New tank cycling data confirmation (pic).

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 11:04 AM

Hi all, Ive been tanking readings from my tank everyday since I started cycling it about 2 weeks ago. Ive included a screen capture from my spreadsheet to show you the progress. does this look normal? The Nitrites were up at the beginning but then dropped after only a few days. I had the tank running with sand and water with Hagen cycled added for about 3 weeks before the rock was put in.

Also, about a week into the curing I took out the pieces of tonga branch and some fiji that had a considerable amount of detrius on them and cleaned them in water from the tank with a tooth brush when I did a small water change. I might do this again next water change as some of the larger pieces that I though were fairly clean before are a little gunky now.

I am running the lights now ( and man do I love the tek-lights), a 6 bulb unit.

10 am: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun ON
12 pm: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun + 1 white actinic + 1 75/25 blend ON
8 pm: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun + 1 white actinic + 1 75/25 blend OFF
11 PM: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun OFF

Here are the readings, I'm just being cautious as this is my first time curing live rock.

thegrun · 06/03/2009, 11:17 AM

Looks good. I probably would not run the lights as long as you do until the tank stabilizes, you will go through a series of algae blooms soon and the lights at final set-up durations will only make it worse.

kikireef · 06/03/2009, 11:23 AM

+1. I ran my lights during my cycling stage only a month ago and am starting to get over my algae problem finally. The lights without a doubt made it much worse. Yes, I know you like to look at it and imagine what it will look like in time because thats how I thought but the algae battle when you want to add fish and coral sucks.

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 11:25 AM

Here is some more actual pics of the tank now.

First pic, I was wondering if these are sponges, they are starting to appear on some of the rock, and appear to be growing.

Second one is of the tank overall.

thegrun · 06/03/2009, 11:26 AM

Yes, they are sponges.

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 11:27 AM

I was debating the lighting and got mixed replies, some say its good so you can get the algae under control. Although now that I have my lights setup and are good to go, maybe I can shut them off now and..... be patient..... i just thought maybe my tank was cycling faster than normal.

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thegrun
Yes, they are sponges.

Thanks, If I take the rock out piece by piece to clean again will this kill them? They didn't seem to mind last time, but I was quick going strait from the tank to bucket in the same water. Are they good sponges?

n00by · 06/03/2009, 12:21 PM

How do the sponges show up? What contributes to them or is it because the live rock already had them on it?

sebrofjr · 06/03/2009, 07:17 PM

Most of the sponges were on the rock, they were mostly on the fragile Fiji stuff, but seem to be on all the rock types now. I went ahead and shut off the lights again as i noticed a small amount of hair algae starting on some of the rock.... patience....

06/03/2009, 11:04 AM	#1
sebrofjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 228	New tank cycling data confirmation (pic). Hi all, Ive been tanking readings from my tank everyday since I started cycling it about 2 weeks ago. Ive included a screen capture from my spreadsheet to show you the progress. does this look normal? The Nitrites were up at the beginning but then dropped after only a few days. I had the tank running with sand and water with Hagen cycled added for about 3 weeks before the rock was put in. Also, about a week into the curing I took out the pieces of tonga branch and some fiji that had a considerable amount of detrius on them and cleaned them in water from the tank with a tooth brush when I did a small water change. I might do this again next water change as some of the larger pieces that I though were fairly clean before are a little gunky now. I am running the lights now ( and man do I love the tek-lights), a 6 bulb unit. 10 am: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun ON 12 pm: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun + 1 white actinic + 1 75/25 blend ON 8 pm: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun + 1 white actinic + 1 75/25 blend OFF 11 PM: 1 super actinic + 1 aquasun OFF Here are the readings, I'm just being cautious as this is my first time curing live rock.

06/03/2009, 11:23 AM	#3
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	+1. I ran my lights during my cycling stage only a month ago and am starting to get over my algae problem finally. The lights without a doubt made it much worse. Yes, I know you like to look at it and imagine what it will look like in time because thats how I thought but the algae battle when you want to add fish and coral sucks. __________________ Keith SCMAS Member Tank Info: 120 gallon 48"x30"x20" Leemar Rimless. 2 MP40w, 1 MP10w, SROsss Skimmer, ATI Sunpower 8x54w, Neptune Apex Controller with WXM module. 2 BRS dosing pumps. Check my homepage for the build...

06/03/2009, 11:17 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Looks good. I probably would not run the lights as long as you do until the tank stabilizes, you will go through a series of algae blooms soon and the lights at final set-up durations will only make it worse.

06/03/2009, 11:25 AM	#4
sebrofjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 228	Here is some more actual pics of the tank now. First pic, I was wondering if these are sponges, they are starting to appear on some of the rock, and appear to be growing. Second one is of the tank overall.

06/03/2009, 11:26 AM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, they are sponges.

06/03/2009, 11:27 AM	#6
sebrofjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 228	I was debating the lighting and got mixed replies, some say its good so you can get the algae under control. Although now that I have my lights setup and are good to go, maybe I can shut them off now and..... be patient..... i just thought maybe my tank was cycling faster than normal.

06/03/2009, 12:21 PM	#8
n00by Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 347	How do the sponges show up? What contributes to them or is it because the live rock already had them on it?

06/03/2009, 07:17 PM	#9
sebrofjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 228	Most of the sponges were on the rock, they were mostly on the fragile Fiji stuff, but seem to be on all the rock types now. I went ahead and shut off the lights again as i noticed a small amount of hair algae starting on some of the rock.... patience....