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Another day, another question. When should I start using the circulation pump?
Tests are all good. Let it rest.... and here are the numbers for today. I am adding the pictures too. If you think I read any of them wrong, let me know.
Am- .40 ppm
Nitrites-.15 ppm
Nitrates- 5 ppm
Salinity- 1.024
PH-8.2
Temperature- 76 F
Let's Recap-
I started the 29g Biocube march,14th, four days ago. I am only running the pump with nothing but some filter floss on the second chamber and a heater on the first chamber. I am not sure when should I add the Purigen or the Chemipure Elite (HELP). I was thinking about waiting until the Diatoms come up, but let me know if I should wait until the Cyanobacteria shows up. ???
My vision for this tank is to have one or two clown fish, a pistol shrimp + watchman goby pair, a couple of hermit crabs and some corals. I think at least one bristle worm is still in the tank. He is a hitchhiker that came on the Fiji live rock (now I know why it was 30% off at Petco).
I research corals and I am interested in getting some of the following: Dragon eye (zoanthid), a light blue/green toadstool, a purple Blastomussa, and a light green Montipora. Not sure where to get them from but I am not in a hurry to set this tank up. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will read about supplements at some point.
My question now is...
When is it safe to add the CUC?
Notes:
Based on these last readings, I have to say that BIOspira works. If I am not mistaken it takes two or three weeks to get nitrates readings.
Thank you for reading and as always I appreciate any comments and suggestions.
Bye,
MC
I would rinse them very well in tap water then let them soak in saltwater for a few days. If the water stays clear they will be safe to add.I have a couple of pounds of seashells my girls picked up from the beach last summer. Can I just rinse them with salt water and add them to the aquarium?
I wouldn't use either of them in a new tank. You may need to later, but I wouldn't start with them. The only chemical I would run in a new system is GAC.I am running the tank without the Purigen or the Chemipure elite.
I think you already have it running, but I would start it now and leave it running if it isn't.Another day, another question. When should I start using the circulation pump?
Since you added Biospira you may never see much in the way of nitrites. Your bottle could have been a little heavy on the nitrite processing bacteria so it is being consumed as fast as it is produced. It also contains some bacteria that convert ammonia directly to nitrate.Will I see some Nitrite?
Very unlikely. I would guess it is oxygen being generated in a small patch of algae.Do you think this is nitrogen?
Salty gave you plenty of great advice on CuC so won't go into that.When is it safe to add the CUC?
Nope, they work together and make a great team.wouldn't the bristle worms eat the snails?
I would get it up and running now. You may be surprised at how much you can skim out right now and there is a learning curve with using a skimmer. Set it up and start working on getting it dialed in!I have a skimmer, but it is still in the box. I figured I will wait a month or so until the tank has something to skim .
Thank you Brew12!
Preparing the seashells sounds like a good project to start with the kids.
I am glad to hear that the bristle worm is not going to eat a snail but I wonder how is it going to survive in a new tank. I used live sand to help establish it. I hope the worm doesn't get rid of the nutrients before the tank can produce more. I am gosht feeding to help create ammonia.
As for the circulation pump, I was referring to a second one that someone gifted me, a brand new Hydor Koralia circulation and wave pump (240 gph). I thought that maybe I don't need it until I get the corals at some point.
And, I will start now setting up the skimmer. You are right, I read somewhere in the product reviews they are a bit finicky to set up.
MC
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Thank you Vetteguy!
That picture is so beautiful. It looks like an underwater forest. What types of Zoa are those in the middle of the picture (bright green with the middle purple ring?
Also, Can you suggest a good test kit?
MC
Never thought about that. I will read about fish too.Very cool!
It’s also a good idea to match the snails with what you are feeding the fish. Meaty foods, crabs and nassarius, flakes and veg, turbans and trochus.