newbie please help!!

angelsj247 · 03/06/2006, 10:09 PM

im new at this hobby

I have a 20gal tank with 10 pounds of live sand, cascade100 power filter, penguin 500 powerhead, enough fake coral and rocks for hiding places(not live) thermometer, hydrometer, and tests.

i started it up about 2 weeks ago, and read since i dont have live rock i could be a raw shrip in there, which i did about a week ago now.
i have noticed any dramatic changes in the ammonia but the nitrite is at 3.0 now and the nitrate is at 20. everything else seems to be ok.

now i just wait for the cycle and until everythin in the water gets down to what it is supposed to be?
am i doing this right and am i missing anything.
thanks for the help
id just like to know im doing things right

arc41120 · 03/06/2006, 10:36 PM

Sounds like you're doing fine. Now, just wait until your nitrites get to zero. The nitrates aren't going to lower on their own though. You'll have to do a water change to lower them.

I do have a couple of recommendations though:

A 20 gallon tank is going to be extremely hard for you to keep balanced. I know you just started out, but you're going to need a bigger tank. The bigger the easier it will be to take care of. Usually in saltwater aquaria what happens is hobbiest start with a moderate sized tank, move up to a large one, then when they need a challenge, they try a nano (20 gallon). I'm not saying it can't be done, just that if you are just starting out, you'll have a much more difficult time keeping levels (salinity, temperature, nitrates, etc.)in check.

Second, I would reccomend live rock. If you want you're tank to have the necessary bacteria for the nitrogen cycle, you're going to need some.

You can pm me any questions if you'd like.

ChunksInClemson · 03/06/2006, 10:41 PM

I would say to keep it up, just dont add any coral at all for a long time. Keep the tank a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank. I started out with a 20L. Just take it slow and make sure you listen to the ppl on here! I think most of us have been where you are. Keep up on the research too, the more the better.

Konadog · 03/06/2006, 10:45 PM

angelsj247,

To Reef Central

I hope you removed the shrimp by now

Just let your tank run until all your readings are zero, then add livestock slowly, very slowly in the beginning as your tank is small, and will change quickly. Ask as many questions as you can along the way, and remember to enjoy this hobby along the way.

angelsj247 · 03/06/2006, 10:51 PM

no i didnt remove the shrimp thanks.. no ones ever told me to remove it, they just said let it decay.. ill get it out right now

i hope i dont have to start over now..

thanks you guys really help and encourage, the other forums at a diffrent site didnt help at all and discouraged me, and told me to give up basically.

also ive read somewhere that after the tank cycled that putting more live sand in there right before you put fish in helps. is that true?

Konadog · 03/06/2006, 10:57 PM

Sorry to here about "other experiences". Your tank is small, so you really don't need the shrimp anymore. Now just sit back and let the bacteria do it's job. If you can, you should try to get at least a small piece of LR. It will give you more filtration, and possible a few pod and mini stars to add to your tank.

angelsj247 · 03/06/2006, 11:02 PM

o yah i also have brown algae on the walls, should i scrub it down or wait til it cycled..

Sk8r · 03/06/2006, 11:04 PM

It can be done, but it's going to take patience and frequent testing. If you can get RO/DI water from your LFS (local fish store) best, or pre-done salt water. At your size, two gallons will do for a partial water change. Make sure your water temperatures and salinity match, and add water slowly so as not to kick up the sand bed. When you add specimens, put them in a bowl with their water and drip water from the tank in with them until they're pretty well in your tank water...and don't transfer water from the store tank into yours if you can help it. Eventually you'll want to invest in test instruments (salinity, temperature) and test kits (alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium) if you're going to run a small tank. Practice with these kits until you get the same result each time, before you use them to recommend changes in your tank with additives. You'll learn more about chemistry doing this than you ever intended, but it will save you specimens and grief. Get a good relationship with a knowledgeable lfs and ask questions. Look at their systems and ask how they work: seeing it in action is very helpful. Good luck!

Konadog · 03/06/2006, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by angelsj247
o yah i also have brown algae on the walls, should i scrub it down or wait til it cycled..

You can clean it, but it will be back, and you'll clean it again. It's just one of the stages your tank will be going thru over the next few months.

White Tiger · 03/07/2006, 12:27 AM

To: angelsj247

You do not have enough sand. You need one pound of sand per gallon. In addition, it would be wise to add live rock in your tank to help with the biological filtration.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2006, 12:37 AM

You dont have to have a pound per gallon of sand, a dep sand bed for someone who is just starting out might not be the best thing.
A sand bed of any depth is fine, you could even go bare bottom with no sand and be ok. Angelsj247, if you are concerned about biological filtration get some liverock. There is no right or wrong depth for a sand bed, it is just preference.

03/06/2006, 10:09 PM	#1
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	newbie please help!! im new at this hobby I have a 20gal tank with 10 pounds of live sand, cascade100 power filter, penguin 500 powerhead, enough fake coral and rocks for hiding places(not live) thermometer, hydrometer, and tests. i started it up about 2 weeks ago, and read since i dont have live rock i could be a raw shrip in there, which i did about a week ago now. i have noticed any dramatic changes in the ammonia but the nitrite is at 3.0 now and the nitrate is at 20. everything else seems to be ok. now i just wait for the cycle and until everythin in the water gets down to what it is supposed to be? am i doing this right and am i missing anything. thanks for the help id just like to know im doing things right Last edited by angelsj247; 03/06/2006 at 10:36 PM.

03/06/2006, 10:36 PM	#2
arc41120 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sedalia, MO Posts: 14	Sounds like you're doing fine. Now, just wait until your nitrites get to zero. The nitrates aren't going to lower on their own though. You'll have to do a water change to lower them. I do have a couple of recommendations though: A 20 gallon tank is going to be extremely hard for you to keep balanced. I know you just started out, but you're going to need a bigger tank. The bigger the easier it will be to take care of. Usually in saltwater aquaria what happens is hobbiest start with a moderate sized tank, move up to a large one, then when they need a challenge, they try a nano (20 gallon). I'm not saying it can't be done, just that if you are just starting out, you'll have a much more difficult time keeping levels (salinity, temperature, nitrates, etc.)in check. Second, I would reccomend live rock. If you want you're tank to have the necessary bacteria for the nitrogen cycle, you're going to need some. You can pm me any questions if you'd like. __________________ Fish: Naso Tang, 7 BG Chromis, Coral Beauty, 2 Pearly Jawfish, 2 False Percs, Sleeper Goby, Watchman Goby, 6 line wrasse Current Tank Info: 140gal Oceanic Show Reef Tank

03/06/2006, 10:41 PM	#3
ChunksInClemson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 824	I would say to keep it up, just dont add any coral at all for a long time. Keep the tank a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank. I started out with a 20L. Just take it slow and make sure you listen to the ppl on here! I think most of us have been where you are. Keep up on the research too, the more the better. __________________ Me to my brother-"Dude, you don't need to spend 75 dollars on a shirt! My brother to me-"Man, you just spent 100 dollars on some rocks" Me and him- "Laughs" Current Tank Info: 29g, a pair of true percs so far. Tank is newer!

03/06/2006, 10:45 PM	#4
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	angelsj247, *To Reef Central* I hope you removed the shrimp by now Just let your tank run until all your readings are zero, then add livestock slowly, very slowly in the beginning as your tank is small, and will change quickly. Ask as many questions as you can along the way, and remember to enjoy this hobby along the way. __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

03/06/2006, 10:51 PM	#5
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	no i didnt remove the shrimp thanks.. no ones ever told me to remove it, they just said let it decay.. ill get it out right now i hope i dont have to start over now.. thanks you guys really help and encourage, the other forums at a diffrent site didnt help at all and discouraged me, and told me to give up basically. also ive read somewhere that after the tank cycled that putting more live sand in there right before you put fish in helps. is that true? __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

03/06/2006, 10:57 PM	#6
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	Sorry to here about "other experiences". Your tank is small, so you really don't need the shrimp anymore. Now just sit back and let the bacteria do it's job. If you can, you should try to get at least a small piece of LR. It will give you more filtration, and possible a few pod and mini stars to add to your tank. __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

03/06/2006, 11:02 PM	#7
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	o yah i also have brown algae on the walls, should i scrub it down or wait til it cycled.. __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

03/06/2006, 11:04 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It can be done, but it's going to take patience and frequent testing. If you can get RO/DI water from your LFS (local fish store) best, or pre-done salt water. At your size, two gallons will do for a partial water change. Make sure your water temperatures and salinity match, and add water slowly so as not to kick up the sand bed. When you add specimens, put them in a bowl with their water and drip water from the tank in with them until they're pretty well in your tank water...and don't transfer water from the store tank into yours if you can help it. Eventually you'll want to invest in test instruments (salinity, temperature) and test kits (alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium) if you're going to run a small tank. Practice with these kits until you get the same result each time, before you use them to recommend changes in your tank with additives. You'll learn more about chemistry doing this than you ever intended, but it will save you specimens and grief. Get a good relationship with a knowledgeable lfs and ask questions. Look at their systems and ask how they work: seeing it in action is very helpful. Good luck! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/07/2006, 12:27 AM	#10
White Tiger Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 348	To: angelsj247 You do not have enough sand. You need one pound of sand per gallon. In addition, it would be wise to add live rock in your tank to help with the biological filtration.

03/07/2006, 12:37 AM	#11
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	You dont have to have a pound per gallon of sand, a dep sand bed for someone who is just starting out might not be the best thing. A sand bed of any depth is fine, you could even go bare bottom with no sand and be ok. Angelsj247, if you are concerned about biological filtration get some liverock. There is no right or wrong depth for a sand bed, it is just preference.