Started cycle 3 days ago, a couple questions

shuguley · 06/21/2008, 08:48 PM

Starting a 55 gallon using RO water... 3 days ago, I added 45 lbs semi cured rock, 35 lbs cured rock, and 60 lbs caribsea arag-alive sand. The rock was shipped from liveaquaria using next day air. So they should both be considered semi-cured or uncured, I assume. I started running my skimmer two days ago, and so far it has pulled out about 1/4 cup of crud. Here's my questions...

1) Went to look around at a LFS today, and the owner started asking me questions about my setup. He said my tank will not cycle because nothing is in it to start the cycle and I need to put fish in it. I basically got the feeling he thinks I'm a clueless idiot. This guy has the nicest reef setups of any LFS in my area. He had two 75+ gallon reefs that were awesome. What's up with this, will my tank cycle the way it is? From reading on this site, I thought my tank would cycle.

2) 3 days after starting my cycle, I now have some pink scum growing in two corners of my tank on the glue that is holding the tank together... what is this? Anything to be concerned about, or just normal algae to clean off?

3) How long should it take for me to get an ammonia spike the way my tank is? As of now, free ammonia is nearly undetectable.

OAD · 06/21/2008, 09:01 PM

1. Yes, it will. The live rock will start your cycle.

2. Post a pic and someone will identify it.

3. I would say within a week.

phenom5 · 06/21/2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shuguley
Starting a 55 gallon using RO water... 3 days ago, I added 45 lbs semi cured rock, 35 lbs cured rock, and 60 lbs caribsea arag-alive sand. The rock was shipped from liveaquaria using next day air. So they should both be considered semi-cured or uncured, I assume. I started running my skimmer two days ago, and so far it has pulled out about 1/4 cup of crud. Here's my questions...

1) Went to look around at a LFS today, and the owner started asking me questions about my setup. He said my tank will not cycle because nothing is in it to start the cycle and I need to put fish in it. I basically got the feeling he thinks I'm a clueless idiot. This guy has the nicest reef setups of any LFS in my area. He had two 75+ gallon reefs that were awesome. What's up with this, will my tank cycle the way it is? From reading on this site, I thought my tank would cycle.

2) 3 days after starting my cycle, I now have some pink scum growing in two corners of my tank on the glue that is holding the tank together... what is this? Anything to be concerned about, or just normal algae to clean off?

3) How long should it take for me to get an ammonia spike the way my tank is? As of now, free ammonia is nearly undetectable.

1) Yes, your tank will cycle. The die off from your LR will kick off your tank's cycle. If anything, you can a pinch of fish food every couple of days.

2) Normal. Cyano would be my guess. Your tank will go through some algae blooms as it matures.

3) Hard to say. Could be very fast, could take a bit, you just have to keep an eye on the parameters...it'll happen.

4) Most importantly...either find a new LFS, or take what the owner has to say with a grain of salt. Cycling a tank with fish is a slightly dated technique...by slightly dated, what I really mean is outdate by a decade or two.

woodycb · 06/21/2008, 09:12 PM

what phenom5 said. Sounds like the LFS owner is trying to dump some fish off at your expense.

shuguley · 06/21/2008, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the replies. That LFS owner really kind of got to me today the way he was talking down to me. And how everything he was saying was opposite of what I've been reading here.

Here's a couple pics of the pink junk, it's just weird, yesterday there was absolutely nothing there, and then tonight I noticed this, I was surprised to see something like this growing in there already, you'll notice it's only growing on the glue in two corners of the tank. these would be the corners that I believe are seeing the least amount of flow as well...

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1fishkeeper · 06/21/2008, 09:26 PM

Sounds like the guy from the LFS comes from the really old school of cycling tanks. He might have some really great looking tanks but there is new and better ways of doing it. Plus you never know he just might be saying that so you end up buying some fish from him that will just die then you have to go back and get some more from him. All it sounds like to me is he is just trying to make a buck or two off of people that dont know much. Or that he just dont know any better.

shuguley · 06/22/2008, 11:28 AM

bump...

Can anybody confirm that this is Cyano? Or is it something more sinister?

Al Bendiksen · 06/22/2008, 11:32 AM

Actually i have the same issue. but mine are yellowish, and when i touch the glue this dirty like substance is released.

And it is not all over my powerheads.

Lotus99 · 06/22/2008, 12:00 PM

Is the pink stuff slimey or hard and smooth... or hairy?

You will see all kinds of odd stuff as the tank matures. Someone here will usually know what it is and whether it's good or bad.

I agree that the LFS owner sounds like he comes from the "old school" of saltwater keeping. Whatever you do, don't let him sell you a damsel to cycle or test your tank.

You'll regret it.

shuguley · 06/22/2008, 12:15 PM

OK, I rubbed the pink area with my finger and all this brown crud flaked off like pieces of skin...(diatoms??) Actually this brown stuff is covering all four corners.

Here's the kicker, the pink stuf won't completely come off of the glue and doesn't have a texture, almost like the glue has turned pink.

shuguley · 06/22/2008, 03:52 PM

Does anybody know what this is? I've tried scrubbing the pink, but it doesn't come off. I'm afraid that my corners are all turning pink and may stay that way permanently. Anybody ever seen this?

loudell · 06/22/2008, 05:35 PM

My guess is that they cured the rock using potassium permanganete which can be that color exactly. It will oxidize decayed tissue like bleach.
If I'm right it's not a preferred method to cure rock since the chemical will stay active in the rock for some time. It will raise the ORP values as well.

shuguley · 06/22/2008, 06:08 PM

Thanks for the response!

Do you know if the pink will ever go away or am I stuck with it?
Do you think If I do a lot of water changes during my cycle it might prevent all of my sealant from turning pink?

loudell · 06/22/2008, 06:18 PM

I would first try to find out from the dealer if my theory is correct. Then I would ask any of the moderators in the forum what would remove it. My guess is it will fade but never disappear. Why don't you look at the sealant in the dealers tanks....

06/21/2008, 08:48 PM	#1
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Started cycle 3 days ago, a couple questions Starting a 55 gallon using RO water... 3 days ago, I added 45 lbs semi cured rock, 35 lbs cured rock, and 60 lbs caribsea arag-alive sand. The rock was shipped from liveaquaria using next day air. So they should both be considered semi-cured or uncured, I assume. I started running my skimmer two days ago, and so far it has pulled out about 1/4 cup of crud. Here's my questions... 1) Went to look around at a LFS today, and the owner started asking me questions about my setup. He said my tank will not cycle because nothing is in it to start the cycle and I need to put fish in it. I basically got the feeling he thinks I'm a clueless idiot. This guy has the nicest reef setups of any LFS in my area. He had two 75+ gallon reefs that were awesome. What's up with this, will my tank cycle the way it is? From reading on this site, I thought my tank would cycle. 2) 3 days after starting my cycle, I now have some pink scum growing in two corners of my tank on the glue that is holding the tank together... what is this? Anything to be concerned about, or just normal algae to clean off? 3) How long should it take for me to get an ammonia spike the way my tank is? As of now, free ammonia is nearly undetectable.

06/21/2008, 09:12 PM	#4
woodycb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 785	what phenom5 said. Sounds like the LFS owner is trying to dump some fish off at your expense. __________________ We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

06/21/2008, 09:15 PM	#5
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Thanks for the replies. That LFS owner really kind of got to me today the way he was talking down to me. And how everything he was saying was opposite of what I've been reading here. Here's a couple pics of the pink junk, it's just weird, yesterday there was absolutely nothing there, and then tonight I noticed this, I was surprised to see something like this growing in there already, you'll notice it's only growing on the glue in two corners of the tank. these would be the corners that I believe are seeing the least amount of flow as well... [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

06/21/2008, 09:26 PM	#6
1fishkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Spanaway, WA Posts: 1,101	Sounds like the guy from the LFS comes from the really old school of cycling tanks. He might have some really great looking tanks but there is new and better ways of doing it. Plus you never know he just might be saying that so you end up buying some fish from him that will just die then you have to go back and get some more from him. All it sounds like to me is he is just trying to make a buck or two off of people that dont know much. Or that he just dont know any better. __________________ "You can run but you will only die tired" U.S. Army Snipers

06/22/2008, 11:32 AM	#8
Al Bendiksen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 528	Actually i have the same issue. but mine are yellowish, and when i touch the glue this dirty like substance is released. And it is not all over my powerheads. __________________ "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind" -JFK "There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments." Current Tank Info: Starting a 120g

06/21/2008, 09:01 PM	#2
OAD Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 507	1. Yes, it will. The live rock will start your cycle. 2. Post a pic and someone will identify it. 3. I would say within a week.

06/22/2008, 11:28 AM	#7
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	bump... Can anybody confirm that this is Cyano? Or is it something more sinister?

06/22/2008, 12:00 PM	#9
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	Is the pink stuff slimey or hard and smooth... or hairy? You will see all kinds of odd stuff as the tank matures. Someone here will usually know what it is and whether it's good or bad. I agree that the LFS owner sounds like he comes from the "old school" of saltwater keeping. Whatever you do, don't let him sell you a damsel to cycle or test your tank. You'll regret it. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

06/22/2008, 12:15 PM	#10
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	OK, I rubbed the pink area with my finger and all this brown crud flaked off like pieces of skin...(diatoms??) Actually this brown stuff is covering all four corners. Here's the kicker, the pink stuf won't completely come off of the glue and doesn't have a texture, almost like the glue has turned pink.

06/22/2008, 03:52 PM	#11
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Does anybody know what this is? I've tried scrubbing the pink, but it doesn't come off. I'm afraid that my corners are all turning pink and may stay that way permanently. Anybody ever seen this?

06/22/2008, 05:35 PM	#12
loudell Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 367	My guess is that they cured the rock using potassium permanganete which can be that color exactly. It will oxidize decayed tissue like bleach. If I'm right it's not a preferred method to cure rock since the chemical will stay active in the rock for some time. It will raise the ORP values as well.

06/22/2008, 06:08 PM	#13
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Thanks for the response! Do you know if the pink will ever go away or am I stuck with it? Do you think If I do a lot of water changes during my cycle it might prevent all of my sealant from turning pink?

06/22/2008, 06:18 PM	#14
loudell Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 367	I would first try to find out from the dealer if my theory is correct. Then I would ask any of the moderators in the forum what would remove it. My guess is it will fade but never disappear. Why don't you look at the sealant in the dealers tanks....