Hello, Bad Start :(

Hello,
I’m off to a bad start, I hope it gets better.
I had a 55, 29, and a 10 gal iso tank a few years ago. I did well with them after a learning curve. I had to give them up for a long distance move but I hung on to some of the equipment in case I got the itch again. Well, I got the itch, and dove back in.
Maybe things have changed but it is not going very well so far. First off, back in the days, ‘The Reef Aquarium’ by Delbeek and Sprung was the bible. I set my tanks up back then by that book, and I attempted to follow the same methods this time.
So – I get a 29g main tank, a 10g sump, plumb it up. Skimmer and return pump in the sump – no wet/dry filter as I’m planning on a berlin with live rock. I add in some ‘live sand’ and let it run for a few days – everything seems great. Next the big mistake – I ordered live rock and cleanup crew, overnight shipping. I did it this way before, no reason it shouldn’t work this time, so I thought.
First off, the cleanup crew shows up on Monday, no live rock. That’s not good. I call the vendor to ask why the rock wasn’t shipped, I paid for overnight, and all I got was how the cleanup crew would die as soon as I added the live rock – well no kidding, that’s why I ordered them all overnight! The rock would cycle in a day and I could add the cleanup crew as soon as Ammonia dropped to 0. The vendor then insisted the rock needed weeks of cycling. Ummm, that’s not what I remember. 1 day tops unless the live rock was really bad to begin with. I got out the bible and double checked, yep pg 141 (and in other places) “It is possible to create a balanced aquarium in a day with this method.” Like I said, I had done it before and never lost any live stock.
Well finally Wednesday, the rock shows up, and it is junk. I ordered a 35 lb and 45 lb pack, and it seems like they just found the biggest rocks they could find (probably laying out on the porch) and shipped them. 3 rocks per package. Argh. So I break them up with a hammer and give them a good washing off with a power head in a large bucket. Add them to the tank, and bam – dark yellow water. This stuff has never been put in any holding tank, and one of the packages was sold as ‘fully cured’. So needless to say the cleanup crew is expiring by now waiting to get out of their shipping bags. To be honest, I think 50% was probably DOA to begin with.
Yeah, I feel partly to blame for expecting the vendor to deliver quality goods and on time, which they failed miserably at – no more live stock from them. This was a completely different experience than what I had before they got bought out by the big company.
Anyhow, it probably will take 4 or 5 more big water changes to get the tank to where it should be. Then I will try someone else for a new cleanup crew.

 

You will find a lot of help here. One thing I have always tried to do is deal with a LFS that is reputable. One that just deals in fish.

You have your rock, which is good. With nothing in the tank, I suppose it can cure in there. Unfortunately, I know nothing about the curing process, so I cannot help you at all in that department. But if you can, I would hold off on the cleaning crew until your numbers get right. Your going to have enought die of from the rock to start the cycle, that is for sure. Just be patient and good things will happen. John.

 

all most everyone has a very rocky start in saltwater(pun not intended). i cant stress enough the importance of letting the aquarium stand for atleast a week(this is with cured rock, its about a month with uncured) before adding live stock.(these are just general guidelines i use i know the other reefers are gonna say its the parameters that really show when you tank is cycled and there right.) as far as the live rock goes ive learned the only real cured rock is the rock you get strait out of a existing aquarium. I also got the hugely oversized the 20 lb rocks when i ordered some online. The lfs cost more but the rock you pick out is alot nicer.

Im sure it will get better for you. Cycling the tank is the biggest step. right now your thinking why the hell did i just buy a box of rocks for 200 dollars, well you will see why when you get the livestock.(and a tip for the livestock get only pieces or fish you are crazy about, you only have so much space in your tank.sure the brown zoos a kinda cool but a forest of them eats up space that could be used for better looking pieces(I have a forest over around a couple hundred that started as 10). marine fish you buy live around 20 years. So i guess the point im trying to make is only buy what you want to have in your dream tank.)

 

When you purchase your cleanup crew, go nowhere else but ReefCleaners.org. They are a sponsor for this site, but more importantly, they have great service, prices, and selection. I wouldn't buy a cleanup crew from anyone else. Make sure to use the "Custom Cleanup Crew" option, and John will set you up properly.

 

i used this site to buy mangroves it has excellent prices. i hope if they get enough business they will expand their selection.

 

Well I will wait out the cycle now - not much choice.

But I guess my point was that the live rock I got now was really different than that of 3-4 years ago. I don't know if that unique to this vendor, or a trend in general. Out of I'd say 5 tank starts I have never had the ammonia spike last more than a day, usually not more than 4-5 hours. My guess is they have gotten so cheap with the process that this is the norm now. Live and learn.

 

Flywheel, I think unfortunately you've fallen prey to the dishonesty which abounds in the marketplace.

I think Otty says it best when he says to take your time! This means starting with baserock that you've nuked yourself and seeding the tank with either livesand from a trusted friend's tank, or dead sand and some Prime from a bottle, or similar product. This way your benefits are numerous. You know exactly what you've started with, and there's zero chance of hitchhikers like flatworms, or god knows what else.

Unfortunately today there are more out there who would rip you off than those who would amaze you with their integrity. I wish it wasn't this way, but it is.

Stick around these boards, ask lots of questions, especially concerning such purchases where you stand to lose everything if it isn't as the vendor says. Chances are if there's an honest vendor out there, someone here will know about them and can steer you in the right direction.

I guess the time is right to cut your losses, stay with the product you have, and wait it out until your tank is ready for corals. It'll happen, just be patient.

Good luck!!

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about these guys. Although I have never used them, I have heard nothing but good things.

 

YEPPERS, John is awesome! 100% of my clean-up crew arrived alive, John tells you what day he's shipping and everything arrived next day.