably easier than lots of partials

Yeah, I think thats probably best, I assume you mean after my ammonia & nitrites disappear as opposed to nitrates?

You reckon to just sit tight until ammonia and nitrite =0, as opposed to doing a partial change now?

 

[SkiFletch]

Eh, I, A, theres no difference right

Yeah, just sit tight for now. A day or two more and nitrItes should be 0. Then wait another couple days before doing a 100% change.

 

[tmreynolds]

Eh, I, A, theres no difference right

Yeah, just sit tight for now. A day or two more and nitrItes should be 0. Then wait another couple days before doing a 100% change.

Cool, cheers.

What difference can 1 letter make anyway?

 

[Matthew5664]

Just for science sake could leave the tank for a little while. Once the NH3/4 NO2 have gone and the NO3 is at its highest point leave it a week longer for the Nitrate reducing bactiria to gain a foot holed then 90% (leaving something for them to 'eat'. Then start on the clean up crew after the algeas set in???

 

[tmreynolds]

Just for science sake could leave the tank for a little while. Once the NH3/4 NO2 have gone and the NO3 is at its highest point leave it a week longer for the Nitrate reducing bactiria to gain a foot holed then 90% (leaving something for them to 'eat'. Then start on the clean up crew after the algeas set in???

Yeah I agree, Ideally you want the anaerbic? (spelling) bacteria inside the live rock to turn the nitrates to nitrogen, so I'll leave it to see if they can tackle some of the nitrates before doing the water change.

Although I'm dying to get my cleaner crew in there, and then my first fish, I want to do this 100% correctly, so I'm in no rush. I'll continue to monitor over the coming weeks to see what happens.

Xmas is coming and I'm off to NY for a small break over new year, so nothing will be happening before 2007 (any good marine places in NY ).

Cheers guys, I'll post some more readings later in the week, to see if we have any movement.

 

[Matthew5664]

If your going to NY ask Ski for the good places.

How long are you away for? have to got a auto topoff in place to handle the evap.

 

[tmreynolds]

If your going to NY ask Ski for the good places.

How long are you away for? have to got a auto topoff in place to handle the evap.

I'm only away for 5 days, plus I've a fairly tight sealed hood so evap should be minimal. Waters been in there 1.5 weeks at correct temp now, and there has been very little evap, which is good

Theres no livestock in there yet either, but if I top up with RO before I go, any evap should still be within the limts.

Cheers,

SKI, any Marine places worth a visit in NY?

 

[SkiFletch]

Lol, I'm at the complete opposite end of the state from NYC. Bout an 8 hour drive from my house to Manhattan so unfortunately, I dont know any good marine shops in the City. Buffalo is pretty much right where Great Lakes Erie and Ontario meet... I'm a whopping 20 minutes from Niagara Falls though, and thats kinda cool 8). Just to give you an idea, NY is about the same distance as London to Newcastle if googlemaps are to be believed

Edit: All of my family is down there though so I'm pretty well versed in lots of sight seeing if you have any questions dont hesitate to ask