New tank question after week 1

jbrunken · 06/03/2006, 11:48 AM

My 125G tank has been setup for 1 week as of today and interesting things are starting to happen.

Tank:
~100lb dead argonite sand
~ 16lb bio-active argonite sand (fiji pink)
6lb fully cured live rock (I know, but I'm on a budget here)

Water:
78 Degrees (steady)
.25 ppm NH3/4 (steady)
.1 ppm NO2 (rising)
5 ppm NO3 (rising)
8.2 PH (steady)
2.6 me/l ALK (steady)
1.022 Salinity (On Deep6 Hydrometer)

Livestock:
2 very small yellow tail blue damsels which seem to be doing well
2 small hermit crabs

In the last day or so, I've noticed brown spots showing up on the glass, on the equipment in the tank, in the wet/dry sump and on the sand.

The protien skimmer is also seems to be working pretty hard.

Is a water change in order or should I let things play out for a bit longer?

Thanks in advance.

-JB

hairymushroom · 06/03/2006, 11:55 AM

PLease remove those damsels, its just not right to cycle a tank with live animals IMO, as for the w/c situation, i change the watere 2-3 days before i add my frst livestock.
Travis

kau_cinta_ku · 06/03/2006, 12:21 PM

i agree there is no sence on cycling a tank with fish it will only do them harm in the long run. as for a water change you can do a wc and save the life from your LR or just wait it out. the brown stuff is diatomes (sp.) it is typical for a new tank and will go away. then you will start seeing hair alage then that will go away.

06/03/2006, 11:48 AM	#1
jbrunken Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 720	New tank question after week 1 My 125G tank has been setup for 1 week as of today and interesting things are starting to happen. Tank: ~100lb dead argonite sand ~ 16lb bio-active argonite sand (fiji pink) 6lb fully cured live rock (I know, but I'm on a budget here) Water: 78 Degrees (steady) .25 ppm NH3/4 (steady) .1 ppm NO2 (rising) 5 ppm NO3 (rising) 8.2 PH (steady) 2.6 me/l ALK (steady) 1.022 Salinity (On Deep6 Hydrometer) Livestock: 2 very small yellow tail blue damsels which seem to be doing well 2 small hermit crabs In the last day or so, I've noticed brown spots showing up on the glass, on the equipment in the tank, in the wet/dry sump and on the sand. The protien skimmer is also seems to be working pretty hard. Is a water change in order or should I let things play out for a bit longer? Thanks in advance. -JB

06/03/2006, 11:55 AM	#2
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	PLease remove those damsels, its just not right to cycle a tank with live animals IMO, as for the w/c situation, i change the watere 2-3 days before i add my frst livestock. Travis

06/03/2006, 12:21 PM	#3
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	i agree there is no sence on cycling a tank with fish it will only do them harm in the long run. as for a water change you can do a wc and save the life from your LR or just wait it out. the brown stuff is diatomes (sp.) it is typical for a new tank and will go away. then you will start seeing hair alage then that will go away.