How do these readings sound for a 1 week old tank?

[Afterdark]

This is what to got this morning prior to a 10% water change:

PH 8.0 (would like this to be 8.3 - do I add baking soda?)
NH3: 0
NO3: 12.5
NO2: < 0.3
SG: 1.025 (I think - reading 4 oz/gal @ 60 degrees - anyone confirm?)

Couldnt understand how to use the hardness test kit

Temp is 80 degrees and it has been under 30watt NO lighting + 100watt T5 in the sump (halides going on tomorrow)

I have found various things growing so far but the one the suprised me most was this morning - a dark red BTA of some sort (I think) considering the low lighting I was shocked! It is RIGHT at the top of the rocks though and about an inch across so far

Does it sound like my cycling is going ok? Doesnt seem to be much bad algae growing at the mo. a little bit of what I guess is brown algae on some of the rocks and a single patch of green hair algae in one of the caves - guess that will all change when the halides go on though

Cheers

AD

[VWD]

I think for a one week old tank You really don't need to be testing anything yet. I know folks do, But with the cost of test You can save money in the beginning by letting the tank do it thing for a while. But if You want to test just test for NH3, NO2, NO3,Then after the cycle is over You can do all the other test.

I think Your tank is doing fine so far!

[tims]

I agree, you wil have a few water changes coming soon .
how about a pic of your freebie anenome?

[Afterdark]

Here is the happy little chappy
sorry about the lame picture quality - still learning...

[Loverotties]

I also agree ,Also maybe lower the temp a little cause when you add the lights it mite bring it up higher a good range is 77-82 and your near the top all ready and I also wouldn't do a water change till the cycle is over.

[goodfortune]

You don't want him; its aptasisa (sp) . It can rapidly multiply and sting the other corals that you'll be putting in your tank.

Your water parameters look good, but I think your NH3 and NO2 spike are yet to come. I just set up a Nano about 3-4 weeks ago and I had good water quality test results for the 1st week. After the first week, my NH3 and NO2 stayed sky-high for 2 weeks.

In about 3-5 weeks your tank should be ready for it's first inhabitants. Take care, read lots, and don't be afraid to ask questions here.

- Michael

BTW: What test kits are you using?

[Loverotties]

Yes they are not good to have I bet you have more.You want to get rid of thoses,they muiltipy quickly!!

[VWD]

aptasisa, Not a good thing to have will reproduce very fast, Best to get rid if now and not let them get a foot hold.

[suzstephens]

Don't chop up that aiptasia in your attempts to remove it; that'll just make the problem worse. The easiest way to kill it is to use a commercial product like Joe's Juice. The cheap way is to make a slurry (stiff wet paste) of pickling lime or kalkwasser, then squirt a little pile of the paste over the aiptasia so that it is buried or smothered by the paste. With either approach, repeat treatments may be necessary.

[Afterdark]

been doing some quick research and it seems injecting the base with pure lemon juice does the job - will give it a go shortly and report back

Have two of them so far. the big one you have seen and one than is currently about 1/4" tall

know I couldn't have a nice one growing so soon

there are a couple of other largish visitors I have thatI can't ID. I will try and grab some pics (one is very shy and wont come out the hole it is in) so if you can help id them I would be greatful

Cheers

AD

[BigDaddy]

or get a peppermint shrimp!

(only works sometimes, wait till the cycle's over )

[Afterdark]

On the shrimp front I am planning on a couple of blood shrimp (might not be the right name - deep red with white antenae) and some cleaner shrimp - prolly gonna need to keep replacing them given the other inhabitants though

[Afterdark]

Right, this is one of the other critters I have found. He seems to be growing quite quick - 100% in the last week - and is now around 2 - 2.5" long when extended.


Any ideas??

AD

[schigara]

I noticed about 15-20 of those aptasia on my 45 lbs of rock so after the cycle, I put in my cleanup crew plus two peppermint shrimps and four days later, no sign of aptasia. The peppermints went straight to to them when I first put them in and started devouring those nasty little suckers!

[Afterdark]

I shall have to invest in a shrimp or two next weekend I think. I gave it a jab of lemon juice which seems to hav eupset it somewhat - time will tell if it was enough I guess