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Kids got the itch back...

Thank Jose. Yea IMO I couldn't have bettee size rock in there. The second piece that I added (right side) looked like it had some different things on it so I'm excited about that. Also seeing the ammonia drop got me thinking that in another 10 days or so I could see things.go in a very positive direction. Very excited!
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Impetuous youth!


You have receive the best advise on starting a cycle….free of charge.


In the case of emergency, or if you are so impetuous and you wish to chance alternate means, Dr. Tim’s or Biospira (or some other nitrifying bacteria), are options to kick-start your cycle. But otherwise, you’ve gotten the best advice going.

A tenet in this hobby is to go slow and steady.
 
Wait a minute. Was it not the other night that I was called out for talking down to people? How is what you just said considered fair? Did I not say AGAIN how much I appreciate all the help and how I take it all into my final decision. I didn't say that I was going to add livestock tomorow. I expressed my excitement that with the test tonight it was nice ro see things start to move forward. I'm being patient and doing my research so I'd appreciate it if the silly name calling would stop. I was actually excited when I saw you posted bc I know you are a huge contributor on the site. This however was a tad uncalled for. I'm going slow and trying to be careful about what I'm doing so I can provide the best environment for my future fish and corals. It just really irks me when someone says something that's completely way off base about me when they don't know exactly what I'm doing. Just simply uncalled for and I hope someone can actually back me up on this.
 
come on everyone let's all play nice :) me personally, i don't believe in the dr tims method. no bottle of liquids/substances/microbes/etc can cause an instant cycle. let nature do its thing. glad to hear you're taking it slow. when i first started, i didn't have anyone to tell me what to do except the pathetic excuse for a lfs, who in turn said what was needed to keep me coming back to buy more. you are on the right track and you should be just fine. as far as adding more rock goes, is the piece dry? live? cured? uncured?
 
Its live and pretty much cured...I got it from trop. fiji branch rock. I added another 4lb piece. I posted a new pic on the page before this if you're interested to check it out. Thanks for the encouragement...noted and appreciated!
 
i just read the entire thread. glad you didn't go with the oddssyea light fixture. like most knock offs, those things are fire hazards. i'm sure your home is more important than spending the extra money. i may have missed this, and i apologize if i did, but i would add another powerhead, and maybe get a wave maker. JBJ wavemaker or hydor wave maker seem to be the most cost effective. later down the line you can get something more powerful like an mp10, when you start to conclude that your current powerheads take up too much real estate. i'd be careful with having your light fixture so close to your tank. i believe you will have heat issues. try to hang it from a canopy or something. the light fixture fans can only do so much. i have an ati 8 bulb fixture over my 80g with 3 fans built in and ATI is known to have very powerful fans. if i left that fixture on my tank similar to the way you have yours, not only will i burn out all my corals, but my tank will heat up like an oven. definitely run an aqua clear 70 all times. check on youtube or even google aquaclear 70 refugium mod.
 
Hmmm. Thanks for that Empire. I really appreciate you reading everything and giving the feedback you did. I never thought about the heat issue. I guess I cpuld build a small canopy...as I'm guessing they don't make any for a tank as small as fine. I'm curious now to research what I can do about the lights. Whatever the size of the aqua clear I'm running now its doing a great job so I don't think ill mess with it until I start to see a problem. Currently running it with carbon and soonge. I just put that aqueon I think the brand ia in the tanl bc I needed a new powerhead quickly...it does like 500 gph so for now its serving its purpose. I'm anxious to start researching on how the lights will be situated on the tank
 

Tommyboynj

Administrator
Officer Emeritus
Hmmm. Thanks for that Empire. I really appreciate you reading everything and giving the feedback you did. I never thought about the heat issue. I guess I cpuld build a small canopy...as I'm guessing they don't make any for a tank as small as fine. I'm curious now to research what I can do about the lights. Whatever the size of the aqua clear I'm running now its doing a great job so I don't think ill mess with it until I start to see a problem. Currently running it with carbon and soonge. I just put that aqueon I think the brand ia in the tanl bc I needed a new powerhead quickly...it does like 500 gph so for now its serving its purpose. I'm anxious to start researching on how the lights will be situated on the tank

Closing the tank top with a canopy will make things worse. You need to get the heat away from the tank. I'd just hang them from the ceiling
 
So I've been looking briefly online and I've seen different kinds of hanging kits. Theres one from marine depot that looks decent...still deciding. wanted to see what others suggested and also how high the lights should be from the tank
 
I used a 2 point hanger system from Aquacave mine sits about 10" of the tank. But it's totally adjustable.
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Sunlight supply is having a lot of deals on amazon liquidating their stock at the moment. Their hanging kits are ~$10. I got the tek legs that are normally $75 for $35 shipped. If I find the link to their store ill post it but I'm on my phone at the moment
 
also....the lights are about 5 inches off the water. After looking around...alot of people run them with the legs they came with. Im going to try that first. Not now obviously bc i dont want algae problems. Im going to see what happens and take it from there. I did look at a few diy projects and have that in the back of my mind if the temp rises dramatically. Could always get a fan from radio shack and do a home made job. For now I wanna get through the cycle and then ill start to run the lights on a consistent basis.
 
Jose...I didn't test that last night. It was late and I was just curious about the ammonia. Thanks so much and for your input redfish. I have absolutely no idea why you consistently have to post such condescending replies. I realize there is still ammonia in the tank. I realize its still cycling. If you are going to continue to post like I'm four years old, please do not say anything. I'm here for advice...not to be talked to like I'm an idiot.
 
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