Tank Journal Archive
Ok, so I( and the tank) survived the engagement party. I only had to explain that the tank had no fish in it, and that it would remain that way for another month, at least 15 times.
I've turned the skimmer off and will add more rock today after I visit Bunarong. Hopefully that will be all the rock i need, and then the cycle can do it's thing, fully.
Salinity currently sitting at 1.030. But I'll be able to bring that down in time.
Should I be doing water changes while it cycles? Or should I wait until it really is more than halfway through?
I've turned the skimmer off and will add more rock today after I visit Bunarong. Hopefully that will be all the rock i need, and then the cycle can do it's thing, fully.
Salinity currently sitting at 1.030. But I'll be able to bring that down in time.
Should I be doing water changes while it cycles? Or should I wait until it really is more than halfway through?
Slow things down you mean? Doing a water change during the cycle will dilute the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate (whichever stage it is at), so the fastest way is to leave it water-change free. That said, if you have a big ammonia spike (ie the stench appears), then a water change will be the best way to give your hitchhikers a chance of survival through the cycle. But it will lengthen it a bit too - also know as a 'soft cycle'.
In my experience when your toxic levels are high you have to wait longer for the larger quantity of bacteria to form. If you dilute the levels you don't have to wait as long as not as much bacteria has to develop. It results in a softer cycle but if you add things slowly after the cycle (as everyone should) it works out to be fine.
I could be wrong maybe @dr_schell can confirm.
This is what bunarong has advised me anyway. My cycle took 5 weeks this way but i did think that was pretty slow lol
If you do waterchanges mid-way though a cycle, you are likely to increase the duration of the cycle.
The cycle stage is all about BACTERIAL numbers and availible food. By doing a water change, you will decrease the amount of food availible for the bacteria and therefore, increase the duration of the cycle.
However, I do see merit in OSCAR85's poi9nt in that NWS WILL contain bacteria that may be useful in a cycle. If ONLY artifical seawater is used, then the addition of seawater WILL speed up the cycle as it will intriduce bacteria
@dr_schell I hope you can give me a little insight into my new hitchhikers.
I put this guy in the sump.
This little guy I added to the tank.
As I also did with this little bloke. There's also a larger version on one if the rocks I added.
I also two small crabs. One of which has black tipped claws, which you've warned me about. This guy however does not.
I put this guy in the sump.
This little guy I added to the tank.
As I also did with this little bloke. There's also a larger version on one if the rocks I added.
I also two small crabs. One of which has black tipped claws, which you've warned me about. This guy however does not.
looks pretty good as it is. as a scaping rule of thumb, the bigger structures tend to be the closest to the back of the tank. gives it more depth of field. also one structure tends to be higher than the other, which i think you've done well. if you push the right hand bommie further back and the left hand side to say the middle, you could possibly have a smaller third bommie closer to the right hand side and only coming up just under less than half way than the bommie to the right :)
thats just my opinion though. ultimately go with what you're happy with :)
thats just my opinion though. ultimately go with what you're happy with :)
