Cycling Tank

Rijinals · 11/23/2006, 01:37 PM

Alright dudes!

My tank has been cycling now for 3 weeks. All my parameters say its spot on and ready for the cleanup crew. The thing is, it does not look that bad. There are really small patches of red and green algea here and there and an apthista thats grown really big. Bar that the live rock has thin brown strands all over it.

I did not turn the lights on during the cycling procedure. Should have I to increase algea growth? Have I messed up by keeping the lights off? Am I ok to get some hermits and a cleaner shrimp?

What would you do if it was your tank?

Any response is greatly appreciated!

tobyp · 11/23/2006, 01:42 PM

did u use tap water what kind of lighting do u have &u have live rock no fish

Rijinals · 11/23/2006, 01:53 PM

Live rock with nothing in there yet. I did use tap water because it is such good condition in the area where I live. It has won awards!

The lights are 4 T5's. 2 blue and 2 white. They have not been on though!

The only thing in there are 2 hitchhiker crabs, one Killer and one Gorilla. They are in a safe comfortable trap though. They are going back to the LFS tomorrow but look happy to have been on holiday in my tank for 3 weeks!

JustinReef · 11/23/2006, 02:18 PM

Have you tested the tap water yourself? Im sure there are still some things in it that you may not want in your tank! The part of Canada I live in has amazing water too (I live at the bottom of the mountians, so we get the water before it has travelled very far) but I still cant use it in my tanks without filtration! I use distilled water from my grocery. Costs quite a bit but its easier for me than buying a RO/DI set up. I just have it delivered every week...

Rijinals · 11/23/2006, 02:40 PM

There are cartridges under the sink to that makes it distilled, you need to update the cartridges every month or so. Thats what went into the tank

So what about the lights guys? Plus can I get a cleaner shrimp tomorrow?

nyvp · 11/23/2006, 07:38 PM

I would say yes, start out slow and go in baby steps.

11/23/2006, 01:37 PM	#1
Rijinals Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 458	Cycling Tank Alright dudes! My tank has been cycling now for 3 weeks. All my parameters say its spot on and ready for the cleanup crew. The thing is, it does not look that bad. There are really small patches of red and green algea here and there and an apthista thats grown really big. Bar that the live rock has thin brown strands all over it. I did not turn the lights on during the cycling procedure. Should have I to increase algea growth? Have I messed up by keeping the lights off? Am I ok to get some hermits and a cleaner shrimp? What would you do if it was your tank? Any response is greatly appreciated! __________________ What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh! Current Tank Info: 350 litre - Fish - Inverts with LR

11/23/2006, 01:53 PM	#3
Rijinals Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 458	Live rock with nothing in there yet. I did use tap water because it is such good condition in the area where I live. It has won awards! The lights are 4 T5's. 2 blue and 2 white. They have not been on though! The only thing in there are 2 hitchhiker crabs, one Killer and one Gorilla. They are in a safe comfortable trap though. They are going back to the LFS tomorrow but look happy to have been on holiday in my tank for 3 weeks! __________________ What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh! Current Tank Info: 350 litre - Fish - Inverts with LR

11/23/2006, 02:40 PM	#5
Rijinals Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 458	There are cartridges under the sink to that makes it distilled, you need to update the cartridges every month or so. Thats what went into the tank So what about the lights guys? Plus can I get a cleaner shrimp tomorrow? __________________ What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh! Current Tank Info: 350 litre - Fish - Inverts with LR

11/23/2006, 01:42 PM	#2
tobyp Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 99	did u use tap water what kind of lighting do u have &u have live rock no fish

11/23/2006, 02:18 PM	#4
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	Have you tested the tap water yourself? Im sure there are still some things in it that you may not want in your tank! The part of Canada I live in has amazing water too (I live at the bottom of the mountians, so we get the water before it has travelled very far) but I still cant use it in my tanks without filtration! I use distilled water from my grocery. Costs quite a bit but its easier for me than buying a RO/DI set up. I just have it delivered every week...

11/23/2006, 07:38 PM	#6
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	I would say yes, start out slow and go in baby steps.