You should be fine. That's certainly not ideal and it may have affected some things, but most of these organisms (the ones on the rock) are resilient. You know not to do it now and that definitely counts.
Joel's 1st Marine Build
- Thread starter joel.uejio
- Start date
Sounds good -- I do definitely appreciate the advice so far -- has helped tremendously in getting things moving in the right direction. :thumbsup:
Don't have the pics to post here, but I did a bunch of things yesterday:
+ Got the Reef Octopus NW 110 Skimmer I ordered, and installed in middle chamber of sump
--> Instructions were a little light, but I think I have it set up correctly
--> Turned on to test and got some foam in the collection cup
--> Have it off for now while I'm cycling
+ Re-scaped rock to create more caves
--> Still not really happy with it
--> Might take out some of the rock (or move to sump) so I can have a nice sized sandy patch
+ Replaced AC50 with the new Koralia3 and Tunze 6025 heads I picked up
--> Will definitely need to play around with these to get good flow throughout tank
+ Continuing Cycling
--> Don't remember exact numbers, but I believe NH3 dropped, NO2 rose and NO3 rose a little
+ Prepped for next WC
--> Set up a 5g buck to mix RO water and salt
--> Sounds like using a PH isn't necessary for that so will probably just mix by hand next time
--> Plan to pick up one of those electronic thermometers so I can temp match the bucket to my tank
Next time I have a chance I'll post some pics -- I think it's starting to come together! As for stocking, I've swung back to having a peaceful community...maybe 2 clowns, royal gramma, flasher wrasse, and a blenny...
Don't have the pics to post here, but I did a bunch of things yesterday:
+ Got the Reef Octopus NW 110 Skimmer I ordered, and installed in middle chamber of sump
--> Instructions were a little light, but I think I have it set up correctly
--> Turned on to test and got some foam in the collection cup
--> Have it off for now while I'm cycling
+ Re-scaped rock to create more caves
--> Still not really happy with it
--> Might take out some of the rock (or move to sump) so I can have a nice sized sandy patch
+ Replaced AC50 with the new Koralia3 and Tunze 6025 heads I picked up
--> Will definitely need to play around with these to get good flow throughout tank
+ Continuing Cycling
--> Don't remember exact numbers, but I believe NH3 dropped, NO2 rose and NO3 rose a little
+ Prepped for next WC
--> Set up a 5g buck to mix RO water and salt
--> Sounds like using a PH isn't necessary for that so will probably just mix by hand next time
--> Plan to pick up one of those electronic thermometers so I can temp match the bucket to my tank
Next time I have a chance I'll post some pics -- I think it's starting to come together! As for stocking, I've swung back to having a peaceful community...maybe 2 clowns, royal gramma, flasher wrasse, and a blenny...
I would leave the skimmer running 24/7 initially for a couple reasons, 1. Break in. Some skimmers take minutes to break in, some up to a week, so it never hurts to get it going as soon as possible and 2. Stuff coming off your rocks will be cleaned out of the tank with the skimmer while the cycle is going.
I wouldn't worry about certain parameters like pH, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium during the cycle. The pH should be within acceptable ranges just from mixing the saltwater. It may be a tad low, but nothing harmful. The others I mentioned don't matter during the cycle that much, meaning you don't have to test for them. The salt mix will have enough of those to suffice for the time being.
I wouldn't worry about certain parameters like pH, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium during the cycle. The pH should be within acceptable ranges just from mixing the saltwater. It may be a tad low, but nothing harmful. The others I mentioned don't matter during the cycle that much, meaning you don't have to test for them. The salt mix will have enough of those to suffice for the time being.
Sounds like you have a nice setup going and I like the livestock choice. Not crazy about royal gramma's but that's just me. Please post some pics of your skimmer and let me know how its working for you. BTW how is the noise level coming from the skimmer?
Quieting
UPDATE 1: Quieting
The LifeReef manual has instructions for reducing the flushing noise, based on sending an air line tube down the output, and then adjusting the height of the air line tube end to a "sweet spot". I guess this gives the air in the tube a path to exit without rushing past the water flowing down the sides. I implemented this and it works! Now, I still get some noise from the overflow, but it's just a mild flowing sound from water pouring over the baffle in the outer box. Here are some pics:
UPDATE 1: Quieting
The LifeReef manual has instructions for reducing the flushing noise, based on sending an air line tube down the output, and then adjusting the height of the air line tube end to a "sweet spot". I guess this gives the air in the tube a path to exit without rushing past the water flowing down the sides. I implemented this and it works! Now, I still get some noise from the overflow, but it's just a mild flowing sound from water pouring over the baffle in the outer box. Here are some pics:
Skimming & 'Scaping
UPDATE 2: Skimming and 'Scaping
I turned on the skimmer, as Ace suggested. Still not sure if I have it exactly set up right, but it's definitely foaming. As for the noise -- nothing to speak of really, definitely less than the overflow and power heads. Here are some pics:
Putting skimmer together:
Running in sump:
Here's a pic of my latest 'scape. The K3 is on the left; Tunze 6025 on the back, and sump return on the right. I don't really like the arrangement so will re-organize.
UPDATE 2: Skimming and 'Scaping
I turned on the skimmer, as Ace suggested. Still not sure if I have it exactly set up right, but it's definitely foaming. As for the noise -- nothing to speak of really, definitely less than the overflow and power heads. Here are some pics:
Putting skimmer together:
Running in sump:
Here's a pic of my latest 'scape. The K3 is on the left; Tunze 6025 on the back, and sump return on the right. I don't really like the arrangement so will re-organize.
Cycling
UPDATE 3: Cycling
Recap:
2/19 -- Added LR
2/21 -- NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=0 -- added bag of dried shrimp to generate ammonia
2/22 -- Added more LR
2/23 -- NH3=.5, NO2=.25, NO3=10 -- did bad WC (5g)
2/24 -- NH3=.25, NO2=.5, NO3=15 -- removed bag of shrimp
2/25 -- NH3=0, NO2=.25, NO3=20
2/26 -- 5g WC (with proper matched temp & SG) -- added new bag of shrimp
Since I'm not precisely regulating ammonia input I can't be 100% sure, but I believe I'm past my ammo spike (will no for sure if the new shrimp bag rots, but I see no ammo). I prefer this "all natural" approach to cycling, though, over using bottled ammonia. It's worked well for me with my FW tanks. I guess I may also be past my nitrite spike -- will see if that drops to 0.
So, question, if I get to ammo=0, nitrite=0 by the weekend, am I clear to add a few inverts? I'm thinking of doing a few different snails and a cleaner shrimp.
Thanks!
UPDATE 3: Cycling
Recap:
2/19 -- Added LR
2/21 -- NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=0 -- added bag of dried shrimp to generate ammonia
2/22 -- Added more LR
2/23 -- NH3=.5, NO2=.25, NO3=10 -- did bad WC (5g)
2/24 -- NH3=.25, NO2=.5, NO3=15 -- removed bag of shrimp
2/25 -- NH3=0, NO2=.25, NO3=20
2/26 -- 5g WC (with proper matched temp & SG) -- added new bag of shrimp
Since I'm not precisely regulating ammonia input I can't be 100% sure, but I believe I'm past my ammo spike (will no for sure if the new shrimp bag rots, but I see no ammo). I prefer this "all natural" approach to cycling, though, over using bottled ammonia. It's worked well for me with my FW tanks. I guess I may also be past my nitrite spike -- will see if that drops to 0.
So, question, if I get to ammo=0, nitrite=0 by the weekend, am I clear to add a few inverts? I'm thinking of doing a few different snails and a cleaner shrimp.
Thanks!
Glad the tubing trick worked for you. Who'd a thought that reading directions could be that helpful 
im pretty sure you want zero everything b4 you add inverts, unless u mean CUC in witch case i would say yes, just be careful, and only add a few.
