Patiently waiting

I just added 45lbs of Fiji LR to my 46 gallon tank. I set the tank up about
a week ago, but have been waiting for my LR.

I checked the gravity and before I added it is was .025. I removed some
water to allow the LR to be added and after I rinsed the LR and added I
added freshwater to fill it up. My gravity is now .023 (is this too high?).
My ph was 8.2 and ammonia was between .5 and 1ppm.

I'm going to remove the bio-wheels as soon as I get back upstairs. I think
I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my skimmer. I
have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it
turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read that
it could be caused by the fact that I used a tap water conditioner. My
plans are to no longer used tap water in future water changes. Could my
bubbles be caused by something else? I thought that after a week of running
that the bubbles would have cleared (I didn't have it on the entire time, I
just checked it from time to time).

I guess I'm just checking to see if anyone thinks I'm doing something wrong.
I was thinking about adding a damsel to help in the cycling of the tank. My
plans are for a nice peaceful tank. Is a damsel maybe not my best option?
Is there another fish to use?

thanks for all of your help

...DeeOooGee

"DeeOooGee" wrote in message
news:mgVkd.397304$D%.345271@attbi_s51...
I just added 45lbs of Fiji LR to my 46 gallon tank. I set the tank up about
a week ago, but have been waiting for my LR.

I checked the gravity and before I added it is was .025. I removed some
water to allow the LR to be added and after I rinsed the LR and added I
added freshwater to fill it up. My gravity is now .023 (is this too high?).
My ph was 8.2 and ammonia was between .5 and 1ppm.

I'm going to remove the bio-wheels as soon as I get back upstairs. I think
I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my skimmer. I
have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it
turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read that
it could be caused by the fact that I used a tap water conditioner. My
plans are to no longer used tap water in future water changes. Could my
bubbles be caused by something else? I thought that after a week of running
that the bubbles would have cleared (I didn't have it on the entire time, I
just checked it from time to time).

I guess I'm just checking to see if anyone thinks I'm doing something wrong.
I was thinking about adding a damsel to help in the cycling of the tank. My
plans are for a nice peaceful tank. Is a damsel maybe not my best option?
Is there another fish to use?

thanks for all of your help

..DeeOooGee


If you just set the tank up a week ago and used tap water, you haven't let the
tank cycle long enough. You should wait for at least 21 days to let the
nitrogen cycle go to completion before adding anything. Someone else here can
verfiy this, but I wouldn't add LR to a new tank for several months. Keep the
biowheels in place, since you haven't let the tank cycle long enough. You need
as much biofiltration as possible at this point. You could check with a local
sal****er dealer and see if they will part with some seed sand or crushed gravel
that already has bacteria established. It might help, and it certainly cannot
hurt. I don't know if adding the LR will help. The ammonia is high,and the
nitrite will pick up soon, and could kill the live rock, or anything else you
put in the tank. Oh, and chances are your tap water has lots of nutrients in it
that you don't want. You should ideally use DI/RO water, or at least distilled
water.

"DeeOooGee" wrote in message news:mgVkd.397304$D%.345271@attbi_s51...
I checked the gravity and before I added it is was .025.

I hope it was 1.025 :-)

My ph was 8.2 and ammonia was between .5 and 1ppm.

Normal during cycling.

I'm going to remove the bio-wheels as soon as I get back upstairs.

Good.

I have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it
turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read that
it could be caused by the fact that I used a tap water conditioner. My
plans are to no longer used tap water in future water changes. Could my
bubbles be caused by something else? I thought that after a week of running
that the bubbles would have cleared (I didn't have it on the entire time, I
just checked it from time to time).

Increasing foaming could be caused by water additives, "slime coat" etc.
Keep the skimmer running ALL THE TIME... especially if you cycle with
not previously cured rock stright from the shipment. Do not turn it off.

My plans are for a nice peaceful tank.
Is a damsel maybe not my best option?
Is there another fish to use?

God forbid! Damsels are territorial and aggressive... Beautiful fish,
but never use it for cycling if you do not intend to keep it later...
You can cycle the tank with live rock alone - yours has already started
the cycling: you see elevated ammonia. Everything is ok, do not make
a mistake of many beginners and buy a fish which will bully other fishes
later. Many if not most of the damsels bought for cycling tank land in
the toilets because aquarists got them without knowing what fish they are.

I was told somewhere that you could put in part of the cleanup crew during
the cycling. Is this correct? -Chris


"DeeOooGee" wrote in message
news:mgVkd.397304$D%.345271@attbi_s51...
I just added 45lbs of Fiji LR to my 46 gallon tank. I set the tank up
about
a week ago, but have been waiting for my LR.

I checked the gravity and before I added it is was .025. I removed some
water to allow the LR to be added and after I rinsed the LR and added I
added freshwater to fill it up. My gravity is now .023 (is this too
high?).
My ph was 8.2 and ammonia was between .5 and 1ppm.

I'm going to remove the bio-wheels as soon as I get back upstairs. I
think
I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my skimmer.
I
have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it
turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read
that
it could be caused by the fact that I used a tap water conditioner. My
plans are to no longer used tap water in future water changes. Could my
bubbles be caused by something else? I thought that after a week of
running
that the bubbles would have cleared (I didn't have it on the entire time,
I
just checked it from time to time).

I guess I'm just checking to see if anyone thinks I'm doing something
wrong.
I was thinking about adding a damsel to help in the cycling of the tank.
My
plans are for a nice peaceful tank. Is a damsel maybe not my best option?
Is there another fish to use?

thanks for all of your help

..DeeOooGee

"DeeOooGee" wrote in message
news:mgVkd.397304$D%.345271@attbi_s51...
| I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my
skimmer. I
| have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have
it
| turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I
read that


Skimmers take a few days to 'break in' and start operating properly,
shorter or longer dependant on model and design. As stated earlier,
turn it on, and don't ever turn it off again. Just so you know,
Seaclones are not considered to be among the best skimmers.....

"george" wrote in message
news:qxWkd.30420$5K2.5937@attbi_s03...


If you just set the tank up a week ago and used tap water, you haven't let
the
tank cycle long enough. You should wait for at least 21 days to let the
nitrogen cycle go to completion before adding anything. Someone else here
can
verfiy this, but I wouldn't add LR to a new tank for several months. Keep
the
biowheels in place, since you haven't let the tank cycle long enough. You
need
as much biofiltration as possible at this point. You could check with a
local
sal****er dealer and see if they will part with some seed sand or crushed
gravel
that already has bacteria established. It might help, and it certainly
cannot
hurt. I don't know if adding the LR will help. The ammonia is high,and
the
nitrite will pick up soon, and could kill the live rock, or anything else
you
put in the tank. Oh, and chances are your tap water has lots of nutrients
in it
that you don't want. You should ideally use DI/RO water, or at least
distilled
water.

The LR I added was cured. I thought that the best time to add it was now
(before I added life to the tank). I know there will be die off, but should
I have waited? I have read so many different answers to this that I don't
know which road to choose.

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"DeeOooGee" wrote in message
news:mgVkd.397304$D%.345271@attbi_s51...
| I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my
skimmer. I
| have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have
it
| turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I
read that


Skimmers take a few days to 'break in' and start operating properly,
shorter or longer dependant on model and design. As stated earlier,
turn it on, and don't ever turn it off again. Just so you know,
Seaclones are not considered to be among the best skimmers.....

I am already beginning to feel that Seaclones are not that good. Hopefully
the break in period on this is long and it will straighten it's self up ;-)

Live rock is one of the first things to be added. Cured or uncured.. If you had
rock shipped in, it is uncured, and will require a longer cycle.
and as far as seaclones go, most people call them suck clowns. Its unfortunate
that store push these skimmers on people :-\. but I know there is no place to
shop in Rockford

Good Luck

"Pszemol" wrote in message
...
.. Everything is ok, do not make
a mistake of many beginners and buy a fish which will bully other fishes
later. Many if not most of the damsels bought for cycling tank land in
the toilets because aquarists got them without knowing what fish they are.

Amen to that. But if you REALLY have to do a fish cycle then a common black
molly will suffice, they will withstand the high salinity and can be given
away afterwards...
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message ...
Amen to that. But if you REALLY have to do a fish cycle then a common black
molly will suffice, they will withstand the high salinity and can be given
away afterwards...

Or... you just get yourself a nice fresh fish dinner in a grocery,
cut a 1/4" piece of raw fish (the size depends on amount of water
in the tank to be cycled) and throw it to the water - let it decompose
for days until it disappear... You will get the same effects quicker and
no need for live fish. Decomposing fish meat will create ammonia peak and
in turn the whole cycle. This trick is used in fishtanks WITHOUT live rock.
Live rock delivered to your home in wet newspapers usually has enough
dead animals on the surface to create ammonia spike on its own and
no mollies or damsels are necessary.