Lessons Learned

What?? What are you talking about?? LOL.....

 

I've been reading up on past threads on nuking LR (with bleach) like Otty and others have written about. I've been changing the LR soaking RO/DI water every couple of days, and having maintained a couple of pounds of baking soda in the RO/DI water, my bleached LR no longer smells like bleach. It's about ready!!

I'll put the LR back in the 90 in a day or two, and start the cycle. I have to get my corals out of my 55 soon, as there's no protein skimmer in there, and I can't fit my Coralife 220 under the 55. I know frequent and copious water changes will do the trick, but it's getting tiresome.

I'll keep everyone posted.

 

So the LR is back in the 90. It's not LR anymore, but it's back. I'm ready to start another cycle. I'd rather do the cycle with something alive, like a damsel, rather than a hunk of dead shrimp--only because the waste product from a damsel is bound to be more gradual, sustained, and "dependable" than that from a rotting chunk of flesh.

At the same time, I'd really rather not use a damsel, but I think I'm going to get a domino. Has anyone ever cycled a tank with a damsel kept perhaps in a hole-ridden tupperware container? This way, when I'm finished with it I don't have to worry about catching it. Feeding it the tupperware shouldn't be an issue either. I have the utmost respect for all life, Omard included--but from past experience, I really dislike the aggression damsels bring to the party.

Any ideas?

 

What other fish might I consider?

 

I've taken your advice, Casey. I'm using my percula to cycle the tank. I'm using him only. I've added a shot or two of "Cycle" bacteria cocktail. I won't light my halides until the cycle is done.

I'm pretty excited about the potential here. Baugherb has offered me frags when I'm ready. Wally, a fellow electrician who's posted here a few times (he's on my friend list) has a tank full of xenia that's threatening to eat his pit bull--so I can have about as much of that as I want.

I plan on buying a fair amount of purple death paly's from Geek once I'm ready.

All it's gonna take is time. Today the forecast states that's one thing of which I have plenty.

I'll keep everyone posted.

 

I lost a bunch of xenia that wally gave me. I lost my prized powder blue tang; which didn't have to happen, but did. My yellow coris wrasse jumped ship too.

My corals all made it, thanks to my 55, but they're not looking too sporty. I'm hoping once back in a kick-A$# environment they'll hop to it.

My two banggai's are troopers. They don't complain much at all. My clown just wants to be fed, it seems.

Every time I look at him; with an apologetic gaze for the current conditions, he only seems to say one thing: "so what's to eat, boss?"

Life could be worse.