Yose's nano reef

[yose_]

ok. gets gets, ganun pala yun. as always, thanks marty!

main learning: bacteria population is not equal to the amount of food (nutrients) present in the system.

[seth]

yes, aavailability of nutrients and surface area goes hand in hand. if the ta nk already have the nutrients but do not have enough surface area to house bacteria, you will have a surplus of nutrients.

in other words, seeing any detectable nutrients is already a sign that you have excess, and the surface area for bacterial colonies have been already saturated.


That's only the bacterial aspect of it, (nitrogen cycle, that is) algae and protists like cyanobacteria are also big players in the nitrogen cycle. So are husbandry, equipments and other media.

as for putting too much LR or DSB but still having nutrient issues, that is for another discussion hehe

[yose_]

[RonSax]

@yose: yap its logical.. Im no scientist here pero kung mabilis na bumaba ang ammonia and nitrite mo. What does it mean? kung mataas naman nitrate mo, the only logical to do there is to do water change. Am i right? Unless may chaeto ka or caulerpa or denitrator ka, syempre phospate is another issue.

Kung may excess nutrients ka while cycling, maybe you can do water change but i think kakainin pa rin ng bacteria yan in time, matatagalan nga lang.. To lessen that maybe you can do partial water change to lower them.

Huwag kang matakot na gamitin ang testkit mo kasi after ng cycle, bihira mo na magagamit yan.. Especially kung ammonia nitrite ang pag-uusapan. Baka mag-expire na yan pero dpa rin ubos laman ng testkit mo. HTH

[seth]

[yose_]

[RonSax]

korek mga kapatid! amen to that

[yose_]

Update:
March 24, 2014 (5 weeks into cycling)


Lapit na!

Still waiting for the algae to bloom...

[RonSax]

looking good!

[thurrmac]

ayos

[yose_]

Thanks RonSax and Thurrmac!

DISCLAIMER: This tank is still in the cycling stage so dont expect any colorful LSs yet, just boring photos of test kit readings and nuisance algae. I am just documenting each step of setting up the tank and hopefully this thread can serve as reference to future reefers who want to start the hobby the right way.

UPDATE: March 28, 2014 (Cycling @ 6 weeks)
Started turning on the lights (8-hr photoperiod) the moment nitrite starts to be undetectable.

At dahil nasa last (and longest) part na ko ng cycling, I will start monitoring my nitrates more frequently (seems unusually high for me)





At least 2 spots with diatoms...

[seth]

Have you tried testing for PO4 yet? If it is undetectable, then you won't see the "bloom" you are expecting. Then there is also iron. (Redfield ratio)

Silicates are already present since you have diatoms.

Anyway, I also hope this would set as a good example for newbies, to have a visual reference on the succession of microorganisms (bacteria, algae, pods and worms to name a few) during the tank's initial startup, in a typical setting.

Some tanks will have all four (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate) at the same time, some won't. But the ending will be the same, and the tank will balance itself out eventually.

[yose_]

Thanks Marty..oo nga forgot about that redfield ratio. But anyway, bumibilis na yung rate ng pagdami ng algae so looking good I think.

Share ko lang din yung light fixture ko:

40W PAR30 LED from Aquariatech
2x7W CDR King downlights
DIY light rack and wiring











Will adjust relative height and distance from water surface pag may LS na...

Thanks RP.

[thurrmac]

thats a good height to me. nice lights

[seth]

Kamusta yung ilaw? Maayos naman yung blending?

PS

Kahit isang fan lang diyan sa ilaw bro, wag kalimutan hehe