So when I say this I'm going to seem very stupid. I'm nearing the end of my cycle. I figured in my head "oh in just going to start off with 10 gallons and then add more." so u went ahead and started cycling 10 gallons in my aquarium. I honestly don't even know what I was thinking now. Anyways, well here I am near the end of my cycle thinking.."what in the heck was I thinking." wanting to add the other 40 gallons and I have no idea how to go about that. Pleaaasse help me! And forgive my stupidity.
Adding more water
- Thread starter Fishie718
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ShaunRobinson
Active Member
There aren’t any stupid questions in this hobby and even the most experienced reefer makes mistakes along the way.
What do you have in your tank and how did you cycle it? Ideally you want to have the tank filled to your normal capacity before cycling but the cycling process is all about building up a healthy bacteria population and establishing a stable condition for livestock. Are you currently doing any testing?
I have 2 saltwater guppies and some live rocks. I test every day. My ammonia at 0, nitrites off the chart and nitrates at 80. I just don't know what made me think about only putting 10 gallons in my tank. If I fill the other 40 up will it restart my cycle. What about adding 5 or so gallons every week? I don't know what to do.There aren’t any stupid questions in this hobby and even the most experienced reefer makes mistakes along the way.
What do you have in your tank and how did you cycle it? Ideally you want to have the tank filled to your normal capacity before cycling but the cycling process is all about building up a healthy bacteria population and establishing a stable condition for livestock. Are you currently doing any testing?
Mastiffsrule
Where ever you go, there you are, so be nice 2 you
As everyone mention, please don’t feel like that. Forum is exactly what you used it for. Questions to be answere in an environment that supports its members.
Also, welcome to R2R if I missed tou new to forum thread. If you didn’t do one, do so we can get to know you.
Also, why did we start w only 10 gallons
Also, welcome to R2R if I missed tou new to forum thread. If you didn’t do one, do so we can get to know you.
Also, why did we start w only 10 gallons
Mastiffsrule
Where ever you go, there you are, so be nice 2 you
Asking for more knowledge. Wondering why additional water would spike a new cycle. I thought if the bed is established and just adding more salt that is match3d to tank it should be fine unless the bioload (lots more fish added all at once )spikes?
Just wondering so I don’t run into this situation
Thanks.
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Easy fix...just mix up as much saltwater as you can in a seperate container and add to tank.
ShaunRobinson
Active Member
So your with your nitrite and nitrate readings your parameters tell you your tank is still cycling. As you only have a small volume of water in there everything is pretty concentrated at the moment but the easiest way to reduce both these is to dilute what you have so go ahead and add the remaining 40g of salted rodi and bring your tank up to its correct volume. Test once you have done this to get an idea of where you are with your readings, (your No2 and No3 should be significantly less with the added water). Keep testing your nitrites and nitrates and as your cycle continues both will start to drop off.
Don’t lose any sleep over this, as long as the 10g you had in the tank was the correct salinity and temperature then the bacteria will have started to seed in your rock regardless. Putting more water of the same salinity and temp into the tank won’t alter that.
Hope this helps,
Shaun.
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I’m guessing only some rock are covered in water and the rest are dry. If he adds more water and fills the tank up the rock that aren’t wet need to be cycled. Which will cause it to start over.
Thanks, I'll do one. I have no idea why I did.As everyone mention, please don’t feel like that. Forum is exactly what you used it for. Questions to be answere in an environment that supports its members.
Also, welcome to R2R if I missed tou new to forum thread. If you didn’t do one, do so we can get to know you.
Also, why did we start w only 10 gallons
Most of it is covered. And the rock is cured already. Would that affect it? Also wouldn't this bot take that long since I have the nitrites in my tank currently to handle the ammonia that's in there?
cracker
5000 Club Member
Hi Fishie , We don't know if you will have to recycle or not. Gotta get the rest of the water in there 1st Then test & get back with us. From the last set of tests, your tank is still cycling so not done yet. Ya jut gotta be patient !
Ps don't feel too bad . I've done stuff I refuse talk about ! ;Blackeye
Ps don't feel too bad . I've done stuff I refuse talk about ! ;Blackeye
ShaunRobinson
Active Member
Ah, a little more information goes a long way. Because not all of your rock is below the water line (it doesn't matter if the rock was cured, being cured basically means that the rock (bacteria population was live as in kept wet), you will have a certain amount of die off from the life that was in the uncovered part of your rock. This die off will most likely cause a small ammonia spike once you get it under water so unfortunately you will likely see another rise in your levels. It may not be much though as it sounds as though it is just a small part of your rock that wasn't underwater. I think the best advice here is still to fill your tank to your required level with the 40g and keep testing. Once you have done that give us your parameters again and we can take it from there with the best way to proceed.
Shaun.
