My ammonia is at 0.0!!!

yea, dont do a water change unil the nitRITES hit 0. then you can start to get rid of the nitRATES.

 

RO/DI filters the tap/well water BEFORE you put it in the tank. Most RO/DI units come with TDS meters. Seriously, it is one of the most important investments in this hobby in my opinion. There are those that don't use them and have success.... BUT I consider them 'lucky'. The science stands clearly behind using RO/DI water as a starting point. You just have too many uncontrolled variables otherwise.

 

Water change or not... the bacteria you are trying to grow in the cycle are 99% in the live rock and sand. Water change will dillute the nitrates (assuming there are low nitrates in the well water). Regardless, diluting the nitrates won't truly SOLVE the problem... which is getting the right balance of bacteria and nutrients in the water. SO do it or don't do it, but you aren't solving anything. You'd be making it nicer for your live stock, less likely for algae (unknown phosphate levels) but not truly solving things.

As for your missing damsel.... if it is dead, it is rotting in there.... adding phosphates, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to your tank. It happens, people lose fish, but be aware what that body is doing to your chemistry.

 

Separate topic.... you are getting a lot of "help" here....

My side note is this.... I started exactly as you are... 55 gallon, cannister filters, stocking too soon... I think I was the poster child for doing EVERYTHING wrong. I had good intention, just bad information. I found this place after years of frustratation. Hurricane Ike finally put my first attempt to rest.... God rest its soul.

After Ike destroyed everything (the eye of the storm passed directly over my house and businesses ), it took me a while to try again. When I did, I found 3reef. The challenge that you'll have is comparing various opinions and making up your mind. Water change during a cycle or not? Many people use cannister filters, many people HATE them and call them Nitrate Factories. Wait until you get into Two-Part Dosing versus Calcium reactors and T5 vs LED vs MH lighting discussions.... there are MANY opinions out there.

You are doing the right thing. Ask LOTS of questions. My true and most important advice is simply this. Don't just ask for their opinion, ask to understand WHY they think what they think, that way you can decide on your own.

Hope that helps.


Mark

 

So.... having read this whole thread... my recommendation is that to truly help, we SLOW down.

Stauchistory, what are your goals with this tank??? FOWLR? SPS? LPS? Clams? What is your target for livestock that you want to keep? Do you want to expand to a larger tank later or are you space constrained??

I think we could give better advice if we knew exactly where you wanted to go. Example, if your deam fish is a Queen Angelfish then transitioning to a bigger tank is in your future. Knowing this type of information will save you a LOT of money as well because you can buy stuff ONCE.... not twice.

Mark

 

I greatly appreciate any and all comments I receive, and take into account the varying opinions that everyone has over various techniques, equipment, etc. I consider what everyone says, analyze it, and make the proper decision for my needs. It may not always be the correct decision, but this is a learning hobby, isn't it?

To address a few points and questions that were made in some replies:

Re: missing damsel

I searched the entire tank for the missing damsel, and it isn't in there. Perhaps my Spotfin Squirrelfish ate it, or perhaps it jumped out through a small opening in the back of my hood. If it jumped out, I could not find it on the floor, so perhaps it became a snack for one of my dogs.

Re: getting help here

I tend to ask a lot of questions... sometimes feeling like I am being a burden. I live by the saying, "When in doubt... ask."

Re: goals for my tank

This is my first attempt at a saltwater aquarium. Instead of buying all new equipment, I have chosen to buy used when I can. In the end I can get good equipment at a reasonable price, and will not lose a great deal of money if this doesn't turn out to be the hobby for me. Once I am sure this is what I want to do, I will begin buying new equipment which will more fully fit my future needs. For me, getting used equipment is more economical, and still allows me to learn everything I need to know.

I have no specific desires for specific fish at this time, although my daughter wants me to get an anemone and "Nemo" fish at some point. My tank currently has cheesy decorations and 3 acorn barnacles. I had someone offer me 60-75 lbs. of dried live rock, a sump, return pump, and a few other things for next to nothing, so I'm hoping to get that this week.

I don't plan on going to a larger tank in the near future. In the end, I'd like to have some fish (unknown types at this time), CUC, some anemones, maybe attempt some coral...

Any other questions I didn't answer?

(I think I need to create a "Stauchistory's 1st 55g build thread!!!"

 

Absolutely is a learning hobby. That is what I love about it.

Damsels are notorious for hiding in cracks in the live rock that you wouldn't think possible. I once completely emptied all the LR out of my tank to try and catch a damsel that I added while learning like you. I took out all the LR, put it in a tub with NO water. Then I couldn't find the darn fish in the tank. I thought he'd buried himself in the sand or something. I looked for him for 2 days before I gave up and put the LR back in the tank. Note, the LR was sitting in a tub with no water. Sure enough, the damsel popped out of one of the rocks. I figure there must have been a pocket of trapped water or something. Tough little fish.

With yours, he's dog food or whatever. If he is dead and in the tank, it will just extend your cycle some. No huge harm.

No burden. Ask away. I consider myself still very novice and am asking questions ALL the time.

Great strategy.

The LR and sump will help you tremendously. The LR IS essentially your filter. The sump will help a bunch as well... opens up opportunity for a refugium, etc.

That makes it easy. The path to success there has two key attributes: 1) Do not overstock the tank. I tend to be conservative on this, but in a 55 gallon, I'd only put maybe 5-7 small fish tops. Keep the bioload LOW. When you get advanced and have a mature tank and really know what you are doing you can put a higher bioload, but while starting, LOW bioload gives you margin in your system. 2) Don't buy fish that will outgrow your tank.

Anemones... just read up on them before you buy them. How to care and feed them, etc.

Corals... easier than you'd think. Brings a little complexity, but not horrible. When you are ready, this community will help.


Given all of that.... the LR will help you a bunch. Just make sure you are religious about cleaning your cannister filter. Depending on your sump set up, you may be able to get rid of it completely.

M

 

Exactly how often should I clean the canister filter? The gentleman I bought the tank and equipment from told me instead of using the carbon (which he supplied me a bottle of) to use something called "poly filter". It resembles the fiber "bag" that holds carbon in a power filter . I basically wrapped it around the area where the carbon would sit.

I also have a power filter that I use as well. This only has the "sponge filter" in the bottom, and no carbon cartridge (or whatever it's called). How often should the sponge be cleaned?

While I know very little about sumps or refugiums, I know people put cheato in them to help with their water quality. I was looking at my power filter, and realized there was empty space above the sponge filter sits. Is it possible to place a small piece of cheato in that space? I realize that idea is a little out there, but just a thought. ;D

 

Let's see...

Chaeto in the filter... No

Sounds like maybe Carbon in a media bag...

Could you post some pictures???


Cannister filter cleaning... once every week or two... I don't use cannisters anymore at all so maybe someone who does can comment.

M

 

The package calls the "media bag" type thing Poly Filter. I'll take a photo tonight after I clean the canister. I'm going to add carbon this time instead. Looking forward to comments from others about the use of carbon vs. the "poly filter".