Confused about filtering options

[squibley2]

Those are just feather dusters which are fine for they are actually quite nice to look at as they get larger. They are definitely not a problem. If you want to you can add a filter pad to the tank for a day or 2 to help clear the water then remove the pad but don't do anymore water changes just keep testing every couple or few days so you know what is going on with the tank. A good idea is to keep a little journal of what the tests came back as and what you notice in the tank that way you can look back and see how your exact tank reacted to what was done. You obviously don't have to do this but it is a good idea. Once your ammo has spiked and then come back to 0 then your nitrite will spike then come down to 0 and you will be left with nitrates. Then you can do a water chang and slowly start to add your clean up crew.

Keep us posted and post new pics whenever you change anything or it has been a while and the tank has changed.

I hope this helps.
Kevin

[minireefer]

You can run with just a skimmer ,but the hob filter you have minus the bio wheel will help with water circulation and the occasional filter pad.Try hirocks.com to get some good deals on base rock them top it with the live you have plus some more.Look for some stuff called bio spirula will help get some bacteria in your tank
to nudge the cycle,if is not available petco will have some stuff called cycle.
Best advise is to be patient and read some of the articles posted on this site to help you out

[boricuamed]

Thanks to everybody for their comments and help. I purchased 12lbs of live rock and 20lobs of live sand more 2 days ago. Water looks crystal clear, did a water test today and these are the results:

pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0.50
Nitrite: 0.50
Nitrate: 20 (I checked it twice)
Temp: 80F
S.G.: 1.023

Quick question about the Red-Sea Berlin Air-Lift: I get greenish sludge but it is very watery. I have to empty the container twice a day. Is this normal? or is the air pump on too high?

Thanks for the replys. I will try to post some pics on tonight.

[boricuamed]

Here are some pics of my tank after adding more live rock and live sand...




Can someone please help me with identifying these organisms in the "new" live rock?

Thanks again for all of your input.

[squibley2]

I am not sure on the animals but the first one looks like a tiny bubble coral but someone should be able to ID it for you for sure. A couple things on the water params. Your PH is a little low, Temp is a little high. You want your PH around 8.2-8.3 and you want you temp as close to 78 as possible.

The tank is looking very nice!

As for the skimmer you probably have the airstone turned on to high you should need to empty the container every few days to once a week assuming it is the right size for the tank and everything and the skimmate should be like dark strong tea or strong dark green tea. I hope this helps.

[minireefer]

since your tank is still cycling your ph will fluctuate,but once it done it should 8.3.Since the weather getting warmer 80 is alright try not let get higher.I think you might have some little bubble coral,but hard say for sure.

[boricuamed]

Cool! If it is a coral than it is a bonus! That is the live rock that I got from the LFS of my previous post. Thank you all for your help.

BTW the skimmer is a Berlin air-lift 60, so I turned the air pump down a bit, and it now I have to change it once a day, I will turn it down some more when I get home. The output of the skimmer now has more of a "watered down gel" consistency. Is that more appropriate? or should it be more viscous?

Thanks again.

[squibley2]

No it should not be thick it should be like dark green or brown tea. You might have a lot of DOCs in the water which might explain the high output from the skimmer. How are your params reading now? What else have to done to the tank? What have you added to the water? Many additives that we use will make the skimmer either go crazy or stop producing until the proper water tension is restored due to time, or the removal of the chemical from the water. There is also something to be said for time when it comes to a skimmer they will take some time to "run in" to the point where they settle down and start doing there job the way it was intended to work. I would leave it the way it is if the skimmate is a darker color and not very watery then you should be fine. The other thing I am thinking is that your skimmer might be intended for a smaller tank or close to capacity and that is why you are having to empty it daily. I have a skimmer made for a 100G tank on my 20G nano.

Just a few thoughts that might help.

[jhnrb]

try to adjust so you get a dry foam. if you have ever walked on the beach and seen the white foam that sometimes shows up you will notice that it is very fluffy and not runny. in your skimmer you want the foam to produce below the top of the cup stem and as it developes it pushes up and out. it should just barely slide back down on the inside and it should maintain foam consistency until it is over the top and settled in the cup. hope this helps.

[boricuamed]

Last night I checked the output of the skimmer and the cup was about 1/3 full. However I noticed that the height of the bubble column was drastically reduced. The output was of a dark "green color" as mentioned above, so I decided to leave it alone for now. I add calcium every other day to the tank. I will check the params this afternoon (I usually check around 5:30pm) and post them tonight.

I am somewhat disappointed by the "manufacturer ratings" for their products. I have com to realize that for good effectiveness it is necessary to purchase products intended for 2x or 3x their actual application, as in the case of the skimmer. I will however, try to upgrade the skimmer soon (probably a coralife 150?).

I will keep you posted, and thanks for the comments about how the tank is looking.

btw: I think that today I will be ready for my first wqater change.