New setup FOWLR - Detritus
 

Hi Guys & Gals,

I just set up a new tank...should I start sucking Detritus up right away or leave it there for a bit?

Also, When should I start checking the parimeters of the tank? My salinity right now is 1.020... How fast can I bump it up? Take my time or get it up right away. Tank has not cycled yet.

Thanks,

is there any livestock in the tank or detritus just off the rock?

Siphon detritus as often as possible, even on cycling tanks. I do it every weekly water change. To export even more detritus, use a turkey baster (one that's used only for your tank) and blow detritus off the rock onto the bottom of the tank, then siphon it our. I'm assuming your tank has no sandbed, though. I don't know how you'd siphon detritus from your sandbed without removing sand.

Get your salt up to 1.025 and keep it there. Don't bother testing for a couple weeks. Keep a good log. Read the sticky's on cycling. Good luck have fun !! Don't put fish in until your ammonia and nitrite are consistently 0000.

This tank only has live rock and a sandbed. I have been removing the detritus as soon as I see it. I loose some sand but if its better to get rid of the detritus FAST i dont mind about the little bit of sand I lose.

Thanks for the imput!

Do I bump the Salinity up fast or slowly? All my levels are at ZERO right now but it may change as soon as it cycles.

If you only have rock and a sandbed, I don't think it matters very much if you adjust the salinity quickly instead of over a period of days. JMHO,, though :)

Yes no worries. You are taking your time this is good. It becomes very expensive if you don't.

So my snails are living and I have added 2 emerald crabs and a sand golby.... it has been 4 days and they are dead....all my levels are perfect and salinity is 1.025 and temp is around 28 degrees....WHY did they dye? This is my second attempt at the crabs .... I don't think my tank has cycled yet... I set the tank up on Oct 29th and it was a partially established tank...

ANY SUGGESTIONS/INSIGHT PLEASE........

I would take it over a few days fish or not, personally. salinity is a weird thing you could bring a fish down to hypo salinity in 24 hours, but to bring it back up to a normal salinity you would have to go over a few days/weeks! in your case I'd say raise it a bit each day never a full point in 24 hours though