New 29g Biocube! SW noob

[dhutch]

Lookin good! You are probably going to want to add more rock later on, but there is no need for it right now.

How did the chamber 1 mod go?

P.S. - The tank took 3 weeks to cycle.

[luisht]

I wasn't able to get it out but I was able to push it down far enough to fit my heater, thank you.

Right now i have 31 lb of LR, i put a couple in chamber 2

[dhutch]

They can be a bit of a pain to get out if you don't muscle them out. I removed mine while the tank was still empty on the ground and using some body weight with the hammer made it pretty easy.

[luisht]

Since yesterday my tank is starting to show diatoms on the rocks and sand, and today im seeing green algae on a couple of the rocks, does that mean im getting closer to the end of the cycle?

[dhutch]

Since yesterday my tank is starting to show diatoms on the rocks and sand, and today im seeing green algae on a couple of the rocks, does that mean im getting closer to the end of the cycle?

Not necessarily the end but you are definitely cycling.

[luisht]

[dhutch]

That's a good sign. The diatom bloom should go away on its own after a week or so. Another week or two and you should be good to go. Do you have a test kit to measure Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, and pH?

[luisht]

These are the results

pH 8.1
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

[dhutch]

These are the results

pH 8.1
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5.0 ppm

Did you ever see a spike in amonia and nitrite?

What method did you use to start your cycle? Shrimp?

[luisht]

I saw high levels of ammonia during the first couple of days, I didn't have a test kit for nitrate until last night.

I used the LR, the guy who sold it to me said that using just the rock would be fine.

[dhutch]

I'd give it another few days and add some snails and dwarf hermit crabs. Once they are in drop a very small amount of fish food in every other day to give them something to eat as well to create some waste.

[luisht]

Cool, i can finally get something that moves in the tank lol, Do u use the biocube UV sterilizer?

[dhutch]

Cool, i can finally get something that moves in the tank lol, Do u use the biocube UV sterilizer?

Yup. Works like a charm. Takes about 10 minutes to install.

[luisht]

Do u have it on all the time?

[dhutch]

Yeah I leave it on all the time. Kills the bad things floating around in the water.