YAY!!! My tank is cycled!
- Thread starter TBoisvert
- Start date
MelodyDurham
Non-member
Yay!!! Congrats!! I don't know about adding bio load, but I'm glad you asked!
Melody~
Melody~
~Flighty~
Now with more baby
I don't see why you can't start adding stuff now. Just start with heartier things because it takes a long time to get the salinity top off and temperature worked out so it stays constant rather than bouncing around. Also make sure that the livestock you put in now is stuff you want. some things are trouble to get out.
Have you added a clean up crew yet?
Have you added a clean up crew yet?
OP
OP
TBoisvert
Non-member
~Flighty~ said:
Nope, not yet. I will do that though. I know that is probably the first thing to start with.
I am not sure what you mean by keeping the temp constant. Does this become a problem when adding things? I have kept my tank at 79 degrees consistently and it hasn't fluctuated at all. I have also tested the salinity everyday as I topped off the evaporation and it has been stable at 1.025 and I measure this with a refractometer.
Thanks for your help, Tammie
OP
OP
TBoisvert
Non-member
Well, I have been running the mh about 8 hours per day and have not had temp fluctuations. I am running 2 - 200 watt Ebos and have 2 tunze 6100's for circulation and it seems to be working out perfectly. I'm not too worried about the heat, as I just purchased air conditioning for the house. I decided that for what we've invested in this tank, we weren't going to chance having fluctuations in temperature.
This is really exciting!
This is really exciting!
NateHanson
Non-member
I'd say go ahead with a big clean up crew, and some heartier corals, and a fish or two. You want to take your time with fish because the rock has to catch up with the bioload they create (ie poo 
) but corals don't have much of an effect on that, so you can go to town with those. The only caveat being what cindy said. You tend to make more mistakes in the first couple weeks months of a new setup, so I probably wouldn't put that $500 T. maxima in your tank just yet. Stick with some of the heartier, more common creatures to make the learning curve a little less costly.
There are some livestock that you should wait a few more months before getting because water quality will continue to stabilize and improve over the first 6 months. I'd put anemones and delicate fishes like butterflies in that group.
Congratulations! Have fun watching your hermit crabs. They fascinated me when we first got our first tank running - Heck they still fascinate me from time to time!
) but corals don't have much of an effect on that, so you can go to town with those. The only caveat being what cindy said. You tend to make more mistakes in the first couple weeks months of a new setup, so I probably wouldn't put that $500 T. maxima in your tank just yet. Stick with some of the heartier, more common creatures to make the learning curve a little less costly. There are some livestock that you should wait a few more months before getting because water quality will continue to stabilize and improve over the first 6 months. I'd put anemones and delicate fishes like butterflies in that group.
Congratulations! Have fun watching your hermit crabs. They fascinated me when we first got our first tank running - Heck they still fascinate me from time to time!
Jill & Brian
Reef Hiatus
Congratulations Tammie!!! What an exciting time for you... What are your stocking plans for fish? Like Cindy said, dont put anything in there you dont want to keep long term.
YOu may still have an algae bloom that is normal after cycling. We had the overflow covered with hair algae after the initial cycle. The sanils took care of that within a week or so. It should mostly be gone after you add the clean up crew and they get working. Good luck with it, and post some pics!!
YOu may still have an algae bloom that is normal after cycling. We had the overflow covered with hair algae after the initial cycle. The sanils took care of that within a week or so. It should mostly be gone after you add the clean up crew and they get working. Good luck with it, and post some pics!!
MelodyDurham
Non-member
In my freshwater experience, snails are the worst when it comes to poop. Are saltwater snails just as pooperiffic?
Melody~
Melody~
NateHanson
Non-member
Yeah they poop. Piles of their crap will identify the water flow dead spots in your tank. Very useful substance for that actually.
OP
OP
TBoisvert
Non-member
Thanks guys and gals! I am taking a ride to RI to sea creatures to pick up a crew! I am thinking I may buy at least one, or two "pretty things"... I really love the SPS corals and I know they are a challenge, but I do really love the colors! I will take it really slow and post pics. I will ask John his opinion as well, as he seems to slow me down when my excitement gets the best of me.
Oh, also, the doors for the tank stand came in today. They are gorgeous. I bought them from doorsandpulls.com. The link was provided on this website. They are very well made and I chose the raised panel oak. Very nice and really cheap! I paid $54.00 for 4 doors and eight european hinges. What a deal! The canopy is finished and only needs varnishing/staining. It came out awesome!
I will post pics.
Tammie
Oh, also, the doors for the tank stand came in today. They are gorgeous. I bought them from doorsandpulls.com. The link was provided on this website. They are very well made and I chose the raised panel oak. Very nice and really cheap! I paid $54.00 for 4 doors and eight european hinges. What a deal! The canopy is finished and only needs varnishing/staining. It came out awesome!
I will post pics.
Tammie
MelodyDurham
Non-member
Now you got me all excited!! EeP!! Have fun! And can't wait for the pics!!
Melody~
Melody~
RichConley
Attack of the Killer Cute
SPS really arent that hard to do, you just need ot have the things they need, and a lot of people try to keep them in situations they can't live.
High Light
Clean water
high flow
High Light
Clean water
high flow
NateHanson
Non-member
Are you testing Alk? That's just as important as Ca for the corals.TBoisvert said:
