Three tank setup questions [Order and lights]

noxiousdog · 08/18/2006, 06:29 AM

Do you get a cleaning crew before or after you get your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings to zero? What about before or after the diatom/algae bloom?

Do you run your lighting (and full or half strength) while waiting for your readings to zero?

When do you add chaeto to the refugium?

In this case we're talking about a tank with LFS cured live rock.

lt34 · 08/18/2006, 06:51 AM

Add your cleaning crew after you cycle or it will be hard on them. Once your levels drop to zero on your Ammonia and Nitrites and Nitrates I believe <20 I started adding snails for the diatoms/algae bloom. I kept my lights running normally until the bloom and then decreased until the bloom died out and then ran back to normal. As far as the chaeto I'm not sure as I don't have a refugium. I'm sure someone with more experience will let you know. Because of all my lr and ls I cycled in almost 1 1/2 weeks but let is go further to be safe. JMO

kau_cinta_ku · 08/18/2006, 07:15 AM

add the cheato after the cycle

philagothos · 08/18/2006, 07:31 AM

Running your lights during the cycle is a matter of choice. If you know you have photosynthetic hitchhikers you want to try to keep alive then go ahead and run the lights. If you've searched your rock and found nothing photosynthetic worth keeping, then you could probably go ahead and leave the lights off. It might help keep algae at bay and you will get to enjoy lower electric bills for a tad bit longer.

Also, be careful not to overstock on the cleaner crew. If you get too big of a crew then some of them will starve to death after cleaning up the mess. Then they add a bunch of nutrients to the water and you get another algae bloom, which of course you need to get a bigger crew to clean, which results in some starving to death when the mess is gone... algae... more critters... death... algae... You get the picture.

HTH,
-Kevin

noxiousdog · 08/23/2006, 09:32 AM

Bump.

After discussing the chaeto issue with some other folks, I was curious

1) If people agreed that chaeto should be added after the cycle.
and
2) What the reasoning is.

Thanks.

08/18/2006, 06:29 AM	#1
noxiousdog Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 57	Three tank setup questions [Order and lights] Do you get a cleaning crew before or after you get your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings to zero? What about before or after the diatom/algae bloom? Do you run your lighting (and full or half strength) while waiting for your readings to zero? When do you add chaeto to the refugium? In this case we're talking about a tank with LFS cured live rock.

08/18/2006, 06:51 AM	#2
lt34 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Port, Florida Posts: 217	Add your cleaning crew after you cycle or it will be hard on them. Once your levels drop to zero on your Ammonia and Nitrites and Nitrates I believe <20 I started adding snails for the diatoms/algae bloom. I kept my lights running normally until the bloom and then decreased until the bloom died out and then ran back to normal. As far as the chaeto I'm not sure as I don't have a refugium. I'm sure someone with more experience will let you know. Because of all my lr and ls I cycled in almost 1 1/2 weeks but let is go further to be safe. JMO __________________ Barry Never Forget 9/11, Support our Troops. "FDNY 343" "I promise to mow the lawn if I can get that Coral". Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef, 2-150watt HQI MH, 260 watt PC Atinics, 9.5mag in sump, Seio 1100 ph, 110lbs lr, 100lbs ls, Coralife superskimmer 125

08/18/2006, 07:15 AM	#3
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	add the cheato after the cycle

08/18/2006, 07:31 AM	#4
philagothos Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 756	Running your lights during the cycle is a matter of choice. If you know you have photosynthetic hitchhikers you want to try to keep alive then go ahead and run the lights. If you've searched your rock and found nothing photosynthetic worth keeping, then you could probably go ahead and leave the lights off. It might help keep algae at bay and you will get to enjoy lower electric bills for a tad bit longer. Also, be careful not to overstock on the cleaner crew. If you get too big of a crew then some of them will starve to death after cleaning up the mess. Then they add a bunch of nutrients to the water and you get another algae bloom, which of course you need to get a bigger crew to clean, which results in some starving to death when the mess is gone... algae... more critters... death... algae... You get the picture. HTH, -Kevin

08/23/2006, 09:32 AM	#5
noxiousdog Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 57	Bump. After discussing the chaeto issue with some other folks, I was curious 1) If people agreed that chaeto should be added after the cycle. and 2) What the reasoning is. Thanks.