ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
I disagree. Skimmers need time to break in. Running the skimmer while the tank is cycling compensates for that.
55 Gallon Reef Tank build
- Thread starter JohnnyDanger
- Start date
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
Doesn't it usually only take a couple days for a skimmer to break in properly?
ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
Depends on the skimmer. Some take up to a month.
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
5 Day Check In
Okay so 5 days in and everything is going great!! I've been adding my Ph. Buffer/ Calcium Carbonate every third day and all my levels appear normal.. I also added some live rock and a couple Blue/Green Chromis today!! Its great to have some life in the tank!! I freakin LOVE Tonga branch rock and my LFS had some so I picked it up.. It's hard to find so when I see it I plan on buying it.. This particular piece of Tonga rock also has a few purple mushrooms growing on it.. I definitely don't expect them to live since my tank is 5 days old but I guess I'll give it a shot.. Time to do some research on mushrooms.. :D But overall I'm having a blast with this hobby!! It's great to have a piece of the ocean in my room.. Here are some updated photos!! Still haven't put a background on it.. :frustrat:
Okay so 5 days in and everything is going great!! I've been adding my Ph. Buffer/ Calcium Carbonate every third day and all my levels appear normal.. I also added some live rock and a couple Blue/Green Chromis today!! Its great to have some life in the tank!! I freakin LOVE Tonga branch rock and my LFS had some so I picked it up.. It's hard to find so when I see it I plan on buying it.. This particular piece of Tonga rock also has a few purple mushrooms growing on it.. I definitely don't expect them to live since my tank is 5 days old but I guess I'll give it a shot.. Time to do some research on mushrooms.. :D But overall I'm having a blast with this hobby!! It's great to have a piece of the ocean in my room.. Here are some updated photos!! Still haven't put a background on it.. :frustrat:
ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
Your tank has only had water in it for five days?
Did you cycle at all?
Did you cycle at all?
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
It's been cycling yes.. My friends and LFS owner advised me to add some live rock and a couple hardy fish to help the cycle along.. This will be my tank for a long long time while it does its thing..
ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
You really really should not have live fish in your tank when you're cycling. Please take them back. It's not a pleasant situation for them.
little_fish
Moderator
Adding live fish doesnt do anything to help the cycle along, all it does is expose your fish to toxic chemicals that will kill them or shorten their lifespan. Plus, you are now stuck with two chromis that you might not want. Unless you take every rock out of your tank to retrieve those fish, they are in there until they die.
Next time, toss in a piece of raw table shrimp. Does the exact same thing with no harm to living creatures.
Next time, toss in a piece of raw table shrimp. Does the exact same thing with no harm to living creatures.
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
I wonder why my friends and other sources told me to add a couple fish.. I don't want to harm anything.. I'll get them out of there and bring them back.. :frustrat:
Kelz88
Got Reef?
Sadly that is the old school way of cycling. Thank you for being awesome and taking them back.
Tank looks great! and remember dry rock is cheaper then live rock!
Tank looks great! and remember dry rock is cheaper then live rock!
little_fish
Moderator
Like Kelz said, its the old school way of cycling a tank, and its always better for your LFS to sell you a fish that will die so that you come and buy more
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
Thanks for the advice guys I really appreciate it!
little_fish
Moderator
Glad to see have a good attitude about it, its very refreshing!
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
Sure man that's why I put this build thread on here!! I'm happy to hear you like my designs.. If you need me to take any more detailed pictures of anything let me know and I'll send them to you.. I designed the sump myself and so far its working perfectly with the filter sock and refugium.. I think I provided dimensions and an earlier post but if you need any others let me know.. I still have all the papers I used to draw sketches and do measurements..
SigEpLucas
Nano Reefer
Definitely remember when seeking advice from your LFS that they are in the business to sell and make money. Unfortunately there are very few LFS's out there that will do the right thing when it means losing a sale. I always find it more consistent and more reliable to seek advice from a group like the people here on Living reefs becuase they care about the hobby and want people to succeed and stay in the hobby instead of getting frustrated from doing things the wrong way and leaving!
JohnnyDanger
Reefing newb
I see that now after I've been in the hobby for a few months.. They're just like any other business.
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Long long time ago it was believed that it was specifically fish waste that encourages the necessary bacteria to colonize an aquarium.
Some folks used to fondly call it the Poop Cycle or the $#1+ Train:
Fish poop > ammonia >> nitrosomona poop > nitrite >> nitrobacter poop > nitrate >> water change.
** Bacteria poop might not be accurate as some byproducts are a result of oxidation rather than digestion.
Many years of combined experience from aquarists have proven that just about anything that decomposes in the water will induce the same colonization.
