Finally 20 Gallon Setup

Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
Not much of an update. The tank is still cycling have no idea why though. Although I already have some bubble algae have no idea why. I know its bad will pluck them out when I will do a water change. They are very tiny green bubbles on only one peace of LR. On another rock have some sort of algae looks like grass tiny patches of it. Now that I use the light only for 5 hours the LR has stopped turning white. Still have a little bit of red left on the rock (a good thing). As for the bubble algae I dont know how I got it. I am using RO/DI water. I had been doing only 25% water changes and today will do a 50% water change hope that will help. Ohh And I have some sort of tiny red tubes (grass like) coming out of one rock any idea's.
Water parameters below:-

Ammonia - 0.0 ppm (I think)
Nitrite - 5.0 ppm (or higher)
Nitrates - 5.0 ppm
PH - 8.2 (Took it up)
Temp - 79 F
GPH - 480

I think that about it. Any suggestions?
 

Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
YahooFishKeeper said:
i think you need more flow. and how long has the tank been cycling?

I was thinking of getting Bio wheel filter 350. It is rated 350 GPH. So I will have a total of 670 GPH. What do you think, should I go for it. Its on sale. The tank has been cycling since Oct 21 06 (18 days), 2 weeks and 4 days. I know it takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks but the rock was pre cured so it should have cycled earlier.
 

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Lorna

Elite Fish
Mar 3, 2005
3,082
4
0
NE Indiana
sometimes it can take up to six weeks. Even with pre-cured rock you will have a cycle. Though usually it is a bit quicker. I don't think you should get a biowheel filter, why waste your money on that, bet a good skimmer or more live rock to act as a filter
 

Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
Well I already ordered the filter. Will remove the bio wheels and have some extra GPH. I am thinking of getting more live rock. Will buy locally so it won't have die off in shipping and all that. Will check out petco. They had some live rock but the cost is like $17.00 for medium rock. will see and keep you guys updated.
 

Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
YahooFishKeeper said:
remove the biowheels and the filter pads. if you want you can put live rock rubble in there.

Yeah I will remove the bio wheels and the filterpads. I will be getting the filter on the 15th. I never thought of that. I Could put the rock rubble in there Now thats a good idea it would be like a HOB refugium? Right?. I am thinking of going to petco after work and getting a small LR. will see.


Petco has saltwater stuff its only petsmart that does not have. Petsmart has saltwater stuff like salt and the basic stuff. But petco has saltwater fish, water a few Live rocks and the basic stuff oh and live sand too. As for pics nothing new so no point in pics. Will post some pics if I will get new live rock. saltwater4life Can't wait to see pics. its about time!
 

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Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
Tiny Update.

Checked the water parameters yesterday. results below

Ammonia - 0.0 ppm
Nitrites - 2.0 ppm (Have finally gone down)
Nitrates - 5.0 ppm
PH - 8.2
Temp - 79 F
GPH - 480 (for now. Will take it up to 670 GPH)
Salinaty - 1.024

The tank seems to be doing good. Having some brown algae already. Had some bubble algae got rid of that when I did a 50% waterchange. I think I had posted about this but did not get any replies. well here it goes again. On one of the rocks have a few tiny patches of grass like stuff 1-3 mm approximatly. Any ideas what it is? I did some research on the net and come up with nothing.
 

Panther28

Superstar Fish
Jun 7, 2006
1,024
0
0
Fremont, CA 94536
A big Update today.

The Picture says it all..




Took the tank 3 weeks and 4 days. Hell of a long time. Well now that the tank is cycled. The 1st thing I am going to do is a 50% water change and then check if everything is fine. If everything goes fine then I will be adding a cleaning crew. I will be needing an exact list of critter names and amounts that i need to get for a 20 gallon tank. Can anybody help me out here?? Anybody at all.

Water parameters are:-

mmonia - 0.0 ppm
Nitrites - 0.0 ppm finally
Nitrates - 1.0 And lower A little strange though. It was 5.0 and now its 1.0
PH - 8.2
Temp - 79 F
GPH - 480 (for now. Will take it up to 670 GPH)
Salinaty - 1.025

Any suggestions.
 

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Sep 26, 2006
785
1
0
33
New Jersey
CONGRATES!
3 and half weeks is close to the recommended amount of time it takes
for a clean up crew i read that you should get a snail for every gallon of water not sure if that's true or not but I'd get at less 10 if not 15 snails probably 5 hermits if you want or some other types of crabs/snails i only have 3 snails and 3 hermits because my LFS is stupid :p they want 5 bucks for a little snail or hermit
but at less my snails mated and now i got lots of baby snails :D
 

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