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Start of my aquapod - help as i progress
- Thread starter CONSTANTNE
- Start date
My point is that sitting empty all of the bacteria that has been established will have no food and will start to die. You can either re-cycle, keep the cycle going somehow (with a large water change at the end to rid yourself of the unwanted trates) or you can use the tank. If you let it sit empty it will be no more ready for fish in 3 weeks than it would have been day one.
If you don't think you had a good cycle and you didn't use already cycled rock, then I'd start a real cycle with some bacteria/ammonia source. That's the only way you can be sure you're ready for fish when the time comes.
And I'd never start a cycle with a fish I didn't want to keep long term... and I wouldn't want to cycle with a fish I'd want to keep long term! LOL!
If you don't think you had a good cycle and you didn't use already cycled rock, then I'd start a real cycle with some bacteria/ammonia source. That's the only way you can be sure you're ready for fish when the time comes.
And I'd never start a cycle with a fish I didn't want to keep long term... and I wouldn't want to cycle with a fish I'd want to keep long term! LOL!
Since no one seem to have answered your question about the worm, and based on not so great pic, in all probability that is just a plain bristleworm - a good thing in general.
As for the nitrogen cycle, the way I see it, it is not so much if the cycle will die or live, as much of how much of "capacity" it would have. Cycle can be maintained in the tank on several levels based on the total concentration of nitrogen compounds dissolved in the water. Low amount of organic compounds, either live (part of a live fish) or dead piece of fish food decomposing, will produce low levels of ammonia sustaining only smaller number of bacteria. More organics will sustain busier cycle.
You could increase the capacity of your cycle either gradually by starting with small and simple organisms (snails or hermits) and progressing to small fish and increasing to full complexity of your system. On the other hand, since your tank is small you could start with a small fish (it wont support big fish anyway). In that case you would need to monitor water quality more often and be more aggressive in water changes. And you could do it with the fish you want to keep long term, if you want to keep any fish in that tank at all.
As for the nitrogen cycle, the way I see it, it is not so much if the cycle will die or live, as much of how much of "capacity" it would have. Cycle can be maintained in the tank on several levels based on the total concentration of nitrogen compounds dissolved in the water. Low amount of organic compounds, either live (part of a live fish) or dead piece of fish food decomposing, will produce low levels of ammonia sustaining only smaller number of bacteria. More organics will sustain busier cycle.
You could increase the capacity of your cycle either gradually by starting with small and simple organisms (snails or hermits) and progressing to small fish and increasing to full complexity of your system. On the other hand, since your tank is small you could start with a small fish (it wont support big fish anyway). In that case you would need to monitor water quality more often and be more aggressive in water changes. And you could do it with the fish you want to keep long term, if you want to keep any fish in that tank at all.
He sounds like a patient guy and will do whats right. Just keep monitoring your paramaters. In the meantime if your getting antsy why dont you think about if/how you would do a little fuge. I'm running one in the middle chamber of my NanoCube, maybe you can do the same with the AP.
If you want Ill post pics of how I set mine up.
If you want Ill post pics of how I set mine up.
I wont hijack this thread. Ill post something seperate here for you both here: http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=4629.0
Thanks for all the responses i really appreciate it. Barely got any over nanoreef.com. As for a refuge, Im definately planning on doing one in my third chamber. Thats one of the reasons im looking for some rock rubble. I was also looking at using a submersible led light off ebay or buying one that goes on top of the chamber (found it on nano-reef.com). Since my tank is so new i really dont want to start cutting the back.
Soooooo as I was looking with a flashlight in my back chambers I realized this in chamber 2. Is this going to be a problem? Is there a way to see if water is flowing through it and can it be fixed if water is going through?
I was fortunate enough to have gotten a bad tank when I received my first one, so I found all these little issues when first trying out some mods. When I received my second replacement tank, one of the first things I did was go out and get some black silicone and re-silicone the entire filtration area. I found that on my first tank water was seeping through the bottom and totally bypassing my filter floss and Chemi-Pure elite location.
I don't think it will really be a problem and to fix it you would either have to shove some type of non problematic wax or rubber compound that is water proof in there now, or drain the tank and silicone it and let it dry a day. Just make sure you stick a pump hose or some type of siphon under chamber 2 and 3 accessed by chamber 4 just to make sure crap is not accumulating down there and causing nitrates every once in awhile.
I don't think it will really be a problem and to fix it you would either have to shove some type of non problematic wax or rubber compound that is water proof in there now, or drain the tank and silicone it and let it dry a day. Just make sure you stick a pump hose or some type of siphon under chamber 2 and 3 accessed by chamber 4 just to make sure crap is not accumulating down there and causing nitrates every once in awhile.
Yea i definately dont want to empty out the tank so i want to find a way to seal it with water in it. I just need to find something now. And i really should i siliconed the filter chambers like you did.
I was at home depot a little while ago and found this. It says it can be used underwater (either fresh or saltwater). I just want to know if it will harm the water or live sand and rock. Let me know what you all think. Thanks
I have to go back and review the other parts of this post.. However, to answer this question. I am unsure about that product. However, if you go to your local LFS or the PetShanty ( they have it in stock ) you can get this stuff.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/holdfastepoxy.html
That should do just fine and I am sure that it is safe for your aquarium.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/holdfastepoxy.html
That should do just fine and I am sure that it is safe for your aquarium.
Anyone else with advice on if i should use it or not? Maybe if it comes down to it I can try emailing or calling the company and see what they say.
Came home today to find most of my rock covered in brown algae. I left for two days and left the lights on timers which i think i shouldnt have left them on for so long. Testing paremeters:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
Whats that green stuff growing up like that? Also, im guessing i should do a water change and maybe start with a clean up crew.?
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
Whats that green stuff growing up like that? Also, im guessing i should do a water change and maybe start with a clean up crew.?
CONSTANTNE said:
Someone on the last meeting was claiming that the epoxy that was sold in HD is the same stuff that is sold for aquarium use, although I don't know if that person was referring to that particular product.
Can someone tell me the difference between diatoms and cyano because i dont know which one it is. Either way would snails or hermit crabs take care of this?
About that product, I actually emailed the company and im waiting for them to get back to me on whether or not its safe for fish. Thanks for the input though mladensovic
About that product, I actually emailed the company and im waiting for them to get back to me on whether or not its safe for fish. Thanks for the input though mladensovic
Diatoms are brown and make your tank just look dirty. They are part of the start up cycle and almost always go away on their own. From my experience, they genreally go away about 3 days after you lose your marbles and scream "THIS TANK LOOKS LIKE %@$@^ !!!! I'M TEARING IT DOWN!"
Cyano is typically a crimson, velvety film that covers your rock and sand. You'll generally see small air bubbles forming below the surface. Cyano is a little more of challenge to get rid off.
Cyano is typically a crimson, velvety film that covers your rock and sand. You'll generally see small air bubbles forming below the surface. Cyano is a little more of challenge to get rid off.
Well theres definately brown stuff on my sand! I hope this stuff goes away in a couple days. Should I lessen the amount of light I give my tank? I was thinking something like:
9am - actinics on
10 am - whites on
8 pm - whites off
9 pm - actinics off
9pm - 9am - lunar lights
Not sure exactly how much light i should give my tank. I think people say between 9-12 right?
9am - actinics on
10 am - whites on
8 pm - whites off
9 pm - actinics off
9pm - 9am - lunar lights
Not sure exactly how much light i should give my tank. I think people say between 9-12 right?