Patiently waiting

I just added 45lbs of Fiji LR to my 46 gallon tank. I set the tank up about a week ago, but have been waiting for my LR.

I checked the gravity and before I added it is was .025. I removed some water to allow the LR to be added and after I rinsed the LR and added I added freshwater to fill it up. My gravity is now .023 (is this too high?). My ph was 8.2 and ammonia was between .5 and 1ppm.

I'm going to remove the bio-wheels as soon as I get back upstairs. I think I have it all set now. There is also a question I have with my skimmer. I have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read that it could be caused by the fact that I used a tap water conditioner. My plans are to no longer used tap water in future water changes. Could my bubbles be caused by something else? I thought that after a week of running that the bubbles would have cleared (I didn't have it on the entire time, I just checked it from time to time).

I guess I'm just checking to see if anyone thinks I'm doing something wrong. I was thinking about adding a damsel to help in the cycling of the tank. My plans are for a nice peaceful tank. Is a damsel maybe not my best option? Is there another fish to use?

thanks for all of your help

If you just set the tank up a week ago and used tap water, you haven't let the tank cycle long enough. You should wait for at least 21 days to let the nitrogen cycle go to completion before adding anything. Someone else here can verfiy this, but I wouldn't add LR to a new tank for several months. Keep the biowheels in place, since you haven't let the tank cycle long enough. You need as much biofiltration as possible at this point. You could check with a local saltwater dealer and see if they will part with some seed sand or crushed gravel that already has bacteria established. It might help, and it certainly cannot hurt. I don't know if adding the LR will help. The ammonia is high,and the nitrite will pick up soon, and could kill the live rock, or anything else you put in the tank. Oh, and chances are your tap water has lots of nutrients in it that you don't want. You should ideally use DI/RO water, or at least distilled

I hope it was 1.025

Normal during cycling.

Good.

Increasing foaming could be caused by water additives, 'slime coat' etc. Keep the skimmer running ALL THE TIME... especially if you cycle with not previously cured rock stright from the shipment. Do not turn it off.

God forbid! Damsels are territorial and aggressive... Beautiful fish, but never use it for cycling if you do not intend to keep it later... You can cycle the tank with live rock alone - yours has already started the cycling: you see elevated ammonia. Everything is ok, do not make a mistake of many beginners and buy a fish which will bully other fishes later. Many if not most of the damsels bought for cycling tank land in the toilets because aquarists got them without knowing what fish they are.

I was told somewhere that you could put in part of the cleanup crew during the cycling. Is this correct? -Chris

skimmer. I have the Seaclone 100 and always get bubbles in the water if I have it turned on and what I believed to be set to the correct setting. I read that

Skimmers take a few days to 'break in' and start operating properly, shorter or longer dependant on model and design. As stated earlier, turn it on, and don't ever turn it off again. Just so you know, Seaclones are not considered to be among the best skimmers.....

The LR I added was cured. I thought that the best time to add it was now (before I added life to the tank). I know there will be die off, but should I have waited? I have read so many different answers to this that I don't know which road to choose.

I am already beginning to feel that Seaclones are not that good. Hopefully the break in period on this is long and it will straighten it's self up

. Everything is ok, do not make

Amen to that. But if you REALLY have to do a fish cycle then a common black molly will suffice, they will withstand the high salinity and can be given away afterwards...

I recommend not to suggest that either unless it was dead already.

Or... you just get yourself a nice fresh fish dinner in a grocery, cut a 1/4' piece of raw fish (the size depends on amount of water in the tank to be cycled) and throw it to the water - let it decompose for days until it disappear... You will get the same effects quicker and no need for live fish. Decomposing fish meat will create ammonia peak and in turn the whole cycle. This trick is used in fishtanks WITHOUT live rock. Live rock delivered to your home in wet newspapers usually has enough dead animals on the surface to create ammonia spike on its own and no mollies or damsels are necessary.

Yes, depending what do you consider your cleanup crew. Hermit crabs (blue legs) are pretty hardy, but snails do not withstand very high ammonia spikes... I would not put any live animals until you will have ammonia on your downhill. Nitrites following ammonia are less poisonous in saltwater and you could slowly start putting animals during 2nd cycle phase.