3 weeks and nothing

[Robb1414]

Have had my 40 gallon tank up and running for 3 weeks. Have live rock and a pair of clowns. I have tested water every day and have had no spike in ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites. What am I doing wrong?!?!

 

[Tahoe61]

You may not see an ammonia spike if you used live rock.

Welcome to R2R

 

[edc_aquarium]

You may not see an ammonia spike if you used live rock.

Welcome to R2R

Mine did the exact same thing. Get some dr tims one and only and ammonia in a bottle, that should work

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef !!!

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome to R2R

Sounds like you had little or no die off of your LR. But don't count on it yet.

 

[Robb1414]

Thanks for the replies...so should I add introduce a new fish to the tank? Glad to be part of this group!!

 

[James M]

How long have you had the clowns ?

 

[Robb1414]

They've been in the tank since day two of set up. So, 19 days.

 

[James M]

You should wait 3-4 weeks to allow your biological filteration to catch up. (I think)

 

[davocean]

Agree, and really the clowns should not have been put in until tank had cycled

 

[Matt Carden]

Welcome to R2R! Slow and steady wins the race in reefing.

 

[Robb1414]

Agree, and really the clowns should not have been put in until tank had cycled

I know....I got bad advice...I feel bad about them being in the tank...but they seem happy and haven't shown any sign of any type of stress!

 

[davocean]

I know....I got bad advice...I feel bad about them being in the tank...but they seem happy and haven't shown any sign of any type of stress!

Understand, just take your time from here, patience.
Even at 3 weeks many of us would still be fishless

 

[Michelle Crossley]

Hi robb1414. I have had my 6foot tank cycling for 6 weeks now. I am on about stage 5 which is the live rock creating diatoms. I need to go through one more stage which is Cyanobacteria. That could take up to a couple of months. It is a very slow and long process but believe me it is well worth the wait. There are less problems further down the line.
I had to do this with my 3 foot tank.
Hope it all works out for you

 

[Oldreefer44]

In my experience the most common reason for major mistakes (and loss of money) in this hobby is lack of patience. Whenever you have an impulse to take action then wait......wait some more and then wait some more.

 

[Robb1414]

Good advice - all around - thanks!

 

[Matt Carden]

I started filling my 150 on 11/2/18. Probably another month before I add fish.

 

[KrisReef]

Hey @Robb1414 Welcome to Reef2Reef.

Take time to decide what few fish you want to add in the future to hang with the clowns. If you have an ammonia spike next week you will not want to have any additional fish in the tank to weather that storm.

 

[marlinmon]

Three weeks in coral years is like three seconds lol

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!!