Tempted to start adding live stock

[Boonboy]

Need some advise, is the tank ready for live stock(eg corals)?

Currently passed 2nd week into cycling a new setup with live rock and live sand.

Sand had turned yellow (suspect diatoms) and "vacuumed" clean.

Green hairy algae on live rock and glass walls. Scrubbed away using brush.

Completed 10% water change.

Test result with API reef master kit - seems too good to be true.

Calcium - 440ppm

Carbonate - 214.8ppm

Phosphate - 0

Nitrate - 0

Salinity - 1.021

Many forums says wait for 4 - 6 weeks.

[jxlex]

My answer would clearly follow ur last sentence... Patience<br /><br />Imho, u might wanna try another brand of test kit just to be sure... Ur carbonate reading seems weird

[Evolutionz]

correct me if im wrong.. but shouldn't there be some sort of nitrate? no nitrate means theres no bacteria producing it.. did u add any prawn meat to let it rot in the tank during cycling?

[Boonboy]

According to the test kit, carbonate hardness (KH) test,12 drops = 12dKH = 214.8 ppm KH. Patience, noted. Nope, I did not add any food to rot. I can see a yellow liquid in the collection cup of the skimmer. I am guessing the nitrate reading is due to the efficiency of the skimmer or the consumption by the algae that is on the live rocks. However, I am keen to try adding dead shrimp. Do you know where to get them and how much to get? Thank you.

[Admiraltian]

According to the test kit, carbonate hardness (KH) test,12 drops = 12dKH = 214.8 ppm KH. Patience, noted. Nope, I did not add any food to rot. I can see a yellow liquid in the collection cup of the skimmer. I am guessing the nitrate reading is due to the efficiency of the skimmer or the consumption by the algae that is on the live rocks. However, I am keen to try adding dead shrimp. Do you know where to get them and how much to get? Thank you.

Any market prawn will do.

[blondmyth]

or just throw in some pellets, you dont even need market prawn.

[Boonboy]

Thanks for the advise.

BTW, pellets = fish food right?

Some recommends adding "ammonium hydroxide" while others claim that live rock and live sand is sufficient.

hmm... guess, I will just try a little of each.

Also, due to space constrains I used an external canister filter but not a sump. Will that have a serious impact?

Attached are some green hair & slime algae that had blossomed on the live rocks. Any advise?

[KELVINx3]

canister filter you must wash it often as it will store n and p in long run without washing. adding 2 market prawn will do. normally cycling off the skimmer

[Boonboy]

Just spotted a snail in the tank. Guess it must be a hitch hiker from the live rock or live sand. Should I remove it?

[Boonboy]

Apologies I think it is a sea slug cause there is no shell. Hope it is reef safe. Will upload a picture if I manage to get a clear shot. Hope it helps in the cycling.

[[V]tEc]

some pts which might be helpful to u.

u might want to throw in a pc of prawn, dose bacteria, off your skimmer, dont have to switch on lightings, no water change before cycling is completed.

[Boonboy]

Thanks for the advise.

I suspect the hitch hiker is a stomatella snail.

Hope it will also help in cycling the tank.

[nicreef]

u can get some good bacteria from henry at clementi. i used his for my cycling. pretty good. You can just inform him your tank size than he calculate for you the dosage. Get the powder one (cant rmb what it is called but rmb him saying something about it being grade A bacteria etc).

i recall that if you do a dose and water not cloudy using his quite safe to say can slowly add lifestock liao (at least thats what i did. dose not cloudy waited 3 days and add). i know not really by protocol but thinking back i am glad i used this method coz my testkit were all expired haha dint even realize...

[DottyClown]

Yup, its a Stomatella.

[Boonboy]

Should I add API stress zyme to aid in cycling the new tank? Cannot find any expiry date on my test kit. (Only lot number)

[Boonboy]

Any ideas on how to position the wave maker? It is "shifting" the sand and exposing the bottom of the tank.

[LittleBurger]

Need some advise, is the tank ready for live stock(eg corals)? Currently passed 2nd week into cycling a new setup with live rock and live sand. Sand had turned yellow (suspect diatoms) and "vacuumed" clean. Green hairy algae on live rock and glass walls. Scrubbed away using brush. Completed 10% water change. Test result with API reef master kit - seems too good to be true. Calcium - 440ppm Carbonate - 214.8ppm Phosphate - 0 Nitrate - 0 Salinity - 1.021 Many forums says wait for 4 - 6 weeks.

u never test for ammonia??

[Boonboy]

Nope, unfortunately the test kit doesn't come with that test.

[nicreef]

i think u should get salifert. i regret not taking my test properly at the start...lucky everything is working fine for me except sps for the moment

[Boonboy]

Noted, will look for a test kit that contains ammonia test. Did a marine/corals "marathon" today... Went to Pasir Ris Farmway 1,2,3 then Aquamarin and the fish channel. So many places to get so many types of corals. Don't know where/what to start when the tank is ready. Guess it is back to more googling.

[Admiraltian]

It's better to stock slowly.

[Boonboy]

Agreed, but what to start? Saw Zoos, very nice frags and some mushrooms. Zoos looks so colorful. Having doubts if my T5 is sufficient. I guess ultimately it will still be the wallet that is deciding.

[Admiraltian]

Agreed, but what to start? Saw Zoos, very nice frags and some mushrooms. Zoos looks so colorful. Having doubts if my T5 is sufficient. I guess ultimately it will still be the wallet that is deciding.

U can start with some zoas. Generally soft corals are more hardy than hard corals.

[Legent]

yeah mushrooms too!

[Boonboy]

Going back to get more live sand and live rocks to cycle for 1 more week. Noticed really tiny creature on the sand. Absolutely no idea. About the length and 1/2 the wide of the hyphen "-".