Water change

Beau is hosting the January Meeting this coming Saturday the 14th at 6PM.  It will be BYOB as well as a snack to share and raffle items are always welcome.  It has been requested that there be “NO SHOES” on the carpet due to it being a whitish color.

He doesn’t have a tank to view but we will have plenty to discuss in hopes that it will get the NEW YEAR off to a good start.  The annual membership fees are due, so now would be a good time to get them in to our Treasurer Stacey Hahn.   Fees are $20 per individual or $25 per family

Attendance was low at the election meeting in November and no votes were taken at December’s meeting so we have decided to take votes for anyone that didn’t get the opportunity in November and will be attending this meeting.  
We will add the votes to November’s ballots and the announcement will be made during the meeting so we can go forward.
NOMINATIONS:
President:  Jim & Nacho
V. President: Ed, Bo & Daniel Leigey
Treasurer: Stacey
Secretary: Carmen & Angie

Let’s hope the New Year brings new members, returning members and new ideas.  The club is always willing to take suggestions to get the most out of the hobby we all enjoy.

Please PM Nate C. by clicking here for directions if you are not a club member.  

Club members can click here to go to the club member only forum to get directions.

Hope to see you all there!

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[jerryB]

Hi all. I will be starting up the 90 this weekend to cycle and was wondering if it is a good idea to use water changes from established tanks to kickstart a new system. If it is, and anyone is doing a water change this weekend, I would be happy to take it off of your hands. Still looking for some rock, live or base, for sale. Some sand as well. I do have about 40 to 50 lbs of live rock but know I will need more. Also, Trigirl was generous enough to give me a few lettuce nudibranches for an algae issue  I was having, and now they have done such an outstanding job, I need to pass a few on to someone else that may need them soon.  Thanks!

[fogish]

It is better if you can take some filter media from someone's filtration system and use it as part of yours for a while as part of fishless cycling and you will be fine. Of course you can spend $25-$50 on Bio Spira, I suggest you just take some filter media when someone is replacing some. The person I know who changes frequently is Nate... but I only know his system out of people in the club. You will still need a source of ammonia though to keep the bacteria alive - fish food added everyday or every other day, a cocktail shrimp in a ladies nylon stocking suspended in the water, some people have even added straight ammonia in controlled amounts each day to the tank. Sorry to confuse the issue but anything with a lot of surface area will be a million times better than just water from an established tank and you have to have the surface area for the bacteria to populate and live on.

[jerryB]

I do have the live rock and sand about 50 lbs and 65 lbs respectively from a 16 and 20 gal established tanks I have that I am combining. I have been told that using that rock and sand, I should need only a week to cycle.. is this correct?

[jimbo]

my sugestion is go slow what you have will seed the 90 yes but think about 3to 4weeks to establish that way no stess to you or livestock

[jerryB]

The only dilema I have is that have livestock that will need to be housed. I have a couple of clowns, hippo tang, goby, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, 2 damsels, rics, zoos, anemone and mushrooms. Will they be fine in "bare" tank?
By the way, thanks to everyone for their help! I really apreciate all the information and help. I joined the club yesterday finally.

[fogish]

How soon do you need, not want but need, to add them to the tank? Where are they now? The only thing I know of that has successfully been added to a tank and allowed the addition of fish to the tank the same day is Bio Spira. You will still have a cycling period but you will have little to no loss of hearty livestock. It is expensive and patience is much much better. The rics, zoos, anem and mushrooms will most likely not make it if you add them the same day you use the Bio Spira, they need an established tank. I would be careful with the other inverts and hippo tang as well. Go with what Jimbo said. When you say "bare" do you mean uncycled or no sand and no live rock, just glass?

[jerryB]

I have the 2 established tanks, 16 gal and 20 gal. By bare I mean no rock or sand just the existing water and glass. I need the sand and rock for the new tank. Also my rock has alot of zoos attached.. will they make it or should I add that rock with them attached later?

[reefbegood]

as long as you make a good clean transfer with the sand, and transfer the water before the sand. move the clear water to a holding bin, thin transfer the sand and let it settle and add the water. i will help you with some very good rodi water

[Ed]

Jerry,
     Fish like Tangs need hiding places.   You may be successful.   But the chances of your fish getting sick are much more without hiding places.   I like to say Comfort Zones.     That is why aquascaping is so important.    You build caves, retreats for fish to sleep, watch when ever they feel  threatened.   We all need a place to be comfortable.

Rock and Sand also make use of nitrifying bacteria.   Rock buffers the chance like a skimmer of you having a dangerous spike.    When ever a animal is stressed it promotes more amonia in your system.    A good skimmer can usually remove most amonia, but a secondary means would be Live Rock that has established (meaning cycled) nitrifying  bacteria. 

[jimbo]

i am planning on making another order after the x-mas party i will bring list or pop up on computer live stock and rock but you still have curing time and the party  is a couple of weeks away not what you want to hear but estabishing the tank before is better

[Cannedmulder]

I have some (LOTS) of extra cheato if you want/need some!  That will help too if you have a sump you are filtering through!

[Rico]

Jerry,

If you move only the rock and sand from you existing 2 tanks into the new tank and just add the additional water required to fill the tank you will not need to cycle the tank at all and can move all of the animals over right away.

Then you could use your now empty 2 tanks to cycle any new rock or sand that you get and then move them over when ready.

Depending on the condition of the new rock you get you can probably add some of it to the new tank when you set it up.  If it is cycled rock from an existing tank then no problem.  If it is old used and dry rock, it should be cleaned thoroughly and then add approximately 5lbs and watch the nitrates.  If they don't spike after a week, then add some more.  the nitrates will be the first indicator of the cycling process of the rock you add.

I have some sand that I used in my tank to cycle and then removed it after 2 months because it is too fine and blows around with my pumps running. 

I also have some old dry used rock that needs to be cleaned.  It was leftover from when I tore down a tank that became overtaken with aptaisia and hair algae etc.

Let me know if you are interested in the rock or sand.  I am interested in the lettuce nudi's.


Rick

[jerryB]

Hi Rico. Give me a call when you have a chance. I am interested.   308-4956     Jerry