Looking For Some Feedback

[hank]

I've got a 72g bowfront I got used about 1 1/2 weeks ago. It has about a 17g sump, a skimmer, a Rio 32h return pump and a 200W heater. The tank came with about 60lb of live sand. Last Tues. I put in 60lb of live rock, oceanic salt mix and filled tank. I used tap water that's what the LFS said to do? Turned everthing on and been waiting. Tonight I got a water test kit, here are the results:
Temp - 80 f
SG -1.024
PH-8.4
Ammonia - 4.0
Nitrite - 5.0
Nitrate - 20
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom
Hank in SoCal

[leebca]

Hi Hank.

I think your best bet is to read this post: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium

You'll get a lot of details from the above post.

I hope what I read is not exactly what you did. Was the live rock put in tap water and then you added the salt? or maybe you mixed the salt up first then added it to the rock?

Live rock in tap water is pretty much dead. The death will create a high ammonia spike and begin the chain reaction of poisons released into the aquarium. Things will settle eventually at which time you want to make very slow changes to the aquarium.

The above post will refer you to other posts regarding source water (and why tap water is generally a poor choice); what live rock is; and other supporting information. It just takes time for you to go through it to learn about it all. It's a fun hobby. Please take the time to go through it. Good luck!

[Ninong]

If you're concerned about the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate numbers, they're fairly normal if you used uncured live rock. If you used cured live rock and you have those numbers, then I suspect you probably did what Lee thinks you did.

If you did what Lee thinks you did, then you're in big trouble. You should have mixed the saltwater in a separate container. Then you should have placed the sand and live rock in the tank and then gradually added to saltwater as gently as possible to not stir up the sand unnecessarily.

It's possible to mix the saltwater in a new tank but that's a big pain in the rear end because after you mix it, you have to remove most of it so that you can add the sand and the live rock. Then you have to put the removed saltwater back into the tank. You should never try to add dry salt mix to a tank with sand and/or live rock. And if you put the sand, live rock and freshwater (tapwater) in the tank, started everything up and then added the salt mix, you killed all of the live rock. And it's that dieoff that is causing the ammonia spike.

P.S. -- The tapwater itself is not your problem unless it has copper in it, which would be extremely rare under most normal circumstances. If you added tapwater (or even R.O./D.I. water) to live rock in your tank before mixing it with the salt mix, then that's your problem.

[hank]

This is the steps that I followed. First, when I got the tank the live sand was in the bottom covered with a couple of inches of water from the previous owner. After two days, I went and got the live rock and salt mix from the LFS. I came home put in the live rock and as per the instructions from theLFS, began filling the tank with a hose while slowly pouring in the salt mix into the water stream. When it was full, I turned everything on. As far as what's going on in the tank, on one of the live rocks ther is a very thin white mat on part of it. I have seen two very small snails working over the rocks and after leaving the lights(Coralife 4x65w) on all day for the past two days I am seeing what looks like a brownish algae growyh on the rocks closest to the surface. I AM REALLY WORRIED NOW! What can I do?
Thanks, Hank in SoCal.

[leebca]

Start by gathering some of the equipment mentioned in that post.

You'll want to start doing some water changes when you have mixed the salt properly. When you mix the salt, mix it according to the manufacturer's instructions as far as how long to mix it. Adjust the temperature and pH for experience, then remove 20% of the water from the system and replace it with fresh salt water mixed up.

See what the skimmer is taking out of the water. If there are a lot of organics, or the tank water in general smells rotten or bad, you can go forward by starting over (discarding the rock or curing it separately to use as base rock, then following the post procedure) or if the water is not bad smelling and skimmer is not overworking, then give the whole thing time (a month or so), make weekly water changes of about 20%, and see how things have come along. In this hobby the key is going slowly and having patience.

[hank]

Thanks,
So I'm clear, are you saying to start doing 20% water changes now? After the tank running for 1 week, no the water is not bad smelling. I sure hope I didn't kill the rock, that stuff was not cheap.
Hank in SoCal

[hank]

Sorry to keep going on before you've had time to answer, I know I not the only person who needs yor help.
I have also noticed what looks like a small bristle worm and some small little round things that seem to open with an orange center. Hopefully that's a good sign. Well, I'll do whatever you suggest and hope for the best.
Thank You - Hank in SoCal

[leebca]

Yes. Do a water change when you have the water mixed and ready. Do weekly water changes IF you think the water smells bad, shows signs of collecting scum, or the skimmer is pulling out a large quantity of organics. If these things are not happening, then do not do weekly water changes.

I understand about the expense of live rock. I hope you haven't 'killed it' too. Seeing some lifeforms coming out of the rock is a good sign. Keep watch and keep smelling the water for any signs of decay, rotting, and excessive organics.

We are not all available, all the time, to post on the Forum. We are volunteers sharing our experience and knowledge: Bio - Lee (a.k.a. leebca) We do what we can when we can. Be patient; read!

[hank]

Ok. Well since the water does not smell bad, I'm not sure how to tell about the skimmer though? Sounds like I just sit tight, watch, wait, and read.
I really appreciate your time and effort. I can only hope that as I learn, and gain experience... someday I can help the newbies.
Hank in SoCal