Adding more bacteria

[vcnt]

These are my current levels, im on day 8. If i add more turbo start, how much faster would my tank cycle?

 

[Uncle99]

If you used dry rock, sand, saltwater, flow, heat + bacteria, wait 2-3 days =cycled.

8 days more than sufficient.

If you used live rock, instant cycle.

 

[vcnt]

If you used dry rock, sand, saltwater, flow, heat + bacteria, wait 2-3 days =cycled.

If you used live rock, instant cycle.

But I still have ammonia present even on day 8, how am i cycled after 3?

 

[Uncle99]

But I still have ammonia present even on day 8, how am i cycled after 3?

You can wait if you like until your tests show zero, which I may never show.

Ammonia hard to measure accurately.

I’d water change that and add a couple of fish.

You added bacteria, unless it’s a bad batch, your cycled.

 

[ScottJ]

I saw you are dosing ammonia every couple days? Don't. let it get down to zero. You will start seeing nitrates eventually.

 

[ScottJ]

I saw you are dosing ammonia every couple days? Don't. let it get down to zero. You will start seeing nitrates eventually.

* shouls have said 'zero or close to zero'

 

[PharmrJohn]

Did you add active or dormant bacteria? That would explain a long duration to cycle.

 

[vcnt]

I saw you are dosing ammonia every couple days? Don't. let it get down to zero. You will start seeing nitrates eventually.

I was dosing every few days bvut i stopped, i dosed on saturday, monday, wednesday but i skipped out on friday

 

[vcnt]

Did you add active or dormant bacteria? That would explain a long duration to cycle.

I added fritz zyme 9, but lfs dude told me today while i was testing "if you want quicker cycle, just add more bacteria"

 

[mboley]

These are my current levels, im on day 8. If i add more turbo start, how much faster would my tank cycle?

You are cycled when ammonia and nitrites are zero. No one can tell you when that will be, every tank is different. Patience is key in this hobby.

 

[vcnt]

You are cycled when ammonia and nitrites are zero. No one can tell you when that will be, every tank is different. Patience is key in this hobby.

But would more bacteria speed it up?

 

[crazyfishmom]

My first tank took 6 weeks to fully cycle.

But would more bacteria speed it up?

what volume/size tank are you trying to cycle? Technically yes it could but please don’t try to rush your cycle.

 

[mboley]

But would more bacteria speed it up?

More bacteria wouldn't hurt.

 

[vcnt]

My first tank took 6 weeks to fully cycle.

what volume/size tank are you trying to cycle? Technically yes it could but please don’t try to rush your cycle.

110 gallons


Is it okay that lfs didnt refrigerate the bacteria?

 

[Vinaka_vakalevu]

But would more bacteria speed it up?

Stop dosing ammonia, you have nitrifying bacteria present in your tank let them process the ammonia that is currently in there. nitrites are not relevant in saltwater aquariums. Let you ammonia get to 0 and your are “cycled”. From that point on you can slowly add livestock to allow the bacterial populations to match the bio load.

 

[vcnt]

Stop dosing ammonia, you have nitrifying bacteria present in your tank let them process the ammonia that is currently in there. nitrites are not relevant in saltwater aquariums. Let you ammonia get to 0 and your are “cycled”. From that point on you can slowly add livestock to allow the bacterial populations to match the bio load.

I stopped with the ammonia

 

[crazyfishmom]

110 gallons


Is it okay that lfs didnt refrigerate the bacteria?

Most of the bacteria that comes in bottle form is either in spore form or formulated to be stable at room temperature so don’t worry about that.

Wait for your ammonia levels to go down and for nitrates to show up and your tank will be ready to start adding fish very slowly. I would make sure that you see some nitrates before adding fish though.

As others noted, nitrite is kind of deceptive when it comes to saltwater tanks.

 

[vcnt]

Most of the bacteria that comes in bottle form is either in spore form or formulated to be stable at room temperature so don’t worry about that.

Wait for your ammonia levels to go down and for nitrates to show up and your tank will be ready to start adding fish very slowly. I would make sure that you see some nitrates before adding fish though.

As others noted, nitrite is kind of deceptive when it comes to saltwater tanks.

My levels I was testing with API was way off from lfs fancy tester

 

[crazyfishmom]

My levels I was testing with API was way off from lfs fancy tester

Yeah… I would probably trust the fancy tester. You only have a few more days to go. It’ll be great; stay the course!

 

[TeamAquaSD Verified Sponsor]

These are my current levels, im on day 8. If i add more turbo start, how much faster would my tank cycle?

Is this the first time using this tester? Might be worth grabbing some cheap ammonia, nitrite/natrate kits and comparing results. Sometimes those testers can be a bit tricky to calibrate and having something to compare test results with is worth its weight in gold.
I would stop dosing ammonia and would probably add some more bacteria since it is a larger tank but it should not be necessary.