91 litre's 24g Tank

[qwertman321]

Hello . Juz wanna post some pictures of my tank.

My tank has been cycling for 1 week for now.

Place a Small Cube of market prawn during start of cycling too.

Tested at day 3 > nitrite 0.5ppm Tested at day 7 > nitrite 0.0ppm

How come my nitrite go down to 0 so fast?

Do i still nid to put food for the bacteria to survive?

Nitrate 70 ppm If i juz let my tank cycle would it go down to 0?

[qwertman321]

Wavemaker . Top Right Hand corner and Inside to cave.

[qwertman321]

My cheapo Stand.

[pokmingsheng]

like the intense colour of the sand bed..

are you by any chance 1000litres as well?

[jackywongto]

like the intense colour of the sand bed..

are you by any chance 1000litres as well?

THat is his dad.

[raydiative]

THat is his dad.

serious???

[qwertman321]

serious???

ya

[jackywongto]

serious???

ya really. not a joke.

[qwertman321]

Can u guys explain to me why i have strange nitrite results?

[jackywongto]

Can u guys explain to me why i have strange nitrite results?

my guess is that the live sand helped?

Are you using cured rocks from reefers/ your dad too?

[raydiative]

Can u guys explain to me why i have strange nitrite results?

IMHO.. if you're not too sure what may contribute to the wierd result.. best allow your tank to cycle longer... at the same time you can plan on your corals and LS... =]

[qwertman321]

I wanna keep Sps and zoos but i still cannot decide on a good lighting!

Oh ya , What is IMHO?

[pokmingsheng]

I wanna keep Sps and zoos but i still cannot decide on a good lighting!

Oh ya , What is IMHO?

IMHO = in my honest opinion

[yikai]

the NO3 will not go down. at this stage you will not have any anaerobic bacteria to convert NO3 to N2. even in most established system, this is very rare. unless u employ a DSB

[qwertman321]

Deep Sand Bed? Can u Enlighten me on how DSB work?

[stewpid]

Love the way you hide your wavemaker!

I think DSB should be explained by the pros here ba...but the rough idea i think is...if your sandbed is deep enough,there will not be oxygen/air at the deeper parts...which causes certain bacteria to grow which converts the NO3 to N2.....i think....(lousy explanation..zzz)

[yikai]

Love the way you hide your wavemaker!

I think DSB should be explained by the pros here ba...but the rough idea i think is...if your sandbed is deep enough,there will not be oxygen/air at the deeper parts...which causes certain bacteria to grow which converts the NO3 to N2.....i think....(lousy explanation..zzz)

yep you got it.

There are some species of bacteria (pseudomonas, bacillus etc) that are strictly aerophobic, meaning they cannot live in areas where there is oxygen content. oxygen is toxic to these bacteria and they will die if exposed to oxygen. in fact, pure oxygen is a very toxic gas. If we breathe in pure oxygen at elevated partial pressures, we will die too.

anyway, these bacteria live deep within liverocks or in this case, a deep sand bed because there is no oxygen in there. these bacteria utilise an enzyme called nitrase reductase, that convert NO3 (nitrate) into N2 gas and water.

2NO3- + 10e- + 12H+-> N2 + 6H2O (this is the equation)

hope this gives you a better understanding on anaerobic denitrification. the process is actually alot more complex.

[qwertman321]

Hmm i get it now, but i have another qns, if we have a DSB that no oxygen can reach , so how does the water pass through and convert no3 to n?

[qwertman321]

my guess is that the live sand helped?

Are you using cured rocks from reefers/ your dad too?

Yup i m using cured Rocks from my dad but not live sand.

[yikai]

good question. how then does the water reach inside? im not too sure too. the bacteria is the one denitrifying. not the water itself. substances can diffuse in and out of the sand bed without problems. perhaps that is how the bacteria reaches the NO3. strong flow is good for a tank with DSB too.

you don't need a DSB since ur tank is so small. it will be ugly and you just don't need it. personally i have never tried DSB, but would like to in the future.

[qwertman321]

but if i dun make i DSB how can i maintain nitrate to be zero? other than changing water and using denitrater.

[jackywongto]

Yup i m using cured Rocks from my dad but not live sand.

I thought the sand are black argonite sand/ volcanic sand which are live?

[yikai]

but if i dun make i DSB how can i maintain nitrate to be zero? other than changing water and using denitrater.

ur NO3 is now 70 because it is still cycling..... do a final water change after cycling is complete. maintain ur NO3 with low stocking and light feeding. water changes etc. you have much to learn and read up on. with good cycling and tank maturation, NO3 should not be much of a problem.

[qwertman321]

I thought the sand are black argonite sand/ volcanic sand which are live?

i forgot the name of the sand but it is definitly not live sand as it is for freshwater use.bought from c328 > $12 / 5kg

[jackywongto]

i forgot the name of the sand but it is definitly not live sand as it is for freshwater use.bought from c328 > $12 / 5kg

Arh ok.... nvr thot of using FW sand. clever.