Webpages of our tanks are up

[CHEAPREEF]

Originally Posted by rcipema

I hope I am wrong, but that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Totaly agree.

Clinton

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Wow I can't believe you just put 6 fish and corals into a newly setup tank in less than a week and are now giving advice to a newbie. How totally irresponsible.

Christy

I guess if this was my first reef, I would totally agree with you. But it's not. We've had three years of reefkeeping experience with everything from a 5 gal to a 180. We just happened to have been in the process of moving for the past year or so and had to get out of the hobby during that time. I know I don't have all the answers, but I've got a few of them and what I have I share.

If I thought that we'd be harming our new fish or corals in any way, I would not have gone ahead with what we did. Based on my experience, and the fact that the rock was cured with test kits confirming it, I have every confidence that our hex will do just fine.

Heck, I read how people do water changes only every month and clean their filtration systems, if they have them in their setups, every few months and they're giving advice or comments. I do daily and weekly maintenance on all our current reefs, and did so with our past setups too.

I wouldn't necessarily advise anyone else to do what we did because I don't know the specifics of their systems or their maintenance regime. But I know what's going on in our reefs because I'm a little on the anal side and I pay very close attention to them.

For example, we have a two week old 2.5 nano with curing rock, a small chunk of halimeda, and a 2 1/2" sandbed in it. Ammonia levels are now at 0 ppm, but nitrite levels are still over 5 ppm. Not until nitrite is at 0 ppm and I've done a 50% or greater water change will corals or one tiny fish only go into that little tank. And I'm dying to see more than just rock in there!

With that said, I hope you have a better understanding of where I'm coming from and that you have a nice evening :-)

[EmilyB]

I've had cured live rock too. Perfect parameters after four days.

Then....a dying sponge or two....

There is no way on this earth I would be talking about introducing that kind of bioload to an immature system, especially when new people might follow just that same recipe with disasterous results.

[christyf5]

Quite frankly, no I still don't get it.

How is it you are cycling a 2.5 gallon nano yet you don't have to cycle the larger tank? And then you put 6 fish in it to boot! And as for the test kit readings, I wouldn't imagine you'd have alot of ammonia buildup let alone nitrite and nitrate after only a week.

And you have a lovely evening too

Christy

[CHEAPREEF]

If you've had these prior setups you should know better than anyone that a tank can spike or cycle for up to three weeks. I don't get it either.

Clinton

[Samw]

Ok, maybe I'm confused about this cycling thing but from what I understand, if you use liverock that has already been cured in a new tank, then a cycling might not occur.

See http://reefs.org/library/newbiehelp.htm#curing

Quotes

"If you start a tank with cured live rock (if truly cured and lacks large clumps of plant or sponge or the like material), then no cycle may be witnessed. If livestock is added slowly, the bacterial populations increase on demand without stressing the system."

So it won't surprise me if there aren't any spikes since where would the sudden ammonia come from for a spike to occur? The reason for adding livestock slowly to a new tank with cured live rock is not because an ammonia spike is guaranteed to occur, but because there may not be enough bacteria on the rocks to handle the bioload. But then again, maybe there is in this case? We don't know that since we don't know where the rock came from. I wouldn't be surprised if everything goes fine.

[Quinn]

frightening...

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by teevee

frightening...

Geez, I didn't think I'd have to put on my flame-proof panties before posting to this board.

However, if my tank tanks, you guys'll be the first to know so I can hear all your I told you so's.

Just tested the hex to make sure the fish and I would sleep tight and not let the bedbugs bite. Ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm. And I'll keep testing just in case I have to do a few large water changes, which I'm prepared for btw.

Enough for tonight, however ..... ZZZZZZZZ

[EmilyB]

We all trust you to tell us Beverly.

I think you missed the point totally. If you have experience in the hobby, would you recommend this course of action to a newbie?

[Trevor Robertson]

I think that the key here is that everyone must figure out there comfort level and know what they are dealing with in there tank. Every tank is different. Beverly at no time told me or anyone else to do what she is doing, she just offered her idea's and experiance in the subject to help others enjoy the hobie to the fullest.

I have read many peoples posts as well as several other web sites, books and mags. People everyware have different experiances, successes and mistakes, I think that here we have to say this is one persons experiances and take it at face value then do as you see best suited for your enviroment.

I will not add what Bev has but I don't have the same situation that she does nor the experiance. I know my tank and that is what is important.

I thank Beverly for all the help that she has offered me and many others on this board.

Good night to all... the 3rd period of the hockey game is coming on, see you tomorow.