Getting Worried

[Tannir]

Hey all,

Well Im getting worried, I started out a 75 tank 120 lbs of LS 52 Lbs of LR (Figi) my NH3 was slightly up, on the up swing of the cycle, then I added 50 Lbs of Marshal Island precured LR and now my NH3, nitrite and nitrate is OFF THE SCALES !!! ive done probly 50 % water change total in the week and a half that this has been going. Ive got to get new lights (next on the list) other than that im running a skimmer 24 7 and have 2 powerheads, How long should the cycle take. The figi that i started with was LOADED with critters and I was hoping to keep all of them but the Marshal Island is Loaded with Macro algea and rock worms and such help please..



T.

[Minnreefer]

That is fairly normal, what is your source water? are you using RO? that can also make a difference. I would say just keep doing small water changes and use RO water and most things should make it through. HTH

Jon

[mojoreef]

Hey todd all is well, your at the begining of a cycle. as things die off on the rock they will spike your ammonia, dont do big water changes or you will delay the cycle. just do them say about 15 -20 % every 3 days or so. What i would do is pull the rock out peice by piece and give it the good old sniff test (unless you have done you aquascaping and dont want to) pull off any dead stuff you can see or that smell real bad. The worms and such are good for your tank and most will survive and spawn.
again all is going well, remember u just put the rock in a couple of days ago, so you have probibly a couple of weeks to go.

call me if you want i can through some lighting ideas at you
Mike

[Doug1]

FWIW precured usually means sitting on benches with salt water spray over it before shipping stateside. assume any rock that hasn,t been tanked at least a couple weeks to be in need of recure.
Give any rock that catches your fancy the aforementioned sniff test and ask for basic N tests on the tank its in, esp if buying large amounts . Have patience and fun, remember it is a relaxing hobby

[Allyson]

Relaxing???? Oh yeah your reef has been set up for awhile.

Actually I was amused to catch my 9 mos old staring with a dazed look into the reef tank. Lately when I'm trying to put her to sleep I stand in front of the tank so she can look at it....so far works every time.

[Doug1]

allyson, after 4 yrs evolving my reef I have decided relaxing hobby is an oxymoron right up with military intellegence and honest politician
I need to take a class in how to relax