[tmkx3]

My live rock has been in the tank now 4 days. I started feeding the tank 2 days ago. I still don't have any readings. Some of the rock I got was taken out of established tanks and the rest had been delivered that day. Am I not getting any die off? How do you know if there is die off? The lfs said that the lr would turn white. There are a few small white places on the rocks, but it really hasn't changed color.

I made the mistake of going to a different lfs yesterday. This one is the largest one in Houston( GO ASTROS!!!). I went there to look at there fish and start my wish list. They have a great selection of fish. I told the employee there that I was going to filter my tank with lr and a protein skimmer and she said that it wouldn't be enough filteration to support any livestock. She wanted me to invest in a $600-$800 wet/dry system. I told her I was concerned about the nitrates and she said that with a fowlr tank the nitrates would not be an issue. Why do you find so many conflicting answers about this. Are the lfs only trying sell things to me for a profit. I hate this. It makes things so confusing for a newbie

[Reefland]

You guessed it, they are trying to make some money. Trust us, you do not need a wet/dry filter for this tank, your liverock and protein skimmer is about all you need. Running carbon is beneficial as well. And if you did want to invest in a "sump" (no wet/dry filter) you could do that for about $300 with a small tank, overflow box and MAG return pump. This might be something for you to consider since it will help by providing more water volume, and a place to hide some equipment, but is isn't necessary.

As for your cycle, it is possible that you will not have one using some established liverock and some new cured rock. I would continue to watch it for several more days just to be sure though.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by tmkx3

My live rock has been in the tank now 4 days. I started feeding the tank 2 days ago.

You don't actually have to start "feeding" the tank just two days after setting it up.

I still don't have any readings.

This is possible but not likely. Another factor to take into consideration is the quality of your test kits. Even if ammonia is undetectable, you should be able to measure some nitrate. What brand of test kits are you using?

Some of the rock I got was taken out of established tanks and the rest had been delivered that day.

The live rock that came out of an established tank will usually show almost no dieoff at all if it is handled properly. I'm not sure about the condition of the rock that was "delivered that day." Was this "fully-cured" live rock or just so-called "pre-cured" live rock?

Am I not getting any die off? How do you know if there is die off?

There will always be a certain amount of dieoff when transfering live rock from one tank to another. The only question is how much.

The lfs said that the lr would turn white.

The rock won't "turn white" if it came from an established tank and if it was properly handled during the transfer. Even transhipped "pre-cured" live rock won't "turn white" under most circumstances. I have no idea why the LFS employee would tell you something like this.

I told the employee there that I was going to filter my tank with lr and a protein skimmer and she said that it wouldn't be enough filteration to support any livestock. She wanted me to invest in a $600-$800 wet/dry system.

Do yourself a favor. Don't pay much attention to LFS employees who tell you that you absolutely can't live without whatever it is they have on their shelves that they get paid to sell you. Obviously this employee doesn't know what she's talking about and is just trying to make a sale. That's her job.

Why do you find so many conflicting answers about this.

Because there are many different ways to achieve the same ends. Some are better than others.

Are the lfs only trying sell things to me for a profit.

All merchants are trying to sell us things for a profit. That's what they do for a living.

You didn't say anything about a substrate in your aquarium. Do you have a sand bed of some sort? If so, it will provide additional filtration and nutrient processing for your system.

Good luck!

[tmkx3]

I have 125lbs of sand. The tank is 125g is this enough? I have only 70lbs of lr. I will add more gradually until I get at least 125lbs. When should I start to get some readings? I took a water sample to the lfs to make sure I was doing it right she got the same readings.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by tmkx3

I have 125lbs of sand. The tank is 125g is this enough?

This is a matter of personal preference. I happen to have a very deep sand bed (6") in my aquarium but I now think that a sand bed that deep is not really necessary. Most people who choose to run sand beds will go for something around 3" deep, possibly 4" deep, but anything at least 2" deep will provide denitrification benefits.

I have only 70lbs of lr. I will add more gradually until I get at least 125lbs.

Seventy pounds of live rock is adequate for a 125-gal tank. You may wish to increase this to 100-150 pounds but the 70 pounds that you already have should be adequate, especially when coupled with a sand bed and a good protein skimmer.

When should I start to get some readings? I took a water sample to the lfs to make sure I was doing it right she got the same readings.

If you want to get some readings, just throw in a dead shrimp from the supermarket and let it decay for a few days. That will add some ammonia to your tank and help juice up your initial cycle.

[tmkx3]

I added 3 shrimp last night

[Reefland]

Remember, they don't need to be in the tank for more than a few days.

[tmkx3]

okay thanx

[tmkx3]

The shrimp have been in there about 36hrs. I still am not really getting any reafings. The test is still yellow, maybe with a little green tint. The skimmer is starting to produce a small amount of skimmate. I should still leave it on right?