Water check!

[TimSchmidt]

If you must use tap water then yes, add anti chlorine and let it aerate (put a power head and have the surface of the water agitated) for at least a day.

 

[catkchun]

Tim...do you turn on your skimmer during cycling process? Pro and con? :roll:

 

[TimSchmidt]

I don't have a skimmer on my nano. I personally didn't run the skimmer on my large tank during cycling simply because nothing was in there and I wanted the DOC (dissolved organic compounds) to decompose to aid in the nitrogen cycle. I personally would let the tank cycle completly, do a large water change, then start up the skimmer.

 

[catkchun]

I saw 1 white critter thing in my tank..what's that??? Do i need to take it out? :?:

 

[reefman23]

I saw 1 white critter thing in my tank..what's that??? Do i need to take it out? :?:

Gotta picture? Is it like a worm, a snail, a coral?

Jesse

 

[catkchun]

it's a very tiny white worm like...i dont think i can snap a pic cause too small.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Maybe a bristle worm? I like bristle worms as they are free clean up crew that don't mess with any healthy live stock (in my experience). Does it look like it has fuzzy edges?

 

[catkchun]

Maybe a bristle worm? I like bristle worms as they are free clean up crew that don't mess with any healthy live stock (in my experience). Does it look like it has fuzzy edges?

not quite sure but it does swim like zig-zag.

 

[catkchun]

does anyone come across Diatoms? is it true that it derive from our tap water when top up the water? is that true? how to avoid it?

 

[catkchun]

Does anyone tell me what is this? The red color thing attached to LR.

 

[TimSchmidt]

does anyone come across Diatoms? is it true that it derive from our tap water when top up the water? is that true? how to avoid it?

Diatoms generally need silica in order to survive in our tanks.

What Are Diatoms?

Diatoms are a protist (single cell organism) which is part of the family of eucaryotic (Cells that have nuclei) algae. There are two types of diatoms, pennales (pennate shaped), and centrales (circular shaped). Diatoms like all plant cells are photosynthetic, meaning they make their own sucrose (sugar) from light, water, and nutrients. Diatoms use oils to store sugar. The oil also keeps the diatoms afloat. Diatoms, as well, have a glass shell that surrounds the entire cell. A diatom will make their shells from silica, which is found in sand. Diatoms, like most of our cells in a human body, reproduce by dividing into two identical halves. After dividing, the two new diatom cells will have to find a silica source to create a glass shell, which is needed for their survival.

 

[catkchun]

Silica? sorry..what's that?

 

[TimSchmidt]

The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin "silex"), is an oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2, and has been known for its hardness since the 9th century[1]. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz, as well as in the cell walls of diatoms. It is a principal component of most types of glass and substances such as concrete. Silica is the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust.

Basically silica can be found in tap water and in some sands (not the stuff we use but like play sand and stuff). When I was in Iraq we actually imported sand... LOL but we got the high silica stuff so when bullets where fired into the sand glass formed around the bullets slowing them down a LOT faster.

 

[catkchun]

Can we remove the silica using normal water filter system?

 

[catkchun]

Today check the water parameter...

Ammonia 0 (ah...finally )
Nitrate 0
it has been like this for past 2 days.

Can i do water change during cycle? can i put in hermiit in my tank now? or do i still need to wait till the cycle complete? :roll:

 

[TimSchmidt]

There are silica test kits and silica filters. I would check the water to see if you have an excess of silica before purchasing expensive filters.

Well, you should have ammonia at 0, nitrite at 0, and a couple of nitrates (unless your system is dealing with the nitrates in some way).

 

[catkchun]

does anyone keep clown fish only in the tank? How many can i keep for a 24G tank?

 

[TimSchmidt]

I have seen a pair of clowns and an anemone in a biocube 29. Not sure of the exact breed of clown fish but they seemed to do well. Didn't follow it long term so I don't know if the anemone faired well (they tend to not do well in nanos).

 

[catkchun]

Any idea how to lower the nitrate? I have 5ppm nitrate, even my tap water consist of 5ppm :cry:

 

[TimSchmidt]

Try to use a cleaner water is the best bet. But there is something called GFO (phosphate remover) it works ok, but some think that it may be a band aid fix.