Water cycle.

[kksg2000]

my tank is still in the cycle... and i found green hairy algae on one of the rocks... will it spread? do i have to do anything to it?

[Goondoo]

my tank is still in the cycle... and i found green hairy algae on one of the rocks... will it spread? do i have to do anything to it?

Hi,

I guess your tank still have no live stocks, right? In that case, you may consider disable the lights till cycle complete. If room too bright, cover with newspaper or something.

Bacterias do not need lights to colonize.

These will not help your tank cycle faster, but at least prevent algae booms.

[kksg2000]

i did not turn on the light during the cycle. will it go away after the cycle?

[Goondoo]

i did not turn on the light during the cycle. will it go away after the cycle?

It could be consumed.... by hermit crabs etc.

But you could prevent it from spreading by isolating lights into you tank.

They might die off if you shade it long enough, which is pretty long....

[jackywongto]

if it is really an eyesore, after cycling, you can also take out the rock, use a toothbrush and brush it in a pail of saltwater to remove them.....

(maybe during the 1st WC as you will be changing 30 - 50% of the water).

anyway during the 1st 2 months, there will be a lot of algae boom..... (new tank syndrome).

get prepared to use your tooth brush pretty often

[Goondoo]

if it is really an eyesore, after cycling, you can also take out the rock, use a toothbrush and brush it in a pail of saltwater to remove them.....

(maybe during the 1st WC as you will be changing 30 - 50% of the water).

anyway during the 1st 2 months, there will be a lot of algae boom..... (new tank syndrome).

get prepared to use your tooth brush pretty often

I am lazy type, I will leave them alone hoping coraline alage will grow over them... lol

[CFOh]

yes i got manual with the recommended temp/sanilty etc. ...but as Jacky suggested just ignore the temperature... or else how to i bring down the water (water change) temperature to 24 deg c? Unless i have another chiller....

To be exact.. it does effect... but negligible in our tank temperature (Depends how accurate u want ).... in general, ~0.0015 delta from 25°C to 30°C.. I suggest keep SG close to nominal ~1.022-1.023 for Hydrometer.. to handle SG fluctuation due to evaporation and measurement error from Hydrometer... If possible verify your hydrometer with reflectometer or pinpoint... u will found another ~0.001 SG offset...

Cheers and Happy Reefing....

[kksg2000]

Everytime i read the SG from the tank water, the hydrometer shows a different reading. Could someone advise?

Tks.

[kksg2000]

if it is really an eyesore, after cycling, you can also take out the rock, use a toothbrush and brush it in a pail of saltwater to remove them.....

(maybe during the 1st WC as you will be changing 30 - 50% of the water).

anyway during the 1st 2 months, there will be a lot of algae boom..... (new tank syndrome).

get prepared to use your tooth brush pretty often

I should only bush off after the WC? Can i brush off before the WC ends?

[jackywongto]

I should only bush off after the WC? Can i brush off before the WC ends?

you can brush it off anytime you like

[jackywongto]

Everytime i read the SG from the tank water, the hydrometer shows a different reading. Could someone advise?

Tks.

it should be pretty stable. else your hyrdometer could be faulty.

[anothermix]

thanks this thread is a great help!

[kksg2000]

it should be pretty stable. else your hyrdometer could be faulty.

Do i have to turn off my circulation pumps when taking readings? maybe i try that again this evening.

[raydiative]

Do i have to turn off my circulation pumps when taking readings? maybe i try that again this evening.

For SG?? no need..

[kksg2000]

i have been cycling the tank for almost 2 weeks, i am getting moderate readings from my ammonia and nitrite and nitrate. My ammonia/nitrate reading did not shoot up. Is this normal?

In btw, i dropped market prawn, dose bacteria, and did not do a water change. I only top up with DI water.

Could someone advise?

[raydiative]

moderate readings?? meaning?

just make sure your ammonia and nitrite is 0... from there measure nitrate..

[kksg2000]

i took the reading every day. Ammonia = 0.5-1 ppm .. i thought the ammonia would go very high within the 1st week?

[raydiative]

you are in your second week now.. ammonia should start to decrease...

what i mean is that once ammonia and nitrate hit zero measure your nitrate to see when your cycle have completed..

[samfsl]

Everytime i read the SG from the tank water, the hydrometer shows a different reading. Could someone advise?

Tks.

If it is a floating hydrometer, the pumps and wavemakers should be off before reading can be taken. For a swing arm hydrometer, ensure no

bubbles are sticking to the swing arm, if there are any bubbles, it will give a false reading. Usually a plastic tapper is provided together,

use it to tap the swing arm to remove the bubbles before taking a reading.

[kksg2000]

Help...

If i put in filter media now e.g. pura complete which is a 2 in 1 (carbon + phosguard)..i read from the manual, this media will also help to remove ammonia... will this disturb my water cycle???

[kksg2000]

My ammonia is 0.25 ppm

nitrite is 0.1 ppm

nitrate is 40 ppm

1. should i do 50% water change now?

2. When i salt mix with DI water, do i need to leave it overnight?

3. Should i wait till my ammonia and nitrite become 0ppm then i can conclude my water is completed?

[kksg2000]

All bros...

i am getting less bubbles and floating "dirt" now... thank you for the advice.

[charlie]

would suggest not running the skimmer during cycling period.

we throw market prawns in the tank to kick off cycling... when you switch on the skimmer, you are removing part of the waste and hence slowing down and reducing the bacterial growth and count.

Hi Bro,

Is there any numbers of market prawn to throw in for cycling?

[dirtnitro]

Just wondering after cycle period do we need to change the filter media ?All to new or partial?

[iskay]

Just wondering after cycle period do we need to change the filter media ?All to new or partial?

If you are talking about sponge filters, yes. Don't change your bio filter media. You should also perform a water change (20-50%) after cycle.