Now What??

[supgirl]

Okay, so my 75g tank has fully cycled Currently housing 3 happy GSP's and 25-30 ghost shrimp (but just found 3+ babies last night, so some of the pregnant shrimp I put in there must be feeling safe enough to release their fry)

I have been testing every evening just to make sure nothing changes
HPH - 8.4
Ammonia - 0
N02 - 0
N03 - 0
Salinity - 1.016
Aqua clear 110 power filter
Coral life protein skimmer ( yes, I know it won't collect protein until I'm at full marine)
Now doing 15-20% water changes 2 times a week
Entire tank is substrate, sand, dead coral and rocks. Numerous fake plants.

I have 4 small Red legged hermit crabs in 10g QT tank for 4 weeks that will go into this tank. I would eventually like to get Lawnmower Blenny and an Engineer Goby (so my DH can relate Engineer/Engineer) to help with the cleaning and maybe a Tomato Clown, but will wait until the 4 H. Crabs are out of my QT tank.

What should I be doing besides the weekly water changes and keeping a close watch on my water parameters? I do not want to sit around "fat, dumb and happy" thinking I was successful and be totally missing something very important and worse, come down one morning to a dead Puffer.

Here is the completed project. It was very difficult to get fake plants tall enough to break up the sight lines. Puffs still like to surf, but I'm not sure what else I can add to eliminate their boredom.

image.jpg

[bertie 83]

It's surprising that the tank is showing no nitrate, are there any high flow parts of the tank that makes it tougher for them to swim? This may help if not

[supgirl]

It's surprising that the tank is showing no nitrate, are there any high flow parts of the tank that makes it tougher for them to swim? This may help if not

I thought the goal was suppose to be Zero nitrate? What should it be? The far right corner is where the Aqua Clear filter is and the far left corner is where the power head for the protein skimmer is, but the 2 big Puffs love to swim right up in those 2 spots.

image.jpg

[bertie 83]

Most tanks show nitrate with the exception of some heavily planted tanks. We aim to keep it under 20ppm. The tank looks good, maybe they haven't fully settled in yet? This can take a week or two

[supgirl]

From the time I went to 0 ammonia and 0 Nitrite (Jan 31) I was sitting at 20-30 ppm. On Feb 9th, I did a 25% WC and added the new Aqua-clear filter? Then for 2 days the Nitrate went to 5.0 ppm and yesterday it went to 0. Wasn't this what I was working towards. (Don't mean to question you, as I am so clueless)
Should I be looking at any other parameters not mentioned? I just want to be sure I'm covering everything. If no corals or LR, do I need to worry about calcium, alkalinity or phosphate? What about oxygen levels? I just want to do everything possible to keep the Puffs happy.
Thanks!

[bertie 83]

No need to complicate things with those other tests, have you cleaned out the filter from new? It's odd for nitrates to drop like that. However with 2 small puffers in a 75g your stocking levels are great which could explain the immaculate water. There is a lot that can be said for stocking lightly which is why I try to do so (I suffer from tank OCD lol). As for oxygen levels, if you have some surface agitation you will likely have good oxygen levels, if the surface is still you could have low oxygen. That is just the general rule there are likely many other factors of which I probably won't understand lol. As the puffers grow you will need to change more water unless you employ some live rock to do some of the dirty work, but you have plenty of time to sort out your options

[JRC3]

Are you using an API test kit? If each NO3 solution bottle isn't properly mixed befor testing, a low nitrAte reading is likely. The bottles, especially #2 should be mixed for like 90 seconds or so. It also helps to tap the bottles on your hand or table as you mix them. The same may also apply to other test kits brands.

[supgirl]

No need to complicate things with those other tests, have you cleaned out the filter from new? It's odd for nitrates to drop like that. However with 2 small puffers in a 75g your stocking levels are great which could explain the immaculate water. There is a lot that can be said for stocking lightly which is why I try to do so (I suffer from tank OCD lol). As for oxygen levels, if you have some surface agitation you will likely have good oxygen levels, if the surface is still you could have low oxygen. That is just the general rule there are likely many other factors of which I probably won't understand lol. As the puffers grow you will need to change more water unless you employ some live rock to do some of the dirty work, but you have plenty of time to sort out your options

No, I just replaced the original filter I had purchased a month ago. Puffer Punk had said Aqueon filters were junk and would not be sufficient for Puffs and recommended the Aqua clear 110. So I took her advice and it arrived Friday. I had asked about making the switch and although I really wanted to use both filters, there was not enough space in the back for the 2 filters, heater & protein skimmer. So I took 1 of the old filter cartridges and shoved it into the Aqua clear filter to try to keep some of the beneficial bacteria I had worked so hard for.

As for oxygen levels, good to know. The way I have the filter adjusted seems to create some good movement on the one end (I had read on here that Puffs like to have some "current to swim against) and I have the skimmer on the other end to give water movement on that side.

Guess its safe to kick back and enjoy watching my Puffs and just continue with water changes and testing on a regular basis. Yippee!!!

[supgirl]

Are you using an API test kit? If each NO3 solution bottle isn't properly mixed befor testing, a low nitrAte reading is likely. The bottles, especially #2 should be mixed for like 90 seconds or so. It also helps to tap the bottles on your hand or table as you mix them. The same may also apply to other test kits brands.

Yes, I originally was using the API freshwater set until I reached 1.010 salinity and then moved to the SW testing kit. And I'm very anal about making sure I shake the #2 bottle for required 30+ seconds prior to adding the drops and then shaking the test tube vigorously for 60+ seconds. I am shaking the bottle/test tube while walking to the microwave to set the timer for the 60 seconds and then the 5 min wait time.

[JRC3]

Are you using an API test kit? If each NO3 solution bottle isn't properly mixed befor testing, a low nitrAte reading is likely. The bottles, especially #2 should be mixed for like 90 seconds or so. It also helps to tap the bottles on your hand or table as you mix them. The same may also apply to other test kits brands.

Yes, I originally was using the API freshwater set until I reached 1.010 salinity and then moved to the SW testing kit. And I'm very anal about making sure I shake the #2 bottle for required 30+ seconds prior to adding the drops and then shaking the test tube vigorously for 60+ seconds. I am shaking the bottle/test tube while walking to the microwave to set the timer for the 60 seconds and then the 5 min wait time.

BTW, the nitrAte test is the same for both FW and SW so you can still use that test from either test kit. I've read elsewhere that a new test kit's NO3 bottles should be shaken for several minutes at first use because it may've sat for a long period before purchase...And just for kicks check the FW and SW nitrAte test kits side by side and see what happens.


You can also check the lot numbers somewhere to make sure you didn't get an expired kit.

[supgirl]

Yes, I found that out when I purchased both kits. Before I found this site, I cruised every site I could find to see which kit I should be using for brackish water and no one would give a specific answer. So I did both, just to be sure And yes, they came out identical, except for the ammonia was a funny looking yellow in the SW test.
The other thing I did not mention earlier in this thread, as I just assumed everyone knew me from previous posts. This tank has been cycling for over a month now and was actually previously set up as a full marine tank (although it had been sitting empty for a couple of years). So this is why it might seem quick to all of you, my N03's are at 0. But to me it has been one hell of a LONG month. I can't tell you how much I've neglected the past month and a half.

[bertie 83]

It does indeed sound like you are now in control of a stable tank. Keep an extra close eye for the next couple of weeks just to be safe. Also remember on even the most stable tank waterchanges are your best friend, more water changed = less chance for potential issues = happier fish and happier you

[supgirl]

Thanks All!

I am very dedicated with the bi-weekly WC's and will continue to monitor the parameters and Puffs. I will not be adding any livestock other than the Janitorial crew mentioned earlier and depending how that goes any future livestock will be way down the road. I do not want to do anything to hinder the growth or lifespan of these 3- GSP's after spending over $750.00 and the past 45 days living with my arms in SW, to keep $15.00 worth of fish alive.

I just wanted to double check with the experts to ensure there were not any other things I might be missing.

[bertie 83]

Sorry totally missed that there is 3. I would personally leave it as that, unless you are planning a future upgrade? Gsps get quite large and poop lots lol

[sgtmyers88]

I would still keep the Aqueon for extra flow. Just gut out the filter components and use it like a surface based powerhead.