New Nano... how slow is slow?

[Matthew]

Good afternoon,

I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We were
away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia or
nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and a
mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping. We
added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three blue-legged
hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.

I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water two
days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined that
the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things might get
ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme. However, the
ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and there isn't any
perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems to be happy.

I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't want
to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?

Regards,
Matthew

[Matt Levek]

10 nano, i wouldnt put any anemones in there...and depending on corals you
probably wont have enough light for much more than mushrooms.


"Matthew" > wrote in message
news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
> Good afternoon,
>
> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We were
> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
> or nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
> peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and a
> mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
> well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping.
> We added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three
> blue-legged hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>
> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
> two days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined
> that the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things
> might get ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme.
> However, the ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and
> there isn't any perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems
> to be happy.
>
> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
> want to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>
> Regards,
> Matthew
>

[Matt Levek]

can you describe the setup...lighting filtration...etc.


"Matthew" > wrote in message
news:88jId.139655$6l.62080@pd7tw2no...
> By the way, here it is so far...
>
> "Matthew" > wrote in
> message news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
>> Good afternoon,
>>
>> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
>> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We were
>> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
>> or
>> nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
>> peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and
>> a
>> mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
>> well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping.
>> We
>> added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three blue-legged
>> hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>>
>> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
>> two
>> days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined
>> that
>> the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things might
>> get
>> ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme. However,
>> the
>> ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and there isn't any
>> perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems to be happy.
>>
>> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
>> want
>> to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
>> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
>> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Matthew
>>
>>
>
>
>

[Matt Levek]

can you describe the setup...lighting filtration...etc.


"Matthew" > wrote in message
news:88jId.139655$6l.62080@pd7tw2no...
> By the way, here it is so far...
>
> "Matthew" > wrote in
> message news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
>> Good afternoon,
>>
>> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
>> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We were
>> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
>> or
>> nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
>> peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and
>> a
>> mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
>> well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping.
>> We
>> added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three blue-legged
>> hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>>
>> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
>> two
>> days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined
>> that
>> the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things might
>> get
>> ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme. However,
>> the
>> ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and there isn't any
>> perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems to be happy.
>>
>> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
>> want
>> to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
>> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
>> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Matthew
>>
>>
>
>
>

[Jon]

A small RBTA will be ok, but I would strongly recommend waiting at least
8-12 months before adding one. As far as corals go, make sure you have at
least 60 watts of light over that tank. More if it is a 10gal high.



"Matt Levek" > wrote in message
...
> 10 nano, i wouldnt put any anemones in there...and depending on corals you
> probably wont have enough light for much more than mushrooms.
>
>
> "Matthew" > wrote in
> message news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
>> Good afternoon,
>>
>> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
>> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We were
>> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
>> or nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added
>> a peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails
>> and a mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is
>> doing well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the
>> aquascaping. We added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added
>> three blue-legged hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>>
>> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
>> two days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I
>> imagined that the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that
>> things might get ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or
>> extreme. However, the ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next
>> day, and there isn't any perceptible change in nitrates. All the
>> livestock seems to be happy.
>>
>> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
>> want to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
>> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
>> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Matthew
>>
>
>

[Matthew]

It is a standard 10g form (20"x12"x12"?)...
Lighting is from two 20w compact fluorescents.
Filtration is from a hang-on filter, 150gph, 1/2 size poly/carbon cartridge.
15lbs live rock.

Regards,
Matt

"Matt Levek" > wrote in message
...
> can you describe the setup...lighting filtration...etc.
>
>
> "Matthew" > wrote in
> message news:88jId.139655$6l.62080@pd7tw2no...
>> By the way, here it is so far...
>>
>> "Matthew" > wrote in
>> message news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
>>> Good afternoon,
>>>
>>> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
>>> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We
>>> were
>>> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
>>> or
>>> nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
>>> peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and
>>> a
>>> mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
>>> well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping.
>>> We
>>> added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three blue-legged
>>> hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>>>
>>> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
>>> two
>>> days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined
>>> that
>>> the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things might
>>> get
>>> ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme. However,
>>> the
>>> ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and there isn't any
>>> perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems to be happy.
>>>
>>> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
>>> want
>>> to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
>>> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
>>> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Matthew
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Mark C.]

I think you missed the first 'spike' while you were away. The current amonia
spike you're referring to could be from the 5 lbs of live rock you just
added.

--
Mark C.
--
I don't CLAIM to know everything. I just do.




"Matt Levek" > wrote in message
...
> can you describe the setup...lighting filtration...etc.
>
>
> "Matthew" > wrote in
> message news:88jId.139655$6l.62080@pd7tw2no...
>> By the way, here it is so far...
>>
>> "Matthew" > wrote in
>> message news:t5eId.138044$6l.111155@pd7tw2no...
>>> Good afternoon,
>>>
>>> I'm a SW newbie. My wife has talked me into setting up a 10g nano. We
>>> started with about 10lbs of LR and waited for a couple of weeks. We
>>> were
>>> away for the second week of its young life. We haven't seen any ammonia
>>> or
>>> nitrite spikes indicating a cycle. After about three weeks, we added a
>>> peppermint shrimp and an emerald crab, along with a couple of snails and
>>> a
>>> mushroom. The shrimp died within 3 hours, but everything else is doing
>>> well. Another week went by, and we weren't happy with the aquascaping.
>>> We
>>> added another 5lbs of LR, and on impulse we also added three blue-legged
>>> hermits and a small colony of yellow polyps.
>>>
>>> I was worried that we were moving too quickly, and when we tested water
>>> two
>>> days later, we saw slightly elevated ammonia and nitrites. I imagined
>>> that
>>> the cycle was now going to start, and warned my family that things might
>>> get
>>> ugly for the livestock if the cycle was long and/or extreme. However,
>>> the
>>> ammonia and nitrites went back to zero the next day, and there isn't any
>>> perceptible change in nitrates. All the livestock seems to be happy.
>>>
>>> I feel that we went a little too quick at the start, I think. I don't
>>> want
>>> to have new tank syndrome... It's been another week since the last
>>> additions, and the water parameters haven't changed. How long, do you
>>> suppose we should wait to add a fish or other anemones/corals?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Matthew
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>