New Tank Specs and Photos *Helpful Info Needed*

Kanis91 · 12/27/2008, 10:54 PM

About a month ago my dad got a 46 gal. tank from work and brought it home for a new reef tank. He gave it to me to learn how to do all of this and I am having a hard time getting off the ground (or at least I think I am). So here is a list of the tank contents and history. So that anyone can shine some light on any problems you find.

This is an overview of the tank as of tonight

*Live Rock - I have live rock within the tank but here is a likely problem. The rock had been in my dad's 55 gal. for about 6 months without light , heat ( 75*F), water movement, or change.
I have had the rock in the tank for about a month now and nothing as grown or started to even show itself. The rock has started to turn brown along with the sand. My dad says that the tank is starting to cycle.

The only life (Sea Fans) on the rock.

*Fish-
2 Clown Fish
6 Damsels ( 2 Zebra 3 Blue? 1 Yellow Tail)
1 Brown fish with a white dot. That loves the surface
1 Batfish

The Batfish

The damsels are starting to fight with each other. The zebra's will chase the other damsels across the tank. Also the Batfsh is starting to eat stuff of the rock. Which I hope is just algae. If not I may get rid of him.

*Filters

I have one Bio Wheel filter and a dual cartridge filter

Also I have one powerhead built within the live rock

*Light
Corallife Lunar Lite 10K Day and Coral Blue

*Chemical Data *As of Today*

pH 8.2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 25
Ammonia 0
Calcium 460
Salt 1.024

About two weeks ago the Nitrate was 160+ I got it down to around 20-25 today with a 50% water change. But I still cant get the Nitrate undercontrol after a month. It still will always be above 25. The water I use has no Nitrates. I am think this is cause the live rock is not live as of yet.

waif · 12/27/2008, 11:02 PM

not a bat fish...its a foxface

Kanis91 · 12/27/2008, 11:05 PM

I didnt think it was one. But the guys at our local shop havn't been able to pin the name down either. haha

Tylt33 · 12/28/2008, 01:05 AM

Yeah that's definitely a fox face. Your tank is cycling, the brown on the rocks and on the sand is diatom algae. I can see some red algae by your pump too. I'm not sure what you are expecting to come from your rock? Macroalgae. It could take a while, if ever. I'm not sure you'd want it anyways.

divewsharks · 12/28/2008, 01:55 AM

that is alot of damsels, they are not likely to school if that was what you were looking for. They are more likely to stake out territories, and fight with one another endlessly.

The fox face is an herbivore, so he is looking for algae on the rock.

As mentioned your tank is cycling, and in that setup, you are not likely to get down to 0 nitrates. I would recommend adding a protein skimmer.

gnorts · 12/28/2008, 08:23 AM

Definatly a fox face and not sure why he was added when your in the middle of cycling. Specially if he was in there when your nitrates went up to 160+ I deffinatly think for the sake of fish and livestock you should take the first step in saltwater aquariums and slow down with everything and not worry about if your rock is living. Your tank needs to finish cycling and if your worried about the rock life it dosnt hurt to go buy a peace that is cured and living well in a tank and use it to help seed all your lie rock with more life.

qfrisco · 12/28/2008, 08:42 AM

Your numbers look good - even your nitrates. Having nitrates at that level is not too much of a problem, especially if you'll only be keeping fish. If you decide to take on SPS corals, then you'll have to get your nitrates down to <5. Having said that, a few comments:

- the only way to tell if your tank is still cycling is to keep doing ammonia and nitrite testing daily over the next week. If they remain zero, then your tank is done with the cycle.

- rising nitrates is a normal part of the nitrogen cycle and is unaffected by the bacteria in your live rock. The simplest way to get nitrates out is by doing regular water changes. More advanced ways of controlling nitrates is by having a deep sand bed either in your tank or in a refugium, and having some macroalgae in a refugium. The macroalgae consumes the nitrates in the water.

- how much are you feeding? Overfeeding can contribute to rising nitrates as well.

- as for the live rock not "looking live" - the feather dusters, etc. are proof that they ARE live. It will take weeks to months for you to start seeing sponges, etc. The fact that your ammonia and nitrites are 0, and that your nitrate is rising is proof that your live rock has the needed nitrifying bacteria already on it, and that they are doing their jobs. Your rock is already live, even though they don't look like it.

- I second the suggestion for a protein skimmer. It will help filter out wastes that are contributing to your nitrate issue.

I think you're on the right track. Do those ammonia and nitrite tests as I mentioned to confirm the status of your cycle. Regular water changes should be part of your maintenance routine, and this will be your first defense in controlling your nitrates.

12/27/2008, 10:54 PM	#1
Kanis91 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 30	New Tank Specs and Photos Helpful Info Needed About a month ago my dad got a 46 gal. tank from work and brought it home for a new reef tank. He gave it to me to learn how to do all of this and I am having a hard time getting off the ground (or at least I think I am). So here is a list of the tank contents and history. So that anyone can shine some light on any problems you find. This is an overview of the tank as of tonight Live Rock - I have live rock within the tank but here is a likely problem. The rock had been in my dad's 55 gal. for about 6 months without light , heat ( 75F), water movement, or change. I have had the rock in the tank for about a month now and nothing as grown or started to even show itself. The rock has started to turn brown along with the sand. My dad says that the tank is starting to cycle. The only life (Sea Fans) on the rock. Fish- 2 Clown Fish 6 Damsels ( 2 Zebra 3 Blue? 1 Yellow Tail) 1 Brown fish with a white dot. That loves the surface 1 Batfish The Batfish The damsels are starting to fight with each other. The zebra's will chase the other damsels across the tank. Also the Batfsh is starting to eat stuff of the rock. Which I hope is just algae. If not I may get rid of him. Filters I have one Bio Wheel filter and a dual cartridge filter Also I have one powerhead built within the live rock Light Corallife Lunar Lite 10K Day and Coral Blue Chemical Data As of Today pH 8.2 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 25 Ammonia 0 Calcium 460 Salt 1.024 About two weeks ago the Nitrate was 160+ I got it down to around 20-25 today with a 50% water change. But I still cant get the Nitrate undercontrol after a month. It still will always be above 25. The water I use has no Nitrates. I am think this is cause the live rock is not live as of yet.

12/27/2008, 11:02 PM	#2
waif Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 94	not a bat fish...its a foxface

12/27/2008, 11:05 PM	#3
Kanis91 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 30	I didnt think it was one. But the guys at our local shop havn't been able to pin the name down either. haha

12/28/2008, 01:05 AM	#4
Tylt33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,755	Yeah that's definitely a fox face. Your tank is cycling, the brown on the rocks and on the sand is diatom algae. I can see some red algae by your pump too. I'm not sure what you are expecting to come from your rock? Macroalgae. It could take a while, if ever. I'm not sure you'd want it anyways.

12/28/2008, 01:55 AM	#5
divewsharks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,905	that is alot of damsels, they are not likely to school if that was what you were looking for. They are more likely to stake out territories, and fight with one another endlessly. The fox face is an herbivore, so he is looking for algae on the rock. As mentioned your tank is cycling, and in that setup, you are not likely to get down to 0 nitrates. I would recommend adding a protein skimmer.

12/28/2008, 08:23 AM	#6
gnorts Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 308	Definatly a fox face and not sure why he was added when your in the middle of cycling. Specially if he was in there when your nitrates went up to 160+ I deffinatly think for the sake of fish and livestock you should take the first step in saltwater aquariums and slow down with everything and not worry about if your rock is living. Your tank needs to finish cycling and if your worried about the rock life it dosnt hurt to go buy a peace that is cured and living well in a tank and use it to help seed all your lie rock with more life.

12/28/2008, 08:42 AM	#7
qfrisco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Area Posts: 1,389	Your numbers look good - even your nitrates. Having nitrates at that level is not too much of a problem, especially if you'll only be keeping fish. If you decide to take on SPS corals, then you'll have to get your nitrates down to <5. Having said that, a few comments: - the only way to tell if your tank is still cycling is to keep doing ammonia and nitrite testing daily over the next week. If they remain zero, then your tank is done with the cycle. - rising nitrates is a normal part of the nitrogen cycle and is unaffected by the bacteria in your live rock. The simplest way to get nitrates out is by doing regular water changes. More advanced ways of controlling nitrates is by having a deep sand bed either in your tank or in a refugium, and having some macroalgae in a refugium. The macroalgae consumes the nitrates in the water. - how much are you feeding? Overfeeding can contribute to rising nitrates as well. - as for the live rock not "looking live" - the feather dusters, etc. are proof that they ARE live. It will take weeks to months for you to start seeing sponges, etc. The fact that your ammonia and nitrites are 0, and that your nitrate is rising is proof that your live rock has the needed nitrifying bacteria already on it, and that they are doing their jobs. Your rock is already live, even though they don't look like it. - I second the suggestion for a protein skimmer. It will help filter out wastes that are contributing to your nitrate issue. I think you're on the right track. Do those ammonia and nitrite tests as I mentioned to confirm the status of your cycle. Regular water changes should be part of your maintenance routine, and this will be your first defense in controlling your nitrates.