tank isnt clear why???

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 09:49 AM

we have had our 210 up and running for about 7 days and it isnt very clear for some reason???why???its a 210 is our skimmer big enough??? or does it take longer to clear...im wanting picture perfect clarity????what else can I do???

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 09:50 AM

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 09:51 AM

and no the bioballs are not in there....i added some live rock in its place

motorslave · 06-23-2006, 09:59 AM

Your tank is very young. The bacteria still need to settle to the surfaces of the rock and sand as they are more than likely still free floating in the water. All part of the new tank settling and stabilizing. There is more to come, like algae blooms, diatoms etc. A new tank takes more than just the initial cycle to really and truly be astablished. It can take up to a year. thats not to say you have to wait that long to add fish or coral though. i would wait about till you have a good month or so, all parameters are good and then add a clean up crew. After another monthe then you can start to add fish one at a time very two weeks or so. This gives the bacteria time to ramp up to meet the damands of the expanding bio-load. Your tank looks great! Just ride out the "new tank syndrome" and be patient! let the tank do its thing and settle in. Watch for new things to happen and apear as the days and weeks progress! There will lots to see.
Well dont on a nice looking set up!
Oh, and a bigger skimmer is NEVER bad!! What skimmer are you using?

Robert

Geoff · 06-23-2006, 10:04 AM

that is actually not that bad for 7 days!! when i did a DSB several years ago it took nearly 2 weeks for it be clear.

i got an idea. put a blanket over the tank for the next 2 months. that way you do not have to look at the ugly aglae blooms and other ugly stuff that happens to a new setup within the first 2 months. it will also keep you from getting off of those hands that you are suppose to be sitting on.

it is very difficult to have a perfect tank within a week of setting it up. it is possible, but not without several months of preplanning and a large area for cooking and cycling LR/water before it goes into the tank. the normal way of setting up a reef system takes time. do not expect amazing results till the 6 month mark.

G~

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorslave

Your tank is very young. The bacteria still need to settle to the surfaces of the rock and sand as they are more than likely still free floating in the water. All part of the new tank settling and stabilizing. There is more to come, like algae blooms, diatoms etc. A new tank takes more than just the initial cycle to really and truly be astablished. It can take up to a year. thats not to say you have to wait that long to add fish or coral though. i would wait about till you have a good month or so, all parameters are good and then add a clean up crew. After another monthe then you can start to add fish one at a time very two weeks or so. This gives the bacteria time to ramp up to meet the damands of the expanding bio-load. Your tank looks great! Just ride out the "new tank syndrome" and be patient! let the tank do its thing and settle in. Watch for new things to happen and apear as the days and weeks progress! There will lots to see.
Well dont on a nice looking set up!
Oh, and a bigger skimmer is NEVER bad!! What skimmer are you using?

Robert

here is the skimmer I have!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Coralife-Super-S...QQcmdZViewItem

I appreciate it alot we added a few cleaners already

also would you let the tank lighting run??/I have my atinics come on at 7:00am and the mh come on @ 9

oam and at 7:00pm the mh goes off and 9:00 the atinics go off and my moonlights come on all night??? just like the ocean cycle???should I run this throughout the 1st stages of the tank???

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

that is actually not that bad for 7 days!! when i did a DSB several years ago it took nearly 2 weeks for it be clear.

i got an idea. put a blanket over the tank for the next 2 months. that way you do not have to look at the ugly aglae blooms and other ugly stuff that happens to a new setup within the first 2 months. it will also keep you from getting off of those hands that you are suppose to be sitting on.

it is very difficult to have a perfect tank within a week of setting it up. it is possible, but not without several months of preplanning and a large area for cooking and cycling LR/water before it goes into the tank. the normal way of setting up a reef system takes time. do not expect amazing results till the 6 month mark.

G~

thanks Geoff Im sitting on my hands like you said......just wanting results...lol but ill be patient...I like asking alot of questions that way I know what to expect.....thats usually a good thing to ask pros like you guys who have been there and done it....just like racing I raced drag bikes for 5 years and now im done but I have alot of people ask me alot from when I was in the racing business.....Thanks alot guys..

Geoff · 06-23-2006, 10:13 AM

that is an ok skimmer i prolly would have gone with a MRC MR-2 with 2 injectors or an MR-3. then again i am a big fan of pressure skimmers.

as for the light cycle. i like to run the tank during cycling the same way as it will be when fully setup. that way all of the critters get used to the light cycle being what it is.

right now, though i am running a reduced light schedule mainly because i do not plan on putting anything in the tank for at least another month. in the next couple of weeks or so i will crank up the lighting to normal full day hours. i was also hoping that i would have my new canopy done before going to full light hours, but that is looking less likely.

as for moonlights. i would not even use them. or if you really want to. only for the time that the main lights are off and you are awake. i would turn them off completely after midnight. remember the moon is not out all the time. it changes phase and time throughout the month. a moonlight left on is nothing more than a silly night lite to keep your critters up all night.

G~

Geoff · 06-23-2006, 10:16 AM

that is why we are all here. questions keep the board going. TRT is dead the minute someone is afraid to ask a question for fear of retaliation or ridicule.

G~

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 10:28 AM

thanks! I appreciate it!

110galreef · 06-23-2006, 12:32 PM

Definitly I get a better skimmer. If the MRC are out of your budget or looking for a different style the ASM g4+ or G5 would be ideal as well!

http://www.asmskimmer.com/catalog/pr...products_id=48

But looks very good for only one week!

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 02:23 PM

well it looks like my skimmer is skimming good i have already cleared out 2 bowls full already????what makes that better???just curious

Nyles · 06-23-2006, 03:18 PM

Have some patience, the tank should clear up as long as your skimmer is working well. It will take a while depending on the performance of the skimmer and how dirty your rock was.

Now the hard part is waiting for the first cycles to level off.

Hendersonracing · 06-23-2006, 03:46 PM

THANKS im trying...my skimmer looks like it is working good.....so I guess its a pretty good one?

Nyles · 06-23-2006, 04:24 PM

Well you already bought it so let it break in and hope for the best. I have heard good things about them so you should be ok, personally I recommend the ASM skimmers but its only because I use them and know they work well, you should be ok. Break it in and you will find out soon enough.