Phil's 10 gallon Build Thread

PHIL GUY · 07-08-2007, 05:31 PM

its been about 3 years since ive cycled a tank.so i forgot some things

how soon do i start doing water changes from the first day of stting up a tank? ive heard some people dont untill the cycle is over......im starting a 10g reef/sea horse tank once it finish its cycle

i have a BRAND NEW hob 20-40 WHISPER FILTER W/BIO PAD(NOT GOING WITH A SUMP ON THIS PROJECT)

LS FROM MY 180G REEG
SALTWATER FROM MY 180G REEF
20 POUNDS LIVE ROCK

SHOUDNT IT BE A SHORT CYCLE CAUSE I USED LS AND THE SALTWATER FROM A CYCLED TANK?

AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS ILL BE TAKING EVERYTHING I ESTABLISHED IN THE 10G AND WILL BUY A 29G NANO AND PUT EVERYTHING IN THERE

THANKS FOR ANY HELP

Fly Guy · 07-08-2007, 05:34 PM

The saltwater coming from an established tank has nothing to do with it.

The lenght of cycle will solely depend on the amount of die off in the new rock you add, and adding totally live sand from another system will actually cause more of a cycle than if you simply used new dry sand. Granted probably not enough to matter since the rock will be cycling, but it will defintely not help

JennM · 07-08-2007, 06:07 PM

I don't recommend doing any water changes in a fishless cycle until the tank *has* cycled.

Moving rock and sand from an existing tank, you may not see a spike at all - but wait a couple or three weeks just to be sure.

The water does not contain the beneficial bacteria to cycle a tank - surfaces do - rock and sand. I don't recommend moving water from tank to tank because you can import "problems" - nitrate, phosphate etc. if the existing tank had/has issues.

Cheers,
Jenn

medicdiver · 07-08-2007, 06:43 PM

I agree with Jenn, the water would be more of an issue than just using new. Also, is your live rock from another tank of yours or new??? Water changes would only delay more than help.

PHIL GUY · 07-08-2007, 07:01 PM

ITS NEW LIVE ROCK FROM THE LFS

bosscrab · 07-08-2007, 07:07 PM

You will probably get some cycle then. I would also agree no WC until the tank has cycled.

PHIL GUY · 07-09-2007, 06:03 PM

THANKS

.. ITS JUST BEEN about 3 years since ive cycled a tank and forgot somethings.the first time i did it with ls and demsals..this time with just ls and lr

i have a couple of hermits in it.think they will be ok?

PHIL GUY · 07-09-2007, 06:39 PM

heres a pic..nothing compare to my 180g reef.lol.but..its a start on another head ache,

..the hob filter does up to a 20-40 gallon tank..soo its doing triple the cleaning

..in a few months ill transfer everything from the 10g into a new 29g cube with biult in filter and better lighting..heres also a full tank shot of my 180g reef in my walk through room

Mindsgoneawol · 07-10-2007, 04:15 AM

i use skilter 250s for my 2 10gal tanks.. works okay.. its a power filter and skimmer.. a little noisey but then all hobs seem to be loud to me.. (ear probs lol) if u use the skilter get a valve and pitch the mushroom cap. i believe rio also puts out a power filter / skimmer hob also. the 250 are suppose to work up to 55 gallon tanks.. the 400s up to 120's or something like that.

Loverotties · 07-10-2007, 06:58 AM

I agree with Jenn!

PHIL GUY · 07-13-2007, 05:55 PM

i think my cycle is over now.

my readings last week:

ammonia 0.50
nitrite 0.40
ph 7.8
nitrate 40

my readings today:

ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0
ph 8.0
nitrate 15

can i do a water change now?

jph · 07-13-2007, 06:03 PM

i don't think it's done yet. give it a few more days.

J.

VWD · 07-13-2007, 07:50 PM

Fly Guy and Jenn are both correct, I don't recommend a water change during the cycle, fish or not, the only time I would if the ammonia, nitrite level got so high nothing could survive. But the time it takes cycle will depend on the rock and die off and fish load and so on.

PHIL GUY · 07-13-2007, 09:15 PM

i think my water readings are save enough for fish now,but ill wait another week

.im going to buy another bag of ls anyway and there will be a lil spike from adding more sand..i want to have a 4-5 inch sand bed

im also buying this 72 watt lighting system for the 10g tank that a member here showed me the link to..he also has a 10g with 72w and a 5 inch snd bed...you should see the coriline growth in his tank

..thats 7.2 watts per gallon

..its going to be my lil miniture tank,with lil everything in it.ill keep an update with pics in this thread

PHIL GUY · 07-13-2007, 09:16 PM

heres the lighting im getn for the 10g..thanks tim for giving me the web site

This retro is for anyone looking to cram more light into their Nanocube without the need for a drop in solution, or JBJ remote disconnects.

Kit includes the bare minimum to get an additional 72w into your cube.

Kit contains:
1 x Fulham PONY 232 Ballast (2 x 36w)
2 x BJB GX11 German Endcap
2 x BJB Bulb Clip
2 x JBJ 10K Combo (50/50) / JBJ 10000K Daylight Bulb

Add an additional $4. for the Actinic Blue bulb.