Yet another cycling & LR question

[CHughes]

I've been following several of the recent threads on cycling, DSB and LR here...great info.

Anyway, I'm in week 3 of cycling a 55 gal tank with DSB of 4" using cocktail shimp. As of today my tank is reading.

pH 8.4
Am .1
NO2 still off the chart.

My LFS is honest about their LR...it was cured at some point, but when they receive it, it shipped in a box without water, so it needs to be cured again.

My question is...since I'm still cycling the tank is it safe to add the uncured rock now considering it will spike the am and NO2 anyway? Or should I wait out the cycle? LR here is $8/lb and I'm looking at picking up about 40 lbs to start...hate to lose the investment by frying it totally!

Chris

[OrionGirl]

I'd do water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites in the 'safe' zone--less than 1. This will provide ample food for the growing bacteria bed, without being immediately toxic to the critters on the rock. If you wait, the rock will still spike the tank when it cures.

[CHughes]

Thanks OrionGirl, guess I'm getting a little impatient to get this tank set up.

Besides my wife happened to mention Santa is coming soon and goodies may be in store for the fish room, so it's best to wait it out....at least for another week! mmmmmm, maybe the 100 gal tank I wrote to Santa about

Chris :D

[CHughes]

Well apparently Santa didn't have room in his sled for the tank, but that's okay...I have my hands full with the 55 gal.

I've been searching the forum for similar problems I'm now experiencing without success, so here go....

The tank is up and running now for the past 6 weeks:
pH - 8.3, NO2 - 0, NO3 10, SPG 1.024, PO4 -1, CA - 460, temp - 80. I have 50 lbs LR added about 2 weeks ago. There was some die off and spike but it seems okay now.

I have no external filtration, relying on a DSB of 4" and LR. Circulation is set up with 2 Aquaclear 402 powerheads.

Inhabitants are 1 sacificial blue damsel, 10 blue legged hermit crabs and 8 astrea snails.

My problems/situation:

1) Each time I lightly feed the inhabitants I end up with a (bacteria?) bloom of cloudy water. Is this due to an immature DSB? Should I be adding a skimmer or external filter?

2) There is an oily skim on the surface of the water is this due excess proteins from the cycling and feeding? And once again would a skimmer be appropriate to add on now?

3) I've notice white specs on the glass that are alive. They are approx. 1/16" big and clearly visable with an 8x's loop. They appear to be flea like...are these part of the LS or a pest? Sorry I don't have my camera home this weekend to post images.

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks, Chris

[OrionGirl]

1) what are you feeding? How long does the haze last?

2) Yep, a skimmer will help, especially if you can rig up the intake to skim from the surface, to clear that up. Otherwise, aim a powerhead to the surface--it will help, though not eliminate the scum.

3) Sounds like pods--probably copopods, at that size. Amphipods are a bit bigger. Not a bad thing at all--sign of a healthy tank.

[CHughes]

Right now it has only been flake food for the feedings. The haze lasts about 2 days given I feed only every other day.

I have one power head aimed at the surface to ensure some oxygenation, but it looks like I'll need the skimmer sooner that I thought.

I thought the critter may be a good thing, given the age of the tank. Should I be considering the addition of more fish at this stage, or let it settle for another month?

Chris

[OrionGirl]

I'd try a different food. I'm not a fan of flake foods--I prefer pellets and frozen foods. It may be that there is something in the flake food that's causing a bloom of bacteria--I'm not sure. If you try a different food, and it stil lhappens, there may be something else going on.

Since the ammonia and nitrite are at 0, you can definitely start stocking the tank with fish--though I'd wait until the tank has matured 5-6 months before adding dwarf angels, or similar grazing fish. What did you have in mind to add?

[CHughes]

Thanks Oriongirl...knew I could count on you for advice! :D

I'm thinking a couple perical clowns, cardinals and gobies to start. Ideally, I need this tank to be stable to move my yellow tang from his current 33 gal tank. That should, I believe, pretty well max out the 55 for bio load.

I'm learning to be patient on the salty side, so nothing is graven in stone yet. I still need to upgrade the lighting as well, but that come later as the tank matures and is ready for soft corals.

Chris