????ammonia questions and more?????

[coralitch]

okay this is the deal i just restarted a 24 gallon nano cube that had been sitting in the garage for months. the once live rock has been dried out for the same amount of time. i have a uv sterilizer, chiller, standard nano lighting, newly acquired live sand, a 1200 and a 600 max power heads. the tank has been cycling for weeks. if you can help me with one or more of these questions that would be great.

question 1 because my live rock dried out is it still useable, should i have bought new rock or other option?

question 2 what is the best way to reduce my ammonia levels, they are off the charts, i have tried every ammonia detox and neutralizer i can buy what are my options?

question 3 should i buy live bacteria or get some kind of rock/microalgae from an established tank to add to my tank?

question 4 when i do water changes should i clean the filter, should i ever clean the filter?

question 5 while the tank is cycling should i leave the lights on or off or just 8 hours aday?

question 6 can i add an intank refugium for nano cubes in the back filter section of the tank using lights and stuff like a refugium?

[Ping]

1. Still usable

2. How old is the test kit. 2 years? If so I would replace.

3. Both are a good idea for bio-diversity and dead rock seeding. I would purchase a piece or two of uncured rock to help liven up the dead rock. Cure the rock in a separate container.

4. Filters are nitrate factories and need to be cleaned often.

5. Off

6. I don’t know.

[Big_Pun]

6. you say nano cube so is it a jbj if so, the black on the outside of the aquarium covering the filter area can be scraped off with a razor blade and you can add a light on the outside of the tank, also some people have put underwater led lights in the chambers, then just put cheato and live rock. i just put macro in my tank for the natural look, pic in the nano section "jbj 12"

[corkyGramma]

#1. still usable, just add any amount of live rock and your "dryrock " will be live again(over time).
#2&3. Detox chemicals dont work when cycling, it has to run its course but you can speed up the process by adding beneficial bacteria. princer is selling some "high end" kind but you can get some @ petco (i'd recommend the liquid kind).
#4 if there's micro algae on the filter i'll lightly scrub it with a toothbrush, then let the filter media catch it(1hr or so) before I toss it away. remember there is beneficial bac on all surfaces so never pull out and wash anything(more work & no benefit).
#5 since the rocks are dead you don't have to have the lights on (you have no coraline algae)

[coralitch]

thank you everyone for your answers it is very helpful. if anyone is from the Rio grand valley keep in touch.
thanks again,
bob schoenmakers

[Bill S]

Get a small amount of rock from someone/someplace. Let nature run it's course - 6-8 weeks. Run the light if you want - especially if the rock you buy has any coraline algae on it.

Just remember, there are no shortcuts in this hobby - bad things happen quickly, to those that are not patient. Unless you have an unlimited amount of money and don't mind killing livestock, just hang on a bit.

[Big_Pun]

Get a small amount of rock from someone/someplace. Let nature run it's course - 6-8 weeks. Run the light if you want - especially if the rock you buy has any coraline algae on it.

Just remember, there are no shortcuts in this hobby - bad things happen quickly, to those that are not patient. Unless you have an unlimited amount of money and don't mind killing livestock, just hang on a bit.
i agree in this hobby everything takes time

[justahobby]

The dead rock may have decaying matter if your ammonia is off the chart. I haven't seen LS create those problems regardless of store bought or est. I would take the rock out and begin cooking it. Do a water change and see if that brings the ammonia down...given you have an accurate test kit. Any fish store will be happy confirm this for you. Then you can start seeding with LR without fouling your main display to such a drastic degree.

[OrionN]

AThe dead rock had lots of dried dead animals in it. This is what cause high ammonia. Just be patient and do water change until the ammonia come down. Once the ammonia and nitrite is down to 0, you can seed it with some good new live rock (LR now just kill many of the animal in it)
Water change and water change and wait. Don't add anything alive into the tank until it finish cycle. You can get cured LR and LS from store after it cycle and can add fish after the LS and LR (if ammonia and Nitrite is 0)

[Crazyeyes]

Well i would let the tank cycle, which is what it need. The longer you let it cycle the more stable it will be, don't put the skimmer or the uv on yet. The main reason ammonia is high is because you are building bacteria and you want it to stay high the higher it is the more bacteria you have, also feed the tank to keep the bacteria alive. If you want a quick solution to get it to cycle it quick, go buy amonia pads and place them in the tank.

[OrionN]

When I cycle my aquarium, I try to keep the condition as good as possible with water change to decrease the mortality of the animals in the LR. IMO, good live rock are the live rock with the most diversity of life, not the barren stuff that only good for the bacterial in it.