a few questions please.

[rutherford]

Hi there Reefland, First of all I am new here, but I do want to say I have been reading every post I possibly can, love all the great convos and free advice, which save me time and money. I am setting up a fowlr system specs to follow. I do have a question about the possibility of adding only one or two very hardy soft corals to my tank eventually. I understand that then makes my system no longer a fowlr but just wondering about the possibility. I dont have loads of LR hence the reason for my question. If it is a possibility which corals would be recommended.?? if not why? Also I know I dont have a huge amount of light but I have been told by my LFS that soft corals will do fine in my setup.. True/False?? also is it feasible to add a macro algea to offset the lack of LR to help in the denitrification process and hence...... corals??

So a little more details about the tank.

90 gallon (standard 48" length)
fluval 405 canister (also which media should I be using for best results as I dont have a sump/refugium)
coralife 125 protein skimmer
maxijet power head's 900 and 1200
hydor koralia 4's x2
two CF 65 w bulbs in a Coralife ballast
Aragonite substrate
60 pounds of Lace Rock
35 pounds of Fiji LR
10 pounds of Haitain LR

I am cycling right now.... day 2,

amonia is 0.5ppm
nitrite is 0.0ppm
nitrate is 20 ppm
salinity 1.024
temp 82 degrees (I know this is very high)
pH 8.2

I had a freshwater setup before with every type of freshwater fish possible at one time or another and did that fairly successfully (7 plus yrs) so I figure I would try out a little more challenging setup (no offence to freshwater keepers) I dont plan on having loads of fish either, I dont think the system I have right now can support that but a few maybe. I am using the fowlr system set up template Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium(by leebca) so no worries about jumping the gun..... Im letting is cycle and doing it right please help.

Kind Regards

Dave (rutherford)

[Parrothead]

Hey Dave,

Welcome to Reefland

Real quick, double check your nitrite and nitrate test results, I think you may have that backwards, at day two amm. should be about the only thing showing up, I seriously doubt you should be seeing any nitrates what so ever, nitrate is the final stage of the nitrogen cycle, you know----amm., nitrite, and then nitrates, double check for us, and you have got a real good start on the live rock, with a little love you are set for a fowlr, might need another 20 or so down the road, but go slow, that wins the race in this hobby

Thanks for joining us here

[rutherford]

Hi Parrothead

I know it is bizzare, but nitrates are about 20 or so. if it sheds any light on the situation I had the tank running for about 5 days in just SW and lace rock ( the lace rock was used with the cichlids) before I added the LR yesterday. SO I count yesterday as day 1. maybe this is the reason why? I dunno. But thanks for greetings. thoughts?

Dave

p.s. I also have a ammonia remover as part of my filter media, will this affect the nitrification process??? and skew the numbers?

[Parrothead]

Dave,

I've kept cichlids before, and the only thing in common with sw is the high pH, it doesn't really make any sense that you are showing a reading of 20 on a nitrate test kit, what kit are you using and check the exp. date on it. Not being a pain but it is somewhat of a concern

[rutherford]

hmmm....

API Master Saltwater Test kit. There is no obvious Exp. on it. I bought it from my LFS yesterday. thoughts?

dave

okay so my kit was manufactured last year, API says on their website that their products last for 3 yrs shelf life. maybe not the kit then?

[Parrothead]

thats the drops right????

That is the weirdest thing I've ever seen, you show amm. reading, no nitrites, but you have nitrates, got me by the short hairs on this one.

[rutherford]

okay my thoughts maybe... tell me if this makes sense. I was using the same aragonite with my cichlids and when I drained the tank potentially some of the nitrates stayed in the substrate???

and yes they are the drops

Dave

[Parrothead]

Dave,

I really don't think that would make a difference, with sw, you start with amm. it converts to nitrite then to nitrate, basically what your test are saying is we are skipping a step, a major step, I am gonna stop guessing until Leebca pops in, you have done a wonderful job providing the information he would normally ask for, He is very, very, very good, listen to what he has to say, I stumped. This makes zero sense, I'm not doubting you, but as I said, I'm baffled, lets see what Lee has to say

[rutherford]

Parrothead, cool thanks for the attempt. I will keep you posted on my tank evolution.

Dave

[twisted]

First off, Welcome to Reefland, Rutherford!
I'm not even gonna try to figure out the chemical thingy going on since im just as stumped as parrot. as for the question of adding a few hardy corals. Yes, that wont be an issue. most ppl that start fowlr's that ive seen, add a few corals, then some more, then some more...then you end up with a reef tank;)
i think its hard not to, since corals are such a cool addition to a tank. just make sure you have the appropriate lighting to support the corals you get. zoas and shrooms are an easy add and look great in any tank and are easy to care for. plus, there are so many flavors of them. take your time, keep on reading and feel free to fire away with questions and pics( we love pics and will be very disappointed, especially parrot,:eek3: if we dont see any)
Good luck

[Parrothead]

i think its hard not to, since corals are such a cool addition to a tank. just make sure you have the appropriate lighting to support the corals you get. zoas and shrooms are an easy add and look great in any tank and are easy to care for. plus, there are so many flavors of them. take your time, keep on reading and feel free to fire away with questions and pics( we love pics and will be very disappointed, especially parrot,:eek3: if we dont see any)
Good luck

I resemble that remark

[twisted]

I resemble that remark

you know youd torture this guy if he didnt post pics....im just giving him a heads up

[Parrothead]

you know youd torture this guy if he didnt post pics....im just giving him a heads up

talk about the pot calling the kettle black

all I do is threaten to shoot cats

[twisted]

i guess im guilty as charged....on a different subject, do u think it was wise to use the same substrate from his fw tank?

[leebca]

To address your original questions, rutherford, I'd say the following:

1. If you want a FOWLR you're in the right place. If you want to make this into a reef tank, you should post in the Reef Forum.

2. I can't mix the two here since my expertise is FOWLR and mostly fishes.

3. Obviously there are certain fishes, like Tangs, that are usually compatible for a reef system, but those in the Reef Forum know which fish go with which corals, the best.

4. Regarding lighting for corals -- get the truth from the Reef Forum.

I'm glad you're using the FOWLR setup guidelines.

[rutherford]

cool thanks everyone for the encouragement and help thus far!!! I am going to check my levels again today and I will post the update in a few hrs. That being said I am dealing with a heat wave right now and I dont have any really effective cooling system. As I dont have the money for a chiller, I have got the AC cranked and industrial fans blowing on the side of my tank, in some effort to bring the temp down. It is sitting at 85 in my tank right now, not happy. As for the reef set up, I am in no hurry at all. I may eventually go down that path but not worried right now, I have enough on my plate worrying about this fowlr system. as for a picture my profile pic is the tank thus far. Pretty dull right now but I will post some more when changes happen. As I said before I will post the new levels on this thread as I get them daily.

dave

[rutherford]

amonia 0.5 ppm
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate 20 ppm
pH 8.2
salinity 1.023
temp 82 degrees

I have an ammonia remover in my canister filter and I am wondering if that is preventing the initial spike in ammonia.... and thus preventing the cycle starting/reaching its full efficacy? So, should I take it out or does it not matter??

[Parrothead]

Let us know what your reading are

[rutherford]

???

[Parrothead]

???

amm., nitrites, nitrates