So last week on Sunday I got my freshwater converted to saltwater and it's up and running. Monday, I put the dead shrimp in and everything was going as expected. Then my fiance and I read that you can cycle a tank with live rock. We recently found a guy that sells it at a great price and wanted to check it out, so we went out there today. And he really had a lot of it and some really great pieces. So... we bought 30lbs and stuck it in the tank. He said we could get rid of the dead shrimp, and so I did. But now looking at these beautiful pieces of rock I'm finding all sorts of things living. Is the ammonia and nitrites (1.0 & .25) that were already in the tank from the dead shrimp going to kill all these living things?
newbie cycling question
- Thread starter nynikki
- Start date
Depending on exactly what organisms are on the rock, they may die while the tank is cycling. Many will survive, but if the rock you bought is pretty good, you'll likely see the ammonia and nitrite levels drop quickly, as soon as within the next 24 - 48 hours.
As of this morning, I still had a tinge of Nitrite, and about half the ammonia, but my Nitrates are up to about 15. I'm waiting for the ammonia and nitrites to zero out and then I suppose I should do a 20% water change, that should be by this weekend. So at that point, will I be ready to add fish? I'm only thinking a pair of clowns to start with and perhaps a pretty shrimp like a peppermint. I am planning to leave it bare for a few months for 2 reasons - one, I'm getting married in October, so we will be away from home for a week. And two, I would like to house a Manderine and know they should not even be considered until the tank has been up and stable for at least 6 months or more. What say you fish gods? if the water parameters are right, am I ready for fish?
Wouldn't the shrimp be part of a clean up crew? What are you suggesting for clean up? I was thinking of a goby that sifts sand, but didn't think I had enough in the sand for one yet. Half of the tank was filled with RO water from my house, the other half we bought at our LFS, They prepare it and sell it at a good price. What exactly do I need to do to prepare for an algae bloom, and what can be done to prevent it?
OgreMkV
Father of Earth's Next Emperor
You can't prevent the diatom bloom. Everything will turn a lovely shade of brown. Of course, once it's over all the nutrients in the water will be used up (well most).
OgreMkV
Father of Earth's Next Emperor
At this point, you should be testing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Kh and pH would be good things too. Calcium if you want to add corals.
You do not really want nutrients in the water. You can test for Phosphates and that should be zero or you will get large algae blooms.
You do not really want nutrients in the water. You can test for Phosphates and that should be zero or you will get large algae blooms.
Once you're seeing no ammonia and no nitrite, and the other water parameters are stable (SpG, pH, temperature) you can consider adding a fish or two (two as in the pair of clowns mentioned above). If you decide to get a sand sifting goby down the road, try to buy one that is known to eat frozen or prepared foods, as the goby will quickly deplete its food source in the sand bed in such a small tank.
Adding a mandarin to a 30g tank is unlikely to work out. Unless you're able to buy one that eats frozen or prepared foods, a tank of that size will never be able to keep up with the food requirements of a mandarin.
Since you already know you're going to be away in October, I wouldn't advise getting more than the pair of clowns and a small assortment of hermit crabs and snails until after you return. Allowing the tank to age a little between now and then will only benefit it (and you) as things progress.
The peppermint shrimp, while a scavenger, is not particularly effective against diatoms or other algae. It'll act more as excess food clean up than algae clean up. Snails and hermit crabs will be far more useful in battling the algae waves that are reasonably common in newer tanks.
Adding a mandarin to a 30g tank is unlikely to work out. Unless you're able to buy one that eats frozen or prepared foods, a tank of that size will never be able to keep up with the food requirements of a mandarin.
Since you already know you're going to be away in October, I wouldn't advise getting more than the pair of clowns and a small assortment of hermit crabs and snails until after you return. Allowing the tank to age a little between now and then will only benefit it (and you) as things progress.
The peppermint shrimp, while a scavenger, is not particularly effective against diatoms or other algae. It'll act more as excess food clean up than algae clean up. Snails and hermit crabs will be far more useful in battling the algae waves that are reasonably common in newer tanks.