New aquarium

[MrBone]

Hi all...was just looking for a bit of feedback on my experience to Date my new aquarium?
The set up has been running now at temp & salinity for 9 days with 3" live aragonite sand
Bed.
All tests so far seem to be good.

10kg Live rock has been in for 7 days & I have algae on the tank glass with what look like loads of pods all over the glass? From what I have read these are a good sign?
Have spotted lots of hitch hikers appearing from live rock. Feather dusters, some kind of
Tiny snail (cone shaped green shell with black spots on it?)

So far so good I think?

 

[cvcdrk]

Yup! So far so good.

Have you been testing the water? What are your parameters like?

 

[Waddi]

Sounds good to me! Get some pictures up bud!
And also, are you thinking of adding more rock? If I were you I would get 5kg dry rock or something, just to bring it up to a good number.

 

[Bifferwine]

Pods are good, but the snail could be good or bad. There are some predator snails out there that are cone shaped. Can you post a picture of the snail?

 

[MrBone]

10.....NO3
0.5....NO2
400....CA
6-10....KH
8...pH

 

[MrBone]

I have noticed some kind of green worm sticking upright out of the sand bed..any idea what it is?

 

[little_fish]

what is your ammonia testing at?

 

[MrBone]

what is your ammonia testing at?

I'm unsure how to test the ammonia? How is this done please?

 

[Waddi]

All tests so far seem to be good.

When you say this... What do you mean?

Ammonia Test Kit - API

 

[MrBone]

When you say this... What do you mean?

Ammonia Test Kit - API

I meant that obviously been in the early days & tank is still becoming established but the parameters so far seem to be acceptable. RE: PH,kH etc.
I have been using a tetra marine 5 in 1 kit so far? Am I correct in my understanding that this kit is not able to give an amonia reading?
I will have to pick up an amonia test kit ASAP

 

[Bifferwine]

The basic test kits you will need are:

pH
alkalinity (KH)
ammonia
nitrite
nitrate

Be sure you are using test kits for saltwater, not freshwater. They will give you different results.

 

[little_fish]

Also be sure you are using liquid reagent kits, the test strips are notoriously inaccurate.

 

[MrBone]

Ok, thanks for all your help so far, much appreciated.

I managed to get myself a Salifert Amonia test on the way home from work.
After testing the reading is showing <0.25

 

[little_fish]

Means you are still cycling :)

 

[cvcdrk]

Salifert is a great brand of test kits, by the way....so if you can get the others you definitely should. :-)