Hey Rob...
I would think you might have completed the cysle already. It's just strange that you test daily though and have seen the spikes. The ammonia spike should have been almost immediately since your addition of the LR was from the beginning. Nitrites should have spiked already as well...You sure you didn't miss any days in between? [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] Is the Nitrates rising or declining? If the Nitrates are declining then I would think that your cycle is almost complete. 2.5ppm is not bad...just wait another week before getting that prize anemone. Figured you waited long enough, another week won't kill ya! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

BTW...Liked your website on car rallies...nice graphics, takes awhile to load though...Is that you peeking behind from the bridge? [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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The Nut!

Alex's Ocean Realm
GO FOR A DIVE!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~amariquit/thereef

Alex, thanks for the compliments on my web site http://www.saab96.com Yeah, that was me in the hat.

To be honest, at first I tested every other day. I went into this with the assumption that once I saw some action on the ammonia, I would test more frequently. It is quite possible that I missed it, as you've suggested.

So, is it proper to conclude that live rock will function as a buffer, and that once I finish building it up, that I won't have to worry that I have the right denitrifying bacteria?

Tanya will absolutely love having another couple of fish to feed !!!! This morning I woke up to cherry blintzes. Tanya also said that she heard the cats walking around at night, and so made them some tuna salad. A Ukrainian fiancee is absolutely the best!


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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

You Crack Me Up BUD! [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]
You sure you're only doing this reef thing for Tanya...or has the bug bit you already...hahaha!

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The Nut!

Alex's Ocean Realm
GO FOR A DIVE!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~amariquit/thereef

Well, yeah, the bug bit me all right.

It's good to have a hobby together.

In Tanya's culture, a lady doesn't work on cars. So she was feeling a bit left out. However, she loves it when I drive fast, so I take her with me to navigate, when I practice up in the woods...

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

you said you took your water to be tested independently, that means there were two different test kits being used...right?? if so, thats good...did you lose any damsels at all??

I would do a 10% water change to be on the safe side, then start adding your permanent fish, are you keeping the damsels??i hope not....good luck

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No, haven't lost any of the little buggers yet. Not for lack of trying, considering that they are living in a permanent construction site.

The water change should happen as soon as I bring the sump on-line. I made up the water, but suffered a temporary setback when one of our cats decided to take a bath in it. Had it covered with a piece of cardboard, but Vladimir decided to sit on the cardboard, and it gave way...

The domino damsels are 'free to good home' if anyone else is starting a tank. But they are as aggressive and self-assured as the District Attorney in a speeding case.

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

Poor damsels...they always get the ax...[img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]
I love my damsels...maybe because that's all I have in my tank...hahaha! I guess it's only me, but fish is only secondary in my tank...they just serve their purpose, like the hermits and snails...Worrying about the inverts is hard enough...I can't see myself having to science the fish as well.



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The Nut!

Alex's Ocean Realm
GO FOR A DIVE!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~amariquit/thereef

Oh, I'll "science" them all right ;-)

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

damsels are just mean little bullies...In my 180 i didnt even cycle it with live fish, i used 6 cocktail shrimps so i wouldnt have to deal with the damsels attitude...

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But I agree with the fish being secondary, just one of many forms of life.

Seriously, when we terraform Mars, we'll have to work the same way, make the sand and the rock "live" with algae and bacteria, probably genetically modified. Later introduce small organisms. Large animals out in the open definitely last.

Anyway, staring at the tiny things in a reef tank for an hour, leads me along avenues like this...

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

I tried desperately to evict my blue devil...but he's got a better lawyer...[img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/lol.gif[/img]

Have you tried a trap?

Damsels are chow hounds. Once, a damsel jumped into the feed cup (a winery tasting glass) from which the thawed brine shrimp pour... then jumped out because there was no more shrimp there.

There should be a way to trap your fish, or...?

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

Rob,
If the rock was cured or maybe even "fresh" you probably wont see a cycle.

Where did you get the rock?

Mark

Been There...Done That...Blu just don't cooperate. All the traps did was made him not trust me evn more. Yet when I sit infront of the tank and eye the bugger...he comes right up to the glass and stares right at me with a big smile. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
I eventually learned to love him. [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

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The Nut!

Alex's Ocean Realm
GO FOR A DIVE!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~amariquit/thereef

Got the rock from various LFS stores. We bought for appearance and suitability in building. We like lots of caves and surface area, but strength is important too.

One day we might see a rock that we must have, then we might look in three other stores, adn they are all boring.

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

heck i like my damsels!!!! i just bought another blue devil and a yellow damsel for my 10 g reef! dont get mad everybody they are tiny and im expecting 1 to kill the other! but hell if they dont...yeah i have 2 nice(looking) fish(in my)tank

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Whoever invented salt water aquariums should be shot for taking all my money...everyday, oh well gotta have something to do!

I really like my damsels, but they are so aggressive, they really need to be by themselves. By the way, I used LS and LR to setup a ten gallon tank for them, and it never "cycled", no ammonia build-up at all. Also, I never got a large spike in my main tank, as I disregarded most advice and did at least a weekly water change during the whole "cycling" process.

It is taking forever for the tank to cycle. Am I doing something wrong?

By forever I mean that we have had 10 damsels and about 40# of live rock in a 55-gallon tank for six weeks, live sand for the past two weeks, and the levels of ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes are STILL undetectable.

There has only been a small accumulation of nitrAtes in six weeks, about 2.5 PPM. I have taken a water sample to be checked independently.

I am wondering... if the live rock was fully cured by the time it was installed (right after we filled the tank) then wouldn't it buffer the anticipated ammonia and nitrIte spike?

Anyone else have experience with our configuration? Do we have the needed bacteria, or don't we? Will the tank decide to spike, as soon as I add some delicate and rare anenome?

If the ammonia spike was very quick, maybe I missed it. I test every day, but... I'd expect a slow accumulation of nitrAtes, if nothing else.

The "cycle" infomation that I have read and heard too much about, is from the fish-only saltwater aquarium people, who seem to have fewer parameters and fewer variables to consider. In what ways do things change with a reef tank?

Opinions?

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

Yes you can not have a "cycle". I have done it before.

This may sound weird, but do you have snails? Just IMO snails are great indicators of water quality.

Dear Staceon,

Yes! We have about ten very active snails, mostly Astrea and Cerith. The latter lack the personality of the Astrea, but move quicker and have been laying egg traces like crazy.

If I cannot have a cycle, how will I know that I have built up the proper bacteria?

Thanks

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City