beachy

Hmmm, i was wondering that too. Im only gonna change a couple of buckets first(120 ltr tank), see how that goes with nitrates.

sweet, il have to do some research on fish that will be compatable together. Thanks for all the good advice

Thanks heaps for the advice all. I was gonna wait another 4 weeks before adding fish, that would give the tank 9 weeks in total. Would that effect the cycle at all? i mean like would it just go back to 0 again, because of nothing to creat waste? I would be keen to add a fish, but as i have been warned, damsels are quite nippy, and hard to get out once in. A couple of leathers might be the go

Hey all, tank has just finished cycling. :bounce: Done a check tonight and i have 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 20 ppm nitrate, i had to double check because the nitrite decrese was so sudden. So i guess my next move is a couple of water changes to bring the nitrates down. What im keen to know is, when can i add fish, and how should i go about it? i guess its not a good idea to add to many all at once. Also when to add corals and so on. Thanks

So what happens when you clean the skimmer? does it produce fine bubbles again until it has the slime coating? and how often should they be cleaned?

Nice one 8)

ooops my bad :oops: it is pure dew that i am using, it was early this morning when i replied, still half asleep.

Yea my last tank had an overflow, my tank before didnt, i wish i had one now :lol: Never mind, i might purchase a surface skimmer and hook it up to a canister with filter wool, and only use it when i get this problem. I used to have a surface skimmer on my old freshwater setup, they can be a real pain. Cool thanks, ive been topping up with deep blue pure water, a small bottle has lasted me over a week, prob not efficient but it will do till i can afford a RODI. Thanks Alan, i have read that as well, i might give it a go. Yes its been running about two weeks now, its seems to be skimming ok, quite wet skimate though.

Hey all, tank is now going through the cycle nicely. Ammonia is zero, and nitrite has risen to 0.50 and has been that way for a while now. I have a milky film on the surface of the water that i cant seem to get rid of, i have tried breaking the surface with a powerhead, but it doesnt seem to do much. Does anyone know what this is caused by? will it be an ongoing thing, i was thinking of purchasing a surface skimmer. Also all the coral in my tank is now covered in a brown algae, i have read that this is just part of the cycle, true?, or is it to do with seting up with tap water, as i did? Thanks heaps

We pay around $120 - 140 a month in winter, three people and one tank. We have set up an auto payment for $30 a week. In the summer months we go into credit, then in winter, the credit usually gets used up. Kinda nice to know that there will be no big suprise at the end of the month.

When i first started the skimmer i had no skimate and the bubbles where quite large, now i seem to be getting finer bubbles, and a better foam.

Whoa, its not that dark, but i have nothing but coral in my tank and its a new skimmer so i guess it might get a bit darker

cool, just thought i would post that, cause ive just got my skimmer to start skimming, i'm getting a fairly watery dark tea colour.

Hey all just doing a search on adjusting skimmers and come across this article take a look and tell me what you think Yours please http://www.centralpets.com/php/search/storiesdisplay.php?Story=17

I think thats where i will get mine from, i was thinking Te- atatu peninsula, but not to sure, its all a bit muddy round there.

Thanks Warick, i will check it out next time i go shopping.

Thanks Warick, i thought that bottled water would be ok, i think i have seen the big containers at the super market. My tank isnt massive so its prob gonna be not to bad cost wise, Are R/O units expensive? i will do a google on D/I not to sure what that is.

Yea i only used tap water cause my lfs recommended it, but after talking to you guys i found out nsw is ok(well prob better than ak tap water). So as soon as my nitrites drop i will go to piha and fill a couple of 20ltr containers, and do a descent water change. I might go out and get a phos test kit. When i top up my tank with fresh water, is it ok to use bottled water?

Sounds good, nsw is free too How long would phos remover last in a canister? if i have to keep taking the canister apart all the time maybe i should look into a reactor.

Thanks Layton, very helpfull. Are you using tap water? or going to the beach for yours? At the moment i have tap water with instant ocean, but im going to check out a few of the beaches around here and use sea water.

Hey all, another question for yas. From what i can gather, reading through all of the previous topics, it's a good idea to use carbon and phosphate remover. How much of each would i have to use for my tank?, prob around 120 ltrs, and how often to replace them? Also do yas think it would be a good idea to use a canister filter, without any media, just to give me a place to put the carbon and phos? or can anyone recommend another way besides just having it in the tank? cheers

cool thanks for the replies, i will get a few pieces of live rock, and mix it with my other coral rock, once my nitrites have dropped.

dont get any spending money now :lol: Nar my partner is pretty good towards my fish keeping, we pretty much married anyways 8)

Well i get married in just under two months and all my $ is going on that. So maybe i should have wrote, Amping to get some fish in there, but cant afford :lol:

Yea not to keen to be ripping through the tank, trying to catch nasty fish. I,m not in a hurry to add any fish, i would rather everything be spott on fist