My 90g setup (pics) - Page 3

Nereaga · 10-01-2007, 09:19 PM

You got it! Nitrates are being converted to gas and are escaping the tank. Your on your way!!!!

chadf · 10-02-2007, 05:30 PM

This just in: Today's readings!
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
PH: 8.4
KH: 230 ppm
Calcium: 350
Phosphate: 0
Salinity: 1.023
Temp: 79.5

I'm getting diatoms very badly, and a bright green (almost fluorescent) that almost looks like diatoms. I'm wondering if it's more coralline. I'm hoping the ammonia and nitrite stay at 0 until next week so I can get my snails. (If you've never been to bluezooaquatics.com check them out. I'm getting my snails there, they have a huge variety and very cheap. Plus they have a good guarantee and they give you a free acclimation kit with any livestock purchase.)

I can't believe how quickly this cycle went if it's really over! My nitrates have even gone down since my ldsb kicked in. I wonder if I some how cloned fijisandman's tank with all that sand plus the water that was in with in.

Nereaga · 10-02-2007, 05:34 PM

Could be possible. The sand I received was great and didnt leach any ammonia or anything else into my main tank. Thumbs up to that guy on Ebay!

It would cut down on cycling time a bit if you got good live rock(fully cured w/ min. die off) and good established live sand.

I would still wait a week or so and see if the readings are stable.

chadf · 10-02-2007, 05:37 PM

That's the plan...I'm crossing my fingers.

madcatz · 10-02-2007, 09:58 PM

woot woot congrats man! here is to patience!

lol

chadf · 10-02-2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks, I'm looking forward to seeing your updated pics!

chadf · 10-03-2007, 08:56 PM

Here's the update, for the last few days the water has been getting very green. So I changed out one of my 2 carbon cartridges last night in hopes of it helping some (I'll be rotating to keep the bacteria in the filter). Today, no difference yet.

Todays tests were exactly the same as yesterday...0 am, 0 ni, 10 na

I just did a 15% water change. I was torn between doing it or not but I've probably got less than 3 feet of visibility in there it's so bad and it does seem as though I'm cycled.

What do you think about the green water? I'm not worried about the huge diatom breakout, the snails will take care of that. (BTW, I notified bluezooaquatics about my order coming up so they can make sure they have it when I order it...9 different varieties of snails I'm getting so I'll be set for the cleanup crew.)

Oh yea, I was running the actinics for 12 hours and the daylights for 8 hours in there. I shortened that up to actinics for 9 hours and daylights for 5 hours.

chadf · 10-04-2007, 08:07 PM

All tests the same today. The water has cleared up a little, I can just make out the magnet glass cleaner on the other side of the tank. (Yesterday I wasn't even close to being able to see it. I'm assuming it will slowly clear up with the shortened light schedule. It's now actinics 2-10pm, whites 3-9pm, and moonlights 10pm-2pm.

I went ahead and ordered my clean up crew, trust me they aren't going to starve any time soon! They will be here Saurday morning. Here's what I got: 5 cerith snails, 5 astrea snails, 5 margarita snails, 5 nassarius snails, 5 nerite snails, 5 onxy nassarius snails, 3 tiger turbo snails, 2 trochus snails, 3 turbo snails, 1 tonga nassarius snail, 1 chestnut turban snail, and 5 bumble snails.

I may have to feed the carnivores some frozen mysis every once in a while until I get some fish in there and I don't mind putting some dried algae in there if need be either. (I have 16 packs of 8 different types of frozen food cubes and dried alage sheets already. Get it free!)

I'm waiting for the water to completely clear up and algae to slow down before I start my fish stocking with the 2 clowns. I'm wondering if a UV sterilizer would be right for me, but I'm going to give it some time to see if it clears up on its own first.

Nereaga · 10-04-2007, 08:23 PM

I would give it some time and some more water changes. Sound like you got a nice clean up crew there.

chadf · 10-04-2007, 08:30 PM

Think it's time to start my weekly 10 gallon water change routine? That's my planned routine anyway, what do you think?