ak_reefer
Well-known member
That was the very first book I read before I even bought equipment for my first saltwater tank. It helped me immensely well worth the price.
Question on a cycle of a new tank.......
- Thread starter Brady
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
Since I live close by to the library and wanted to check out if they have the book available.....actually, they have two copies but all are being checked out...will place a hold on them once they're available...
Also, I had a chance to bring my water to Barrier Reef and tested out yesterday, I was told since my tank is fairly new so there is just a couple tests that are needed and got the result of
Alkalinity : 7
PH: 8.2
Nitrates: 1
Salinity: 1.027
It got me a little confused because the nitrate level is quite low and I don't know if the tank is cycled and also when do I need to do a water change...
Also, I had a chance to bring my water to Barrier Reef and tested out yesterday, I was told since my tank is fairly new so there is just a couple tests that are needed and got the result of
Alkalinity : 7
PH: 8.2
Nitrates: 1
Salinity: 1.027
It got me a little confused because the nitrate level is quite low and I don't know if the tank is cycled and also when do I need to do a water change...
As per the "calcium reactor" it is actually a carbon reactor. Is there no pump hooked up to it? You will want to clean it out before turning it on as I can see a bunch of detrituts sitting in there. Who knows how long the carbon has been in there as well, so I would just replace it all. When you are rinsing your new carbon to get rid of the carbon dust, make sure to use RO/di water. Otherwise you will end up wasting some of your carbon as it sucks up impurities from your tap water.
How big is this tank? Is it like a 6 foot 250? If you want to keep hard corals, you will eventually need to run all 3 lights. 2 x 250w metal halides cant possibly light 6 feet of tank effectively unless you only place corals under the two running lights.
Also, that skimmer has got to go. I am not sure what that thing is, but it looks like some old school POS lol.
With all those fish and 0 algae I would certainly expect more nitrates, or an ongoing cycle. Really wish they would have tested ammonia and nitrites so we could know for sure if there is still a cycle going on.
You have a lot of large algae grazing fish in there. What is your feeding regiment like? What types of foods are you giving them and how much?
How big is this tank? Is it like a 6 foot 250? If you want to keep hard corals, you will eventually need to run all 3 lights. 2 x 250w metal halides cant possibly light 6 feet of tank effectively unless you only place corals under the two running lights.
Also, that skimmer has got to go. I am not sure what that thing is, but it looks like some old school POS lol.
With all those fish and 0 algae I would certainly expect more nitrates, or an ongoing cycle. Really wish they would have tested ammonia and nitrites so we could know for sure if there is still a cycle going on.
You have a lot of large algae grazing fish in there. What is your feeding regiment like? What types of foods are you giving them and how much?
