Water Change New Tank?

mattyb327 · 08/23/2006, 06:51 PM

Ok guys, You all seem to know whats going on with these tanks. I have a 29 gal tank, 12# live rock, 20# live sand, 11# base rock, bio wheel filter 160 gph maxi jet. Tank has been up running ang for the most part balanced for 2 weeks. 1 week ago got an ammonia spike to .50, no nitrites detectable or nitrates as of yesterday . Ammonia level was down to .25, Should I do a 20% water change to reduce ammonia if not when do you do your first water change? BTW there is nothing in the tank just runs lights are flouresent on timer. I should mention that there is brown algae on the rocks and sand, although I've been told this is quite normal. Any advice info or input you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, mattyb327

chrisstie · 08/23/2006, 07:05 PM

There's a bit of a debate of whether water changes slow the cycle or not.. If you want less die off and want to preserve more of whats on your LR, I'd say go ahead and do a small water change. Keep an eye on your parameters.

I personally would recommend looking into a protein skimmer instead of a bio wheel filter thingy. They will literally suck up and get rid of the nasty stuff you don't want every time you empty the skimmate out instead of a filter sucking up, holding onto, and possibly leaching nasty stuff back out into the tank (for fresh water they're okay)

all kinds of algae are normal for the first few months- even when you're not putting anything into the tank. diatoms (brown stuff) are common on the sand bed and sometimes the die off from the cycle will feed the algae.. just normal and once you get cycled and in the habit of regular water changes eventually go away (or even eaten if you use a clean up crew)

Hope this helps and good luck- once you get a tank and go through the motions of learning what it takes and how to take care of livestock.. well it really is amazing once you get first hand experience

mattyb327 · 08/23/2006, 07:11 PM

Yeah, I know about getting rid of the bio wheel thingy! Trust me it's going soon!! I have a seaclone 100 skimmer that I just don't trust. So that is a whole different issue all together. Anyway Thanks for the Help !!!

08/23/2006, 06:51 PM	#1
mattyb327 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lehighton,PA Posts: 100	Water Change New Tank? Ok guys, You all seem to know whats going on with these tanks. I have a 29 gal tank, 12# live rock, 20# live sand, 11# base rock, bio wheel filter 160 gph maxi jet. Tank has been up running ang for the most part balanced for 2 weeks. 1 week ago got an ammonia spike to .50, no nitrites detectable or nitrates as of yesterday . Ammonia level was down to .25, Should I do a 20% water change to reduce ammonia if not when do you do your first water change? BTW there is nothing in the tank just runs lights are flouresent on timer. I should mention that there is brown algae on the rocks and sand, although I've been told this is quite normal. Any advice info or input you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, mattyb327

08/23/2006, 07:05 PM	#2
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	There's a bit of a debate of whether water changes slow the cycle or not.. If you want less die off and want to preserve more of whats on your LR, I'd say go ahead and do a small water change. Keep an eye on your parameters. I personally would recommend looking into a protein skimmer instead of a bio wheel filter thingy. They will literally suck up and get rid of the nasty stuff you don't want every time you empty the skimmate out instead of a filter sucking up, holding onto, and possibly leaching nasty stuff back out into the tank (for fresh water they're okay) all kinds of algae are normal for the first few months- even when you're not putting anything into the tank. diatoms (brown stuff) are common on the sand bed and sometimes the die off from the cycle will feed the algae.. just normal and once you get cycled and in the habit of regular water changes eventually go away (or even eaten if you use a clean up crew) Hope this helps and good luck- once you get a tank and go through the motions of learning what it takes and how to take care of livestock.. well it really is amazing once you get first hand experience __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

08/23/2006, 07:11 PM	#3
mattyb327 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lehighton,PA Posts: 100	Yeah, I know about getting rid of the bio wheel thingy! Trust me it's going soon!! I have a seaclone 100 skimmer that I just don't trust. So that is a whole different issue all together. Anyway Thanks for the Help !!!