One week of water tests on a new tank what do U think?

[pgaschulz]

I have had my 72 gallon bow front set up for one week now and I tested the water today.....

0 Ammona 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 8.4 Ph (The same as the first day)

Now when I started the tank my buddy gave me 100 pounds a free live rock that has been in his reef tank for 6 years. I am doing a FOWLR tank. I do not mind waiting for a cycle but I am going to have one? He said he didnt think so because of my live rock. So what do you guys and gals think?

I put new sand on the bottom of the tank and the rock on top of it.....

Any input would be great...

Thank You,
pgaschulz

PS I am running a wet/dry with live rock on it and skimmer

[dohc97]

Have you been testing the water every day? if so please provide the rest of the data

[pgaschulz]

I have tested it 4 times in 7 days and the only change has been the PH from between 8.2 and 8.4 the rest has be zero...

[cas]

You may want to put the rock on the bottom of the tank. Take the sand out from under the rock, so that it is more stable.

[Pufferpunk]

If you got rock from a well-established tank, you may not experience a cycle & are ready to start stocking.

[renisel]

You could try adding a bunch of fish food or some chunks of shrimp to the tank and see what happens. That should cause a nitrate spike if it's cycled or an ammonia spike if it's not.

[Mojo Jojo]

Originally posted by renisel
You could try adding a bunch of fish food or some chunks of shrimp to the tank and see what happens. That should cause a nitrate spike if it's cycled or an ammonia spike if it's not.

x2

It does not matter if your rock, sand, or water came from another tank it still needs a cycle. How long of a cycle? could be a few days? could be weeks? Are you getting any diatoms at least?

[ReefKeepersCorner]

Been there a million times. Add some hearty fish and let it establish that way. I'd rather look at fish then fish food.

What all fish do you want? I'd add a couple smaller guys(possibly from your list) to begin with to test the waters. I wouldn't want to add damsels, unless you plan on keeping them. Once the tank is set up with fish in it, I try to leave it alone as much as possible.

Continue using your test kits to see if you have gotten any readings(ammonia, nitrite, etc...). If you haven't gotten anything in the 1st week or two, I'd add more fish slowly and enjoy.

[pgaschulz]

I want to add a clean up crew...a tang...a angelfish (the one that starts out blue then changes colors as it gets older) Blenny....not sure but that is what I am leaning toward, I am in no hurry to get them in there just wanted to see, the rock I have has some enemies (spelled it wrong) so i feed them some zoo planton 3 days ago and the water has not changed...

pgaschulz

[hebygb]

It will still cycle.... doesnt matter if the LR was 6 years or 6 months old... there will always be some die-off based on how you orient it in the new environment as well as the fact that it has a new sand bed. Go slow.... let it cycle.

[derrikd]

with the angel, they need a more mature tank. wait a little bit for him. i did the same thing as you got all the LR from an established tank. it will cycle, just give it some time.

[saleenpwr88]

You'll get a bunch of different opinions on this so there is no "correct answer". I cycled my first tank for a month, used established live rock and sand by the way. Now I just use established live rock and wait about a week for new tanks and put anything I want in the tank, just not too much at once. Once my tests are in range, that is good enough for me. In my last tank I put SPS and a RBTA in the tank after about a week. Not saying that you should do that in anyway but for me, I have had no problems.

[pgaschulz]

Like I said I am in no hurry to put anything in the tank, the life on the live rock is need, has some stuff attached, just wanted to make sure I didnt miss anything....I am a fresh water guy just learing salt, I plan on adding some bigger fish around May but would like to get some crabs and such Clean up crew in it in a couple of weeks

[saleenpwr88]

Your best bet would be to take it slow and add a few things at a time. Good idea would be to start with a small clean up crew and then maybe a fish or two. Start with cheap, hardy fish at first and then go from there. Stay away from damsels though as you will want it out of the tank after a while because of how aggressive they get.

[pgaschulz]

Okay how about a couple of examples of a good clean up crew and hearty fish...You mean like walleye and musky lol, i am total new to this

[Pufferpunk]

You might not want to feed those anemones, if they are small & brown. They are aptasia & will sting everything in the tank. You'll want to get rid of those.

[pgaschulz]

They are small and clear......almost white....I am thinking of getting rid of them, It looks like I could just pull them out of with a pliers or tweezer....Both are hidding in the rock holes left by worms

[Pufferpunk]

They sound like they might be tube worms then. Search around at www.wetwebmedia.com.

[pgaschulz]

Its a Glass Anemones

[Pufferpunk]

Yup, aptasia--get rid of them before they take over your tank. I got stung pretty bad by a big one the other day.

[pgaschulz]

Okay how should i get rid of them?

[saleenpwr88]

I would start with some blue leg hermits, for the rocks, and turbo snails (astrea), for the glass. They should help with any algea blooms.

[Pufferpunk]

Read the WWM article on them.

[zues2006]

What do you mean when you say "cycle" or the "tank will cycle"? I'm a newbie also.

[Racenrich]

1st....STOP testing already...your wasting time and $$$ so early in the setup stage.
Let nature run its course in the tank run for a good 30 days and then add what you want...granite that pertains to the type of corals and fish you desire to keep.