a few newbie questions

fishstick3 · 10/05/2009, 09:21 PM

I am having trouble with my protein skimmer. I am never quite sure it is working. I have 12 gallon nano dx wich has been running for a couple of months. I have had my skimmer the whole time but every time I go to ‘clean it out’ and all that is in there is water bubbles, and maybe some small debri. My parameters all seem to be normal so is it working properly. Also I have another tank which is just a table top junk tank to hold caught fish until I can identify or put them in our tank, it is still cycling but the ammonia is high and the nitrates are high, what do I now. I have been doing constant water changes I also just put in new live sand I only have one fish but should I take it out for now until it is cycled completely?

PRDubois · 10/05/2009, 10:25 PM

1 - Skimmer needs to break in (can take a few weeks)
2 - If tank in cycling then there is probaly not much for the skimmer to skim out.

Blown 346 · 10/06/2009, 01:30 AM

The skimmer should be broken in after a few months. Your tank might not have alot of organics to skim out...

For the other tank...

What is high for ammonia and nitrates? What are your nitrites at? Once the cycle is finished the ammonia will either be at 0 or close to it, the nitrites will be at 0. The nitrates might not be 0 which is fine. You might have 15PPM or lower which is a pretty normal level. Once your ammonia falls off and is low 10PPM or so do a water change to bring it down and it should stay there.

thegrun · 10/06/2009, 07:59 AM

...and you should NEVER put fish into a tank that has not been fully cycled. Putting fish into a tank with ammonia is cruel to the fish.

fishstick3 · 10/06/2009, 10:41 AM

I thought that since it was all straight from the ocean it would be okay to just add them, apperently I was wrong. I am letting them go where I caught them later this week when I get a chance to drive the 45 min.s to drop them off. Until then will partial water changes help keep them happy enough?

fishstick3 · 10/06/2009, 10:42 AM

The ammonia is only at .50 and nitrites I want to say without being at my house are only like one or two points higher then they normally are, I can confirm when I get out of class tonight

wooden_reefer · 10/06/2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishstick3

I am having trouble with my protein skimmer. I am never quite sure it is working. I have 12 gallon nano dx wich has been running for a couple of months. I have had my skimmer the whole time but every time I go to ‘clean it out’ and all that is in there is water bubbles, and maybe some small debri. My parameters all seem to be normal so is it working properly. Also I have another tank which is just a table top junk tank to hold caught fish until I can identify or put them in our tank, it is still cycling but the ammonia is high and the nitrates are high, what do I now. I have been doing constant water changes I also just put in new live sand I only have one fish but should I take it out for now until it is cycled completely?

If you have enough ammonia and bacteria seed from LR, you do not need any fish during cycle.

If you want to preserve some lives you may want to change water to reduce ammonia, but why did you put a fish in your tank so early?

fishstick3 · 10/06/2009, 06:39 PM

As I stated I thought that if I got everything from the wild inclucding the sand and water that it would not take as long to cycle. it is a junk tank that is basically a overnight hold to identify the fish and see if they should go into my larger tank. I have done a couple water changes already. I have done two today, but for different reasons. I went to the LFS and they recommended getting this stuff API Nitra -zorb. I put it in and then chagned my mind because I didnt want to risk it. Long story short the fish are getting let go( they are wild caught so no harm no foul) does anyone know anything about this product . thanks for the tips I love my fish so anything to make them happy

10/05/2009, 09:21 PM	#1
fishstick3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 244	a few newbie questions I am having trouble with my protein skimmer. I am never quite sure it is working. I have 12 gallon nano dx wich has been running for a couple of months. I have had my skimmer the whole time but every time I go to ‘clean it out’ and all that is in there is water bubbles, and maybe some small debri. My parameters all seem to be normal so is it working properly. Also I have another tank which is just a table top junk tank to hold caught fish until I can identify or put them in our tank, it is still cycling but the ammonia is high and the nitrates are high, what do I now. I have been doing constant water changes I also just put in new live sand I only have one fish but should I take it out for now until it is cycled completely?

10/05/2009, 10:25 PM	#2
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	1 - Skimmer needs to break in (can take a few weeks) 2 - If tank in cycling then there is probaly not much for the skimmer to skim out. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

10/06/2009, 01:30 AM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	The skimmer should be broken in after a few months. Your tank might not have alot of organics to skim out... For the other tank... What is high for ammonia and nitrates? What are your nitrites at? Once the cycle is finished the ammonia will either be at 0 or close to it, the nitrites will be at 0. The nitrates might not be 0 which is fine. You might have 15PPM or lower which is a pretty normal level. Once your ammonia falls off and is low 10PPM or so do a water change to bring it down and it should stay there.

10/06/2009, 07:59 AM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	...and you should NEVER put fish into a tank that has not been fully cycled. Putting fish into a tank with ammonia is cruel to the fish.

10/06/2009, 10:41 AM	#5
fishstick3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 244	I thought that since it was all straight from the ocean it would be okay to just add them, apperently I was wrong. I am letting them go where I caught them later this week when I get a chance to drive the 45 min.s to drop them off. Until then will partial water changes help keep them happy enough?

10/06/2009, 10:42 AM	#6
fishstick3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 244	The ammonia is only at .50 and nitrites I want to say without being at my house are only like one or two points higher then they normally are, I can confirm when I get out of class tonight

10/06/2009, 06:39 PM	#8
fishstick3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South FL Posts: 244	As I stated I thought that if I got everything from the wild inclucding the sand and water that it would not take as long to cycle. it is a junk tank that is basically a overnight hold to identify the fish and see if they should go into my larger tank. I have done a couple water changes already. I have done two today, but for different reasons. I went to the LFS and they recommended getting this stuff API Nitra -zorb. I put it in and then chagned my mind because I didnt want to risk it. Long story short the fish are getting let go( they are wild caught so no harm no foul) does anyone know anything about this product . thanks for the tips I love my fish so anything to make them happy