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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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02-22-2006, 02:17 PM
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#1
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 31
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brand new at this!
So, I'm setting up my first tank. My boyfriend is a reef tank guy, and I've decided to start my own. It's a 15gal hex tank. I am planning on putting 2 clarkii clowns, and a yellow spotted watchman goby in my tank. I have Marshall Island rock in the tank, and I (well, maybe I should say my boyfriend) set it up about a week and a half ago. Everything looked perfect in my water chemically until this morning when I got home from being gone for a few days. My skimmer ( red sea prizm skimmer) was "un primed" so I jump started that... topped off the tank, and took a reading... Everything looked decent, except for that my nitrites were in the "dangerous" level. Will a water change fix this? When will it be safe to put the fish in? Any advice? I want all the help I can get.
Thanks,
Kara
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02-22-2006, 02:26 PM
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#2
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the shutterbug mod!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 2,392
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Hi & WELCOME to TRT! 
Ok hun, your tank has only been running for a week and a half. Give it another month at least. Your ammonia will spike and fall... when it's falling your nitrites will spike and fall, and then the nitrates will go up a little (I think I got that right!). Once the levels are at zero for all that you should be good to go. Don't put any critters in while you have ammonia readings, ammonia will literally burn gills.
Post pics of your tank, it's a requirement here! lol!
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~Jessica~ last blog entry: Dec 2 '06
A lurking freshie with salty hands and memories
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You glue animals to rocks and keep them in glass houses, why would you need therapy , you seem fine to me
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~Doug1
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02-22-2006, 02:46 PM
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#3
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 18,936
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You got it right Jessica, and I agree. SW tanks take a little more waiting then FW tanks, but it is worth it.
Welcome,
Whiskey
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Vagabond
Computers are the worlds most plentiful source of unique, and unimaginable problems.
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02-22-2006, 02:50 PM
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#4
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Noo Doot Aboot It!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Prince George
Posts: 2,768
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Welcome to TRT! I would say just sit tight for a while and don't worry too much about your tank. It will go through all sorts of funky things b4 it will be normal.
p.s. JMHO but Red sea prizm skimmers aren't exactly very good. They are expensive and hard to set and don't do very much in the way of skimming. I would look into an upgrade shortly. Then again only my 2 bits  |
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02-22-2006, 02:58 PM
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#5
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 34,109
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come to TRT! I agree with everyone! go slow! also agree with getting a better skimmer!
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02-22-2006, 03:28 PM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Conyers, GA.
Posts: 170
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Welcome to TRT. There is a bunch of knowledgeable people in this forum so don't hold back on any questions as we all are learning. Good luck on your new setup.
Steve
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02-22-2006, 04:21 PM
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#7
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The Muddy Mod
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Posts: 5,519
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 Welcome to TRT !
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Butch
***Factory Trained BMW Driver***
****Proud member of the PRG**** 
*President of Tri-State Reef Society*
"I'm King of the Sea People" - Cartman 
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02-22-2006, 04:23 PM
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#8
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 2,995
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Welcome to TRT!! |
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02-22-2006, 04:30 PM
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#9
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 31
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wow, talk about fast replies!!! 
The Prizm skimmer was my boyfriend's idea, he has had good luck with it before. He's really good with this stuff, so I'm gonna stick with it.
A MONTH?! THAT LONG????? wow, I was told by my man and quite a few other people that as long as everything looks good, I should be okay after 2 weeks. The sand was all from someone else's very healthy tank, and everythhing is looking really good. There has never been any imbalances until today.
My boyfriend was saying that a water change should clear everything up...
IF I really need to wait an extra couple weeks, that stinks, cuase I have already ordered the Clarkii's and they should be in soon!!! |
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02-22-2006, 04:35 PM
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#10
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 2,995
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yeah patience really pays in this hobby... wait, wait, wait...
I like to cycle about 8-12 weeks just to make sure everything is good to go.
I had the prizm skimmer and it's not very good- you will see what I mean later down the road. Buying a good skimmer is very important in this hobby. We all waste money on worthless stuff, then TRT teaches us the right way to do things and saves us lots of money!!  |
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02-22-2006, 04:47 PM
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#11
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,148
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Actually, if the rock came from a healthy system and did not stay sitting out of the water for a few hours, then the rock should be OK and the tank should not cycle, ALTHOUGH THE SAFE THING TO DO WOULD BE WAIT...
In addition, 15 gallons is a pretty small tank for three fishes...
What are your water parameters today? Salinity, nitrate and nitrate, any ammonia, phosphates... Why was the skimmer turned off, was this a power failure, if so do you have any idea about how long it was without power? Is he tank taller than it is wide? Does it have a sand bed, if so, how new is the sand, how deep, and what type sand?
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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02-22-2006, 06:05 PM
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#12
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The Muddy Mod
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Posts: 5,519
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Quote:
Actually, if the rock came from a healthy system and did not stay sitting out of the water for a few hours, then the rock should be OK and the tank should not cycle, ALTHOUGH THE SAFE THING TO DO WOULD BE WAIT...
In addition, 15 gallons is a pretty small tank for three fishes...
What are your water parameters today? Salinity, nitrate and nitrate, any ammonia, phosphates... Why was the skimmer turned off, was this a power failure, if so do you have any idea about how long it was without power? Is he tank taller than it is wide? Does it have a sand bed, if so, how new is the sand, how deep, and what type sand?
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Kara, meet Tom 
__________________
Butch
***Factory Trained BMW Driver***
****Proud member of the PRG****
*President of Tri-State Reef Society*
"I'm King of the Sea People" - Cartman
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02-22-2006, 06:26 PM
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#13
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 31
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does Tom not read the first posts??? HAHA just kidding Tom...
Yes, the rock and sand did come from a healthy system, and it was only out of water for maybe an hour at the most. The sand is... I dunno, regular? I wanted that really fine white sugary sand, but I was told that it wasn't as good for cleaning crews and so forth cause it can get really sludgey.
It is a hex tank, so it's a lot taller than it is wide. There is a lot of rock work, so there is really only about 10 gallons in the tank.
The clarkii's that I'm getting are SMALL so I think they'll be fine with a watchman goby on the bottom.
I dunno why the skimmer turned off... it was raining all weekend, so an outtage is possible.
Like I mentioned before all the levels in the tank are and have been normal except for high Nitrite today.
Everyone that I've talked to (besides TRT) said that I should be ready for fish and corals by this weekend, because everything looks so good in the tank, and everything was already well established before I got it. |
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02-22-2006, 06:30 PM
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#14
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Duper Mod !
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 14,328
Reviews: 10
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Welcome to TRT ! Since you used cured rock and sand You should be fine!
1 requirement though is you need to post a pic!!!
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Kelli
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02-22-2006, 06:34 PM
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#15
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 31
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I'll post one as soon as I get home... I thought I had one on my phone, but I guess I deleted it!
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Tags
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nitrite levels
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royal gramma
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soft corals
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spotted watchman goby
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star polyps
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