tank is ready!

Ian.g · #1 05-27-2008, 09:29 PM

ok, so i took some water to my lfs on sunday for testing and everything is reading perfect! nitrates zero salt levels perfect and ph etc spot on...i asked them if they thought i would be ok to add my fish from the nano tank as the picasso in particular was getting VERY stressed in there! the guy said it should be fine just do it gradualy and acclimate them nice and slowly so that is what i did...and they are LOVING it! they are like different fish! the picasso in particular (who was just spending all day wedged under a lump of rock in the nano) is happily swimming about in and out of the liverock and picking every last snail and starfish off with great delight! lol....the clowns are taking full advantage of the extra space and are racing about like mad things lol...and the niger well! he is just a total DUSTBIN and seems very happy also!...i am getting a deltec mce 600 skimmer in the next month or so (as the guy said i should be fine without a skimmer for a month or two as i have so much filteration) so i am basicaly there now...it is still very much a work in progress and i am keeping a very close eye on water parameters etc...but now it is just a case of slowly adding to the liverock and getting the fish we want

just like to say a big thanks to all who have helped me along the way! as i would have been stumped without the help!...soooo we have made our shortlist of fish we want to add and the guy at the lfs says they should all be fine together...but would just like a second opinion, so here goes...this is what we are hoping to add slowly over the next few months....

1 powder blue tang
1 regal angel
1 regal tang
and i also want something that will help control algae as any cleanup crew will be VERY short lived with the picasso! lol...

so my tank will contain
1 picasso
1 niger
1 powder blue tang
1 regal tang
3 clowns
and something that will help control the algae....
does that sound ok? i would have liked to maybe add possibly 1 or 2 others but that is the ones we REALLY want in there eventualy so they are the shortlist for now...

telboy · #2 05-27-2008, 09:37 PM

a week to cycle a marine tank? seems like you got carried away ian, ill keep me fingers crossed for ya

Ian.g · #3 05-27-2008, 09:52 PM

the thing is Tel...all my filteration was ready matured, plus my liverock is fully cured and the guy at the lfs said this is probably why things have run so smoothly (he was also shocked and said he expected to see the nitrates especialy to be sky high)...and i too was expecting the water parameters to be no where near ready...but he did obviously say to keep a close eye on things and i have 4 25ltr containers of RO and salted RO to do water changes as needed if the parameters do spike etc...but fingers crossed it should be ok, we are not going to be adding anything for at least a month i doubt and i will test water every other day, and take to the lfs every week for a more accurate test...but fingers crossed the guy at the lfs is right...he seems to really know his stuff, if he is wrong and things go **** up i will be gutted! so yes i am putting my fish in his hands so to speak...but he was very sure of what he was saying so as you say Tel fingers crossed..

grandad · #4 05-27-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian.g

the thing is Tel...all my filteration was ready matured, plus my liverock is fully cured and the guy at the lfs said this is probably why things have run so smoothly (he was also shocked and said he expected to see the nitrates especialy to be sky high)...and i too was expecting the water parameters to be no where near ready...but he did obviously say to keep a close eye on things and i have 4 25ltr containers of RO and salted RO to do water changes as needed if the parameters do spike etc...but fingers crossed it should be ok, we are not going to be adding anything for at least a month i doubt and i will test water every other day, and take to the lfs every week for a more accurate test...but fingers crossed the guy at the lfs is right...he seems to really know his stuff, if he is wrong and things go **** up i will be gutted! so yes i am putting my fish in his hands so to speak...but he was very sure of what he was saying so as you say Tel fingers crossed..

well I hope your right ian . but in case of problems buy this product ( it does work ))
also take your time before adding any more ( better to have a few live ones in there than a shoal of dead ones

StabilityStability™ will rapidly and safely establish the aquarium biofilter in freshwater and marine systems, thereby preventing the #1 cause of fish death: "new ...
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Ian.g · #5 05-27-2008, 10:08 PM

thanks for that grandad...i am getting a bit worried now i do hope he is right too! (i have based my decision on his say so basicaly) i have already added stress zyme biological filteration booster to the water (when i first added it) would i still be ok to use the one you recommended? (if things do go wrong)..

grandad · #6 05-27-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian.g

thanks for that grandad...i am getting a bit worried now i do hope he is right too! (i have based my decision on his say so basicaly) i have already added stress zyme biological filteration booster to the water (when i first added it) would i still be ok to use the one you recommended? (if things do go wrong)..

have just read up on stress zyme, seems to do the same as the product I just recommended, but stability says you can add fish from day one , if I was you I would have my water ready for a quick change in an emergency and see how you go .

Ian.g · #7 05-27-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandad

have just read up on stress zyme, seems to do the same as the product I just recommended, but stability says you can add fish from day one , if I was you I would have my water ready for a quick change in an emergency and see how you go .

ok thanks, i still have some stress zyme left so i will maybe add some more tomorrow (it says you can add 5ml per 38 litres every week to help maintain stability) so i would rather be safe than sorry! i have my water here on standby too... fingers crossed all will go well! i am as shocked as anyone that everything was spot on so soon....i wasn`t expecting to be able to add the fish for at least another 3 or 4 weeks! so obviously i am over the moon...but now at the same time i am also really quite worried! i wouldn`t deliberately put my fish`s health or possibly lives! at risk knowingly...and i will keep a VERY close eye on things!

telboy · #8 05-27-2008, 10:32 PM

ian, dont go adding stuff to the tank mate, especially if the water is ok, just keep aneye on things, and do water change once a week , till the cycle has kicked in[it will]...in a week or two youll notice algae growth maybe diatoms, the sand will get a rusty type covering wait for this,cure it, then ya may be ready to add more livestock in 4-6 weeks,the reason ya params are good is cause its new water, it hasnt had time to cycle therefore theres nothing to show up in tests

slash101 · #9 05-27-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telboy

ian, dont go adding stuff to the tank mate, especially if the water is ok, just keep aneye on things, and do water change once a week , till the cycle has kicked in[it will]...in a week or two youll notice algae growth maybe diatoms, the sand will get a rusty type covering wait for this,cure it, then ya may be ready to add more livestock in 4-6 weeks,the reason ya params are good is cause its new water, it hasnt had time to cycle therefore theres nothing to show up in tests

Yes, hit the nail on the head. I was sitting here trying to reply put couldn't think what I was trying to say and that is it.

It was around 6/7 weeks before anything was added to our tank and even then it was only 2 damsels.

We aren't trying to get you worried or anything but just want to be cautious. It might be perfectly fine but then it usually take a lot longer for a tank to be ready to take any kind of livestock.

But yes, just keep an eye on everything. Atleast you have the nano to stick the fish into if things go wrong.

Ian.g · #10 05-27-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telboy

ian, dont go adding stuff to the tank mate, especially if the water is ok, just keep aneye on things, and do water change once a week , till the cycle has kicked in[it will]...in a week or two youll notice algae growth maybe diatoms, the sand will get a rusty type covering wait for this,cure it, then ya may be ready to add more livestock in 4-6 weeks,the reason ya params are good is cause its new water, it hasnt had time to cycle therefore theres nothing to show up in tests

righto mate, i wasnt intending on adding any livestock for at leat a month anyway so now i deffinately wont be! i will see how things go and as you say keep up with water changes and keeping a real close eye on things....i was thinking about sand and asked at the lfs if it is nescessary as i do want it but thought it may be easier to keep clean without it, he said it would be a good idea to add sand to make it more visualy pleasng but said it isn`t essential...although it does aid the biological filteration somewhat...so i was going to get some sand and add it tomorrow...