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scarlet hermit crab good for cycling? |
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#1 |
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Mayor
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hey!
does anyone know if a scarlet hermit crab would be a good invert to cycle with, becuase all i have in my tank is 1 small damsel, and i wanted to go pick crab up, (my tank has been up for only about a week) thanks ![]() |
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#2 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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Good question. My 55 gallon tank has been up for a little over 2 weeks. I have 2 clown fish but wanted to get a crab too but wasn't sure
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#3 |
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 19,500
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You should not add any livestock, including damsels, until after the cycle is complete. Live animals of any kind are not required to cycle a tank. If you are using live rock, the live rock will cycle the tank. If you are not using live rock, you can cycle the tank with a couple of dead shrimp -- the kind you buy at the supermarket.
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Ninong |
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#4 |
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Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Bardstown, KY
Posts: 13,009
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That is correct, you are adding a lot of stress to a fish by adding them to a tank that is not yet cycled. To use a quote I used before, it's like putting a none smoker in a smoked filled bar and telling them to live there for a couple of weeks.
As Ninong mentioned, the Live Rock you have in your tanks is the only thing that is needed to cycle the tank. A tank without live rock can be cycled with a couple of pieces of dead shrimp. Regards, Scott Z. |
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#5 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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and how long does it take to cycle a 55 gallon?
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#6 |
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Governor
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: colorado
Posts: 1,207
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It depends on the make-up of the tank , filtration , amounts of organic matter present.
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#7 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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I have a 55 gallon, Fluval 304 filter, 7.5 lbs of live rocks and 30 pounds of live sand
Its been up for about a month Last edited by Ballgame; 02-03-2004 at 12:01 PM. |
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#8 |
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Governor
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: colorado
Posts: 1,207
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Have you been monitoring your water conditions? If so you should have seen a spike in ammomia first , then rising nitrite and nitrate levels followed by a tapering off to 0 . If you have then your tank has cycled. Keep in mind , if you add more live rock you could experience anything from nothing to a full blown cycle again , depending on the amount and condition( fully cured from the LFS to uncured online) of the rock.
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#9 | |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Thanks for all the help. There is so much to know that sometimes I don't know where to start Also I turns on the powerhead we bought yesterday for less than a minute and one of my clown fish turned white. He lost his color so I quickly turned it off and after about 15 minutes the color came back. Is that from stress? |
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#10 |
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Governor
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: colorado
Posts: 1,207
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It could have been from the introduction of something strange into the tank. I would guess it as something else though. Did you wash the powerhead before introducing it into the tank ? It is also possible that it may be leaking electricity into the tank. I only mention that possibility because the effects were so sudden ( both turning on and turning off) I would turn it on again keeping a close eye on the fish . If it happens again I would remove the powerhead for close inspection ( and if it wasnt cleaned first take it out and clean it ) The fact that there is current in the tank should be welcome by the fish , not a cause of stress.
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#11 | |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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Quote:
I will take your advice and try it again and see what happens. Thanks!! I'm learning a lot |
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#12 |
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Governor
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: colorado
Posts: 1,207
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I would delete the air tube . You dont want to introduce bubbles into the tank anyways. I agree with you , the air tube is probably not to blame.
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#13 | |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Thanks again for all your help!!! |
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#14 |
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Governor
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: colorado
Posts: 1,207
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Let us know if the clown still shows signs of stress. I have to apologize to Reefer 769 for hi-jacking his thread . Sorry.
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#15 |
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Mayor
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thanks
thanks for all the advice, and i just had one thing to mention, i do have 1 small damsel, it has a black stripe on its back and has a kind of moehawk, and it has 2 blue fins underneath him, im not sure what the name of him is becuase it was written horribly on the bag, and i will make sure to go out and by some live rock, and hopefully my damsel will survive, thanks again!
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#16 |
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Just Moved In
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 38
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