I took your advice waterkeeper

whosinpower · 10/23/2007, 08:53 AM

I did a 50 % waterchange on the weekend on my 90 gallon which is cycling with uncured rock. (it will be one month on the 26th)

Water parameters of nitrite and nitrate had been off the scale on the high end but were beginning to trend downward when I changed water.

Tested water last night - nitrite - .25
nitrate - between 5 and 10
ammonia - 0
SG - 1.025
temp - 79 degrees

I know this still has a ways to go - but that is a far cry from nitrites of over 4 and nitrates over 100! (where we were)

And an interesting sidenote - I found some live coral button polyps happily showing off. Indeed, they must be an extremely hardy coral to survive my ammonia levels. Also have allot of fanworms or featherdusters, something that is crawling under the sand, 3 snails(?) and variety of worms. And of course - algae of various shapes, sizes and colours. Coralline appears to be coming back - looking brighter and popping up where there was none before - none on the glass yet.

Anyhow - when nitrite hits 0, I can get a clean up crew? Should a person wait a week or two after nitrite is at 0, or do they get the crew right away? I'm getting anxious for something to start cleaning up the algae.

cd77 · 10/23/2007, 09:30 AM

My two cents -- I waited until nitrites and nitrates were unmeasurable before adding a CUC. One of the pieces of advice I was given here (but didn't take out of haste) was to wait at least a few weeks to allow the microfauna time to reproduce without predation. I imagine your nitrites will be zero very shortly.

Again just a newbies depreciated $0.02.

WaterKeeper · 10/23/2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

I took your advice waterkeeper

Your first BIG mistake.

I'm not that cautious with adding snails. They seem to tolerate some nitrite and fair amounts of nitrate. Adding a few in a couple more days may give you a head start on the upcoming diatom outbreak that most new tanks see. Other critters can wait until nitrates drop however.

loosecannon · 10/23/2007, 10:48 AM

Whosinpower, your Nitate`s may never be 0.0! It`s the Nitrite`s that just need to be 0.0 .

whosinpower · 10/23/2007, 10:50 AM

I thought I already HAD a diatom outbreak - it seems to be receding now....quite a bit of hair algae now. Guess I will have several outbreaks from time to time. No worries.

Thanks for your advice. It IS appreciated!

10/23/2007, 08:53 AM	#1
whosinpower Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 144	I took your advice waterkeeper I did a 50 % waterchange on the weekend on my 90 gallon which is cycling with uncured rock. (it will be one month on the 26th) Water parameters of nitrite and nitrate had been off the scale on the high end but were beginning to trend downward when I changed water. Tested water last night - nitrite - .25 nitrate - between 5 and 10 ammonia - 0 SG - 1.025 temp - 79 degrees I know this still has a ways to go - but that is a far cry from nitrites of over 4 and nitrates over 100! (where we were) And an interesting sidenote - I found some live coral button polyps happily showing off. Indeed, they must be an extremely hardy coral to survive my ammonia levels. Also have allot of fanworms or featherdusters, something that is crawling under the sand, 3 snails(?) and variety of worms. And of course - algae of various shapes, sizes and colours. Coralline appears to be coming back - looking brighter and popping up where there was none before - none on the glass yet. Anyhow - when nitrite hits 0, I can get a clean up crew? Should a person wait a week or two after nitrite is at 0, or do they get the crew right away? I'm getting anxious for something to start cleaning up the algae.

10/23/2007, 09:30 AM	#2
cd77 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fishers, IN, USA Posts: 1,169	My two cents -- I waited until nitrites and nitrates were unmeasurable before adding a CUC. One of the pieces of advice I was given here (but didn't take out of haste) was to wait at least a few weeks to allow the microfauna time to reproduce without predation. I imagine your nitrites will be zero very shortly. Again just a newbies depreciated $0.02. __________________ -Chris Current Tank Info: 70G Reef (Aug 2007), 45G Reef (Dec 2007)

10/23/2007, 10:48 AM	#4
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	Whosinpower, your Nitate`s may never be 0.0! It`s the Nitrite`s that just need to be 0.0 . __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

10/23/2007, 10:50 AM	#5
whosinpower Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 144	I thought I already HAD a diatom outbreak - it seems to be receding now....quite a bit of hair algae now. Guess I will have several outbreaks from time to time. No worries. Thanks for your advice. It IS appreciated!