[FIRSTSALT]

I have now completed the first week with my 29g Biocube, I added 10lbs of LR on Thursday and tested my peremiters friday morning and I noticed the my levels were coming down, my ph is 8.2, my ammo is .25, NI2 is 0, and my NI3 has come down to 5 and when Started my tank without LR my peram were ph 8.2, ammo .50, NI2 .25, NI3 10, I have also cut my lights from a 12 on 12 off cycle to 8 on 16 off once I added the LR. I have noticed now that some of my rock has a little green tint to it and have a couple light brown patches on my sand. Is this an alge prob or is this just part of the cycleing process, should I add a small clean up crew and if so what should I add

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by FIRSTSALT

I have noticed now that some of my rock has a little green tint to it and have a couple light brown patches on my sand. Is this an alge prob or is this just part of the cycleing process, should I add a small clean up crew and if so what should I add

Hi FIRSTSALT


What you are experiencing is just a cycling process, watch your ammonia and when it drops down to zero for atleast a couple of days consistent w/out any nitrites either (nitrates atleast 20 or less) then you will be safe to add some clean up crew. What kind of skimmer you have running? Keep cleaning that skimmer, how long has tank been setup and have you done any waterchanges?

[FIRSTSALT]

Not running a skimmer yet the guy at my LFS said that I didn't need one for my tank for like another 6months and I haven't done any water changes yet.

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by FIRSTSALT

Not running a skimmer yet the guy at my LFS said that I didn't need one for my tank for like another 6months

Well I think you will find that most here agree that is really kind of silly! I totally disagree w/this statement and think it is probably one of the most important piece of equipment you will need for your tank.

and I haven't done any water changes yet.

Well not doing any w/c's (waterchanges) as well as not having a skimmer will only compound your waste in your tank, thus causing higher waste and ineffeciency of processing it.

My first recommendation would be to put a skimmer on your tank? how big is your tank? This will help us gauge some possible types of skimmers to recommend to you. Do you have a wet/dry biowheel of some sort?

[scubadude]

Also are you using tap water or filtered water to make your saltwater?

[tray262]

Not to talk too bad about your LFS guy, but he's a muppet. lol. I would highly recomend running a skimmer. Is your live rock cured already ? If not, and you are not running a skimmer, your water quality is going to get bad really fast, thus creating many problems.

What your set-up, and are you running RO/DI ?

Tray262

[FIRSTSALT]

To answer scubadude's answer it it a 29 gallon Oceanic BioCube,the second to you other quastion is it is a wet/dry. I am currently using saltwater from the LFS wich they use RO to make. From the way it sounds so far a am due for a water change and a protien skimmer.

[Nikki]

FIRSTSALT,

I wholeheartedly agree with what scubadude and tray have already shared. When I first entered this hobby two years ago with my first tank I was steered right on the skimmer, but my LFS also said there was no need to do water changes in the first 3 months as the beneficial bacteria are setting up. I then ended up with a huge hair algae problem and was so disappointed that I almost dropped out of the hobby as I could not clear it up. Since then we have moved and I was able to start over and the tanks are doing much better.

For a CUC I have cerith and nerite snails with some hermits. I ordered from garf.org and was fairly happy with them, but I also don't have many local LFS choices. I had a diatom bloom at first which sounds like might be part of what you are experiencing and they cleaned it all up in two weeks.

I also have a BC, but the 14 size. One thing I have found to be very helpful is using filter floss in the second chamber on top of the grate. It is surprising what gets past the first filter. This first filter also needs to be rinsed every couple of days. I was very surprised when I first purchased this system and located the following forum Nano-Reef.com Forums. There are MANY desirable modifications you can make to these systems which I hope to find time to do someday. I think with the BC29 they make a skimmer that works, I have not yet investigated the options I have for the BC14, but I will definitely be doing something here to skim.

Good luck!

[art_of_war]

No skimmer and no water changes? And the lights on? This may just be my opinion but it is agreeable by many that, that may not be a wise choice. I can maybe see the first week or two w/o a water change but no skimmer is not smart. Even hardy-hitch-hikers and damsels can die from ammonia and nitrite poisoning. It will take you a very very long time to cycle that tank. In addition, leaving the lights on during the cycling process is not necessary. That and the nitrates <---if you have any, in itself is causing the algae bloom.

A good recommendation RIGHT now would be: get a skimmer, do a big water change <--I'm talking 20% at least, turn off those lights <--until your tank is done cycling and finally--Don't go back to that LFS FOR ANYTHING <--bad advice, bad knowledge of the hobby...just bad all around.

[scubadude]

Ok firstsalt
I think every1 has you somewhat started in the right direction. I can think of 2 different skimmers that come to mind that would work with your tank. A CPR bakpak, or a prism skimmer both you could find online for around $100 give/take I think the prism might be a bit cheaper but it also is a bit more finicky on breakin/adjustment/fine-tuning so if you have the money and want a plug-n-play skimmer CPR bakpak would probably be your best bet.

I personally do think LFS's (local fish stores) do have their problems and you will find that everyone is quick to bash them here on the boards, as most of our members on the boards are probably more qualified to be employed there then the actual employees, just consider that hindsight for now, and I would still go there for stuff you may need just take everything w/a grain of salt No pun intended :P

Can you get us a picture or two of your tank? I dont think your tank is in severe jeopardy from your description, which leads me to drastic changes such as water changes. If you are in need of a change in your tank because of problems...say you have an algae breakout that is severe smothering corals. Well then yes I would consider a big water change but also realize that the bigger the change in your tank (especially since its a small tank 29g) the bigger the stress levels can be from the change. While it may be inevitable to do the waterchange the actual changeover itself will be stressfull to tank inhabitants. So it is very important to be finicky in every detail. For example if you did do a big water change make sure you have the water at the same temperature, same PH, same SG, make sure it has been well aerated etc etc. Now I know your thinking well...my LFS does all this for me...well maybe you should check their consistency...do you rely on them to do your SW test too? I personally wont let anyone test my water...Well I test my own and sometimes if I think I have an inacurate reading I back it up w/a fellow reefer or maybe the LFS. If the Ammonia test calls for 8 drops of color changing rectant and he accidently drops in 9 then guess what....your tank could show an ammonia spike when it very well may not have one, thus he will probably recommend a massive w/c which you wouldnt need one...but the stress from the w/c will cause ill-effects.

I dont mean to keep babbling on but there can be alot to this hobby and if you want results that you can truely rely on then the best bet is to learn how to do this yourself and rely on basically yourself, if you catch my drift

[FIRSTSALT]

I don't have any fish in my tank yet, its still in the cycling process. I took pics upto my LFS and showed them to the guy that sold me everything and his diagnose was diatom and this part of the cycling process, I then took the photos to another LFS and they said the same thing and not to worry, my perams are ph 8.2 ammo 0 nitrite 0 but my nitrate is 20 I know that is not good but with a couple water changes would change that and I was told just leave everything be for now not to touch a thing by 2 differant LFS. I know everyone on this site has a ton of insite on what is going on but I am getting mixed answers on this, my brother who has been running a 10 gal nano tank told me the other night to just weed out the good info from the bad info. My LFS knows I will buy what ever I need and what they tell me I need and they still are not pushing the skimmer just yet, they are just telling to slow down and let nature do its thing but I will be buying a skimmer before I add anyfish.

[scubadude]

You know the saying that theres more than one way to skin a cat

Im not saying that you cant do it the way the LFS is recommending it, Im saying that the best way to do it is with a protein skimmer.

Best being the most effecient on your wallet, time, and health of your tank. You will be able to cycle your tank with the wet/dry filter that you have purchased from your LFS but over time the wet/dry filter will need to be changed/cleaned/maintained wich will be much more costly and time consuming than a protein skimmer in the long run It makes ALOT of sense for an LFS to sale you something like a wet/dry filter because they know you will remember where you bought it from and when you need to change out the filter you remember that...so the wet/dry keeps you coming back basically on a monthly basis because your filter will become a "nitrate factory" as many advanced reef-keepers will admit to on this board as well as other boards on the net. Please by all means dont take my words as the gospel do the research yourself