started the nano

theburninator · 09-29-2004, 11:50 PM

This is my first time doing a nano tank and it is actually a 10 gallon. I added some aragonite sand to the bottom and got my light fixture going today actually. My salinity level is right where I want it to be. Now is it too early to think about adding some live rock in the next few days? Also, should I help the cycle out with anything besides the live rock? And my last question is, would an all invertebrate tank be stupid? Sorry, this is my first time with saltwater. I would have bought a much bigger tank but I don't have the room. I just figured that if I just have some invertebrates (hermit crabs, snails) it would give me a chance to kinda learn. Would this be wise?

ballvice · 09-30-2004, 01:09 AM

SO....as one of the newest members here myself..let me say..WELCOME TO TFT..GRIN

Live Rock is a GREAT first addition because you will want to get the tank cycling...

What kind of water did you start with (Tap? Reverse Osmosis/De-Ionized? Local Fish Store water?) This will help us understand how to best guide you...

BTW...In My humble opinion...your on the right track with the inverts...but be patient and wait for the tank to cycle...

Here is the process I followed..and others may have better advice...

So..from where your tank is today, provided you have "good water," I would go get some "pretty" live rock and do some good landscaping in your tank.

If you get "cured live rock" and you get it pretty much from the LFS to your tank, you will probably see a 'minor' cycle....this is what I did.

If you get uncured live rock...you will see "very noticable" changes in the bio's I am going to suggest you monitor in the tank.

Now I don't have a heater in my nano..with the lites, I found I dont really require one..

SO...here are some basics...

From this point on..if you are just "adding water..." Don't put in any more Saltwater....I'd use Ro/Di (but this is an opinion).

2...buy a good test kit (ph, ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates) at a minimum and start charting. I made up an excel spreadsheet I can send you if you have excel.

3. I only ran my lights for about 3-4 hours a day for the first week, pretty much only while I was there at nite watching....

4. Watch and wait on the bio's...and here is what you should see...

Ammonia should creep up and while nitrites and trates are staying at 0. Ph should be around 8ish...8.2-.4 is great.. If it is low..see LFS and get some PH buffer and just follow the directions on the jar (I only needed to add this 1x).

Soon you should see the presence of NitrItes...and NitrAtes may stay at 0....

Ammonia should start to fall back down and will eventually reach 0...followed soon after by NitrItes....

When Ammonia and NitrItes are at 0...NitrAtes should be around 10ish....and...at this point (as long as PH is good) you are cycled...

You'll have to ask some of the experts on Calcuim..I have never really messed with it on the Nano and am just researching it on the 55g.

Once the tank is fully cycled..its safe to add the items you listed above...

If you get a crab...check into the anemonea (sp?) crab (with anemonea of course).

I have the pair and they are fun to watch.

If you knew any or all of this and I just insulted your intellegence..I apologize....

If this was educational..them welcome to the forum!

Happy reefing!

Frank

theburninator · 09-30-2004, 11:02 AM

Thanks a bunch for the welcome. I actually started the tank with distilled water. My salinity level is 1.024, PH is about 8.1 and the temp is running at 77-78F. I called around to different lfs and one has haitian rock for $5/lb and another has fiji for $5/lb. What would be wise to go with? Also, if I have done everything right so far would it be too soon to go ahead and purchase some of the cured rock and put it in? I know that the live rock will cycle the tank but is it necessary to add any biological starters? My lfs has some of those little red leg hermits for like 75 cents and I figured I might start with a couple of those when my cycle is done. That way I can get some practice with salinity levels. I'm still a little new to this hobby and want to take it slow.

Jeremiah · 09-30-2004, 11:09 AM

Welcome to TRT...

Sounds like you are on the right track. Take it slow and research, research, research....

Good luck and keep us posted...

Jeremiah

yardboy · 09-30-2004, 12:02 PM

Darn, I hate to be contrary but.... I started my first tank as you describe, with sand and live rock, but on my second tank, much bigger, I started with the rock, supported up on a platform and as detritus formed siphoned it out. It didn't speed up the cycle, but I have never had trouble with cyano or algae in the tank. All that detritus from the rock curing (and let me tell you, don't believe that "cured rock" jive from the lfs. Some is just a little farther along than "raw") wil fall in the sand and be more difficult or impossible to remov, contributing to problems later with algae and cyano. After the tank cycles and the detritus has stopped falling out, then put the sand in and you will have a lot less trouble. Other than that, sounds like you are on the right track. I've seen lot's of nano's with no fish, just inverts, and they are too cool.
If it's just aragonite sand, just pull it out and dry it and put it back in after the rock cycles, no problem.

ballvice · 09-30-2004, 01:17 PM

Ya know...he has a VERY VERY VERY good point.

I vacuum out the Ditritous every day...and it didn't even dawn on me that "there was an easier way!!!" (where were you when I was setting up my 55g???? ).

I think that is an AWESOME recommendation.

On the cured vs uncured live rock..just get it from the store to your tank as quick as possible and you should be alright with the cured. type is preference..I have Fiji and like it. If you go with Cured and "almost" nothing dies...you should be ok limit of Ditritous..>ALSO...does your LFS sell "tank ready water?" Its a good way to jump start a tank as small as a 12g.

WOW .75 a piece? That sounds like a pretty good deal on the hermits!

Frank

theburninator · 10-01-2004, 12:43 AM

Yes thank you for your advice. Stuff like that is the kinda stuff books don't tell you. I will take the sand out now which will be a bit of work but probably save me lots of work down the road. I am probably going to get some fiji rock tomorrow and start cycling. And yeah I thought it was kinda cool too about the .75 a piece on the hermits. They are the smaller red leg hermits. Its kinda cool but this lfs has a 55g set up with lots of inverts in it and some saltwater plants or something.