New test kit equals new fish

Lucky Lefty · 05/28/2014, 10:22 AM

Hello all,

So e have been following along on my journey so I'd like to update on my progress.

My last entry was about me discovering I had an expired test kit.

Well today my API test kit arrived and I immediately broke it open and began testing. I read about the levels on their tubes being slightly off, so I used 2 tubes for each test, one being from API and one from my Red Sea kit.

Drum roll please...
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 - 40ppm

OH. MY. GOD. The payoff.

So now my mind is going 10000mph, trying to think what's next.
A few questions.
Is now the time for a water change?
If so, do I do that and the monitor levels again for a few days before adding a fish?
How soon can I get a fish?
Would 2 young clownfish be too much at once as far as bio load?
How long will it take for a sponge filter to collect bacteria from the sump to be used adequately in a quarantine tank?
How do I use that filter in the QT?
Now that the tank is cycled, what steps do I need to take upon adding more live rock? Even if it is cured from the LFS, shoud I quarantine it and watch for a mini cycle before putting it in the DT?

Thanks.. Can you feel the excitement!!??!!

thegrun · 05/28/2014, 10:32 AM

Yes, I would make at least a 50% if not 100% water change to reduce the nitrates. Wait two days and test again before adding livestock. How big is your tank? If it is at least 20 gallons you should be fine starting with the two clown fish. It takes a week although I like to give it 10 days for the sponge to be colonized. You could start your QT without a sponge using water changes and Amquel to neutralize the ammonia. If you want to add more rock cycle it in a separate container before adding it to your tank. The clowns will get territorial in your tank when they get bigger, so if you add adult clowns they are best left until the other fish have been in the tank for awhile.

sponger0 · 05/28/2014, 10:39 AM

Before dropping new fish in, I would considering quaranting them. Unless you like to live on the wildside and play russian roulette.

Cant say how long it would take a sponge to help cycle a QT but give you an example of mine. I put live rock in my QT I set up last Saturday, the 17th. It just finished cycling on Wednesday. But I would say that is what it will be for you either.

Do a water change on your main system. Add a Clean up crew.

I would get a fish when your QT is cycled and monitor the fish for 4 weeks. If it is clear then drop into the main system. If not, then treat and observe and once in the clear, add the fish into the main tank.

Lucky Lefty · 05/28/2014, 10:48 AM

Well I def want to QT. Maybe I should buy all the rock I want now and basically recycle my tank, because I think it will be hard to cycle it in another tank unless I was doing small pieces at a time.

I have a 150g tank.

I didn't want to setup a constantly running QT. I was going to keep the sponge filter in the sump for a while, then pop it in a freshly filled 10g and use that for my QT. For. What I've read on here, you don't have to do a complete cycle on a QT like you do on your DT.

sponger0 · 05/28/2014, 10:50 AM

You still need to do a cycle cause ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish. I see no point in not wanting a constant running QT. Its always running and cycled. If you ever buy anything, you dont have to worry about it. It just makes more sense to me. I dunno. lol

Cymonous · 05/28/2014, 10:56 AM

No, you don't have to cycle a QT. You can do what Lucky said by having a sponge or filter floss already colonized of bacteria from the DT.

Yes, it may be easier to keep a QT running. But, you have to ghost feed the QT and top off water and clean out debris, etc. Plus you are using more electricity.

I don't keep a QT running constantly. I can mix up saltwater when needed and use a filter floss that I keep in my sump.

Lucky Lefty · 05/28/2014, 12:48 PM

OK excellent.

I don't want a QT constantly running for the exact reasons stated above, and I just don't have the room or means to have one constantly out.

Cym, how long do you wait after placing the colonized filter in the QT.

Cymonous · 05/28/2014, 01:26 PM

If I setup a new QT, I add the filter right after the salinity and temp is where I want it.

Lucky Lefty · 05/28/2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cymonous

If I setup a new QT, I add the filter right after the salinity and temp is where I want it.

I meant how long do you wait to put the fish into the QT after placing the colonized filter in?

Cymonous · 05/28/2014, 03:15 PM

Right away. The bacteria stays on the filter floss and waste/ammonia from fish will go through the filter. There is no reason to wait.

Lucky Lefty · 05/28/2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cymonous

Right away. The bacteria stays on the filter floss and waste/ammonia from fish will go through the filter. There is no reason to wait.

Ok cool. So do I just put in big pvc for hiding, heater, small pump and filter all in the QT, right in the tank and I'm set?

I'm getting pretty excited here.
I can't imagine what's it gonna be like when I actually get fish in the DT.

05/28/2014, 10:56 AM	#6
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	No, you don't have to cycle a QT. You can do what Lucky said by having a sponge or filter floss already colonized of bacteria from the DT. Yes, it may be easier to keep a QT running. But, you have to ghost feed the QT and top off water and clean out debris, etc. Plus you are using more electricity. I don't keep a QT running constantly. I can mix up saltwater when needed and use a filter floss that I keep in my sump. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

05/28/2014, 01:26 PM	#8
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	If I setup a new QT, I add the filter right after the salinity and temp is where I want it. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

05/28/2014, 03:15 PM	#10
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Right away. The bacteria stays on the filter floss and waste/ammonia from fish will go through the filter. There is no reason to wait. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

05/28/2014, 10:32 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, I would make at least a 50% if not 100% water change to reduce the nitrates. Wait two days and test again before adding livestock. How big is your tank? If it is at least 20 gallons you should be fine starting with the two clown fish. It takes a week although I like to give it 10 days for the sponge to be colonized. You could start your QT without a sponge using water changes and Amquel to neutralize the ammonia. If you want to add more rock cycle it in a separate container before adding it to your tank. The clowns will get territorial in your tank when they get bigger, so if you add adult clowns they are best left until the other fish have been in the tank for awhile.

05/28/2014, 10:39 AM	#3
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Before dropping new fish in, I would considering quaranting them. Unless you like to live on the wildside and play russian roulette. Cant say how long it would take a sponge to help cycle a QT but give you an example of mine. I put live rock in my QT I set up last Saturday, the 17th. It just finished cycling on Wednesday. But I would say that is what it will be for you either. Do a water change on your main system. Add a Clean up crew. I would get a fish when your QT is cycled and monitor the fish for 4 weeks. If it is clear then drop into the main system. If not, then treat and observe and once in the clear, add the fish into the main tank.

05/28/2014, 10:48 AM	#4
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	Well I def want to QT. Maybe I should buy all the rock I want now and basically recycle my tank, because I think it will be hard to cycle it in another tank unless I was doing small pieces at a time. I have a 150g tank. I didn't want to setup a constantly running QT. I was going to keep the sponge filter in the sump for a while, then pop it in a freshly filled 10g and use that for my QT. For. What I've read on here, you don't have to do a complete cycle on a QT like you do on your DT.

05/28/2014, 10:50 AM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	You still need to do a cycle cause ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish. I see no point in not wanting a constant running QT. Its always running and cycled. If you ever buy anything, you dont have to worry about it. It just makes more sense to me. I dunno. lol

05/28/2014, 12:48 PM	#7
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	OK excellent. I don't want a QT constantly running for the exact reasons stated above, and I just don't have the room or means to have one constantly out. Cym, how long do you wait after placing the colonized filter in the QT.