Growth in new tank, not sure if good or bad...

timekiller · 03/19/2012, 08:10 PM

I started my first tank (90 gallon) about 3 weeks ago. My setup went as follows:

90 gallons RODI (3 stage) water with Instant Ocean salt. Mixed to 1.025.
Temp 79.5-81 degrees.
I bought 25 lbs of live rock at LFS and 65 lbs dead reef saver rock from bulkreefsupply.
Plan was/is to use the 25 lbs to seed the 65.

LFS suggest I get a few chromis to help cycle, as well as a cleanup crew of a few snails and small hermit crabs. YES I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED WILL LIVE STUFF FOR CYCLING. Most of the fish died within a few days, but this appears to be related to poor acclimation.

I left the dead fish figuring they will really get the cycle going. I also started dosing the tank with microbe-lift thinking it would speed things along.

I have been doing regular ph, ammonia, and nitrite tests. I know how to do the chemical tests, before anyone asks.

Ammonia and nitrite have been consistently at 0. I'm now 3 weeks in and I still have no toxins. PH is somewhere between 7.5 and 8.

Today I can see some growth on the dead rocks and glass, but I think it's cyanobacteria. I read somewhere this is an indication of the beginning of the end of the nitrogen cycle. Is this true ?

Is it possible I'm almost cycled, but have not seen any ammonia or nitrite spikes ?

Also, should i be doing anything to stop the cyano growth (assuming that's what it is) ? I also heard that as the nitrogen cycle completes the cyano will starve itself out, so not to worry - is that good advice ?

Here are a few pics I took of the growth: https://picasaweb.google.com/1150312...AquariumGrowth

Thanks in advance...

Barrier Grief · 03/19/2012, 08:24 PM

If your live rock was well populated with nitrifying bacteria, you may have not noticed a cycle, though it is doubtful your tank could support much bio load. Have you tested nitrate? - it will be present if cycle is done. Best way to check for cycle being done in this case is to add some ammonia to the tank, measure it's presence, and check to see if it goes away over a day or so.

The growth looks more like diatoms than cyano to me. Normal and will go away on its own after a month or so. If you determine your cycle is over, you could add a small CUC which will work on the diatoms.

timekiller · 03/19/2012, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the info!...but what is a CUC ?

Barrier Grief · 03/19/2012, 08:36 PM

Sorry... Clean Up Crew - snails, hermits, etc... Snails in particular will help with diatoms. I like Trochus, Cerith, Astrea snails to graze on diatoms/algae.

Infiltrator · 03/19/2012, 08:38 PM

Clean up crew, snails and hermit crabs.

timekiller · 03/19/2012, 08:49 PM

Ah, of course - sorry haven't learned all the acronyms yet

As I said above, the LFS suggested I start with some Chromis and a CUC. The Chromis didn't make it, but the snails and hermit crabs seem to be going just fine. In fact, at least 5 of the hermit crabs have upgraded their shells with ones they found in the live sand.

I have been dropping hermit crab cakes for them to eat (also figured anything they didn't eat would help the cyle). With the diatoms growing, does that mean I should stop dropping the crab cakes and just let them eat the diatoms ?

03/19/2012, 08:10 PM	#1
timekiller Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 89	Growth in new tank, not sure if good or bad... I started my first tank (90 gallon) about 3 weeks ago. My setup went as follows: 90 gallons RODI (3 stage) water with Instant Ocean salt. Mixed to 1.025. Temp 79.5-81 degrees. I bought 25 lbs of live rock at LFS and 65 lbs dead reef saver rock from bulkreefsupply. Plan was/is to use the 25 lbs to seed the 65. LFS suggest I get a few chromis to help cycle, as well as a cleanup crew of a few snails and small hermit crabs. YES I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED WILL LIVE STUFF FOR CYCLING. Most of the fish died within a few days, but this appears to be related to poor acclimation. I left the dead fish figuring they will really get the cycle going. I also started dosing the tank with microbe-lift thinking it would speed things along. I have been doing regular ph, ammonia, and nitrite tests. I know how to do the chemical tests, before anyone asks. Ammonia and nitrite have been consistently at 0. I'm now 3 weeks in and I still have no toxins. PH is somewhere between 7.5 and 8. Today I can see some growth on the dead rocks and glass, but I think it's cyanobacteria. I read somewhere this is an indication of the beginning of the end of the nitrogen cycle. Is this true ? Is it possible I'm almost cycled, but have not seen any ammonia or nitrite spikes ? Also, should i be doing anything to stop the cyano growth (assuming that's what it is) ? I also heard that as the nitrogen cycle completes the cyano will starve itself out, so not to worry - is that good advice ? Here are a few pics I took of the growth: https://picasaweb.google.com/1150312...AquariumGrowth Thanks in advance...

03/19/2012, 08:24 PM	#2
Barrier Grief Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 135	If your live rock was well populated with nitrifying bacteria, you may have not noticed a cycle, though it is doubtful your tank could support much bio load. Have you tested nitrate? - it will be present if cycle is done. Best way to check for cycle being done in this case is to add some ammonia to the tank, measure it's presence, and check to see if it goes away over a day or so. The growth looks more like diatoms than cyano to me. Normal and will go away on its own after a month or so. If you determine your cycle is over, you could add a small CUC which will work on the diatoms.

03/19/2012, 08:28 PM	#3
timekiller Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 89	Thanks for the info!...but what is a CUC ?

03/19/2012, 08:36 PM	#4
Barrier Grief Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 135	Sorry... Clean Up Crew - snails, hermits, etc... Snails in particular will help with diatoms. I like Trochus, Cerith, Astrea snails to graze on diatoms/algae.

03/19/2012, 08:38 PM	#5
Infiltrator Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Melbourne, Fl Posts: 59	Clean up crew, snails and hermit crabs.

03/19/2012, 08:49 PM	#6
timekiller Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 89	Ah, of course - sorry haven't learned all the acronyms yet As I said above, the LFS suggested I start with some Chromis and a CUC. The Chromis didn't make it, but the snails and hermit crabs seem to be going just fine. In fact, at least 5 of the hermit crabs have upgraded their shells with ones they found in the live sand. I have been dropping hermit crab cakes for them to eat (also figured anything they didn't eat would help the cyle). With the diatoms growing, does that mean I should stop dropping the crab cakes and just let them eat the diatoms ?