Idaho-Tank build... Starting over

I would think since you are getting rock and sand from a tank that was already up and running for some time there is not going to be a cycle maybe a mini cycle. I'm assuming that when you took his rock it was a short ride from his tank to your so there wouldn't be much die off if any. So you already have the bacteria needed to fight ammonia and nitrate. I think I also read that you took his cheateo so that will also consume nitrates...

As for the rest of your params... They look fine to me.. As for you water changes why don't you start out with doing 10-15% every 2 weeks. Then take it from there... Keep up the good work!

 

in my 46 i order cured live rock, i figured there would be a spike from die off but it never came. I put in a dottyback and a clown there after and 7 year later they are still prospering

 

So the theory is that because I put in 150+/- pounds of well cured live rock and there was little or no die off so my tank has basically cycled instantly?

If this theory is correct that I have enough or perhaps even more than enough bacteria in the tank to deal with any ammonia from the limited bio load is there a chance that the bacteria could start dying off due to the lack of ammonia? Should I actually be putting something in there to feed the bacteria and maintain what I have.

I go back to my first water test...On that first day I had an ammonia reading of .5 and then zero every day since. Could it be that the bacteria took care of that .5 by the second day and is now starving?

If this is the case should I also start running lights now? I want to be careful and not start an algae bloom.

 

no point on lights until you have stuff in there really. I *think* you are ok putiing in your first fish or a bunch of corals. As far as the will my bacteria die? Definently yes! Just like everything else they need food. That is why you add a fish, then wait a couple of weeks for the bacteria to cultivate to the new level. In 3-4 weeks without an ammonia source you bateria will decrease to a lower level if the rock came from a tank with a bioload. I dont think id throw in a large school of tangs, but I would put a fish in according to your stocking plan.

 

this is comming from the guy who has a 46 with fish he doesnt feed and hasnt done any water changes for six years. Also my skimmer has been turned off for a couple months so I do things a little wacky. My 55 is almost by the book though and loaded with LPS and SPS frags however.

 

I have star polyps & mushrooms in the display tank, macro algae in the sump... Shouldn't I run lights some for those?

 

oh riiiight im an idiot. Yeah run your lights and get a CuC from john. Its a 10 page thread I need a little slack ;-)

 

Day 4
More of the same... The only thing that changed is my temp went up to 78.5... from 78 and thats probably because I had the lights on an hour before testing the water.

SG = about 1.025 +/-
Temp = 78.5
Ammonia = 0
PH = 8.4
Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 0

So taking some advice I went to the grocery store asked the meat guy for a single shrimp and had to say "yes, just one shrimp" three times. lol. I put 1/2 of a large shrimp into a clean nylon sock and it is in my sump right now.

This should put my bacteria to the test. If everything looks good by Friday I will be adding my first fish!

So any predictions for my tests tomorrow?

 

Very nice craftsmanship. I love the setup. I subscribed. Like the light too. what bulb combo are you using?

As for the rock crawling. I live in Texas an a friend i went to college with loves it. She has here own site called www.theoffroadsite.com Check it out its addicting. good eyecandy too.

 

Thanks!
As far as bulbs go I have (4) 10,000k and (4) Actinics (4) LED moon lights.

Will check out the 4x4 site... I usually frequent www.Jeepforum.com - also a great site.