Am I ready????

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

My tank has been cycling nowfor a good six weeks.did a water chemistry check and here are my results...ph 8.2, Kh 8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5, phosphate 0.64 all taken with a Red Sea test. Mag is between 1470-1500 from a Salifert test. Salinity is 1.026.

Am I ready to do my first water change and add CUC?

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Did you get an Ammonia spike, then drop?

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Did you get an Ammonia spike, then drop?

Yes! Ammonia spiked up higher than what it has been. I haven't seen nitrites, but someone at the LFS said the microbacteria could be converting it quickly. Nitrates really haven't changed.

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Wudotcom said:
Yes! Ammonia spiked up higher than what it has been. I haven't seen nitrites, but someone at the LFS said the microbacteria could be converting it quickly. Nitrates really haven't changed.

Well its possible i suppose, but id water change and get some snails really.

Was it live rock?

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Well its possible i suppose, but id water change and get some snails really.

Was it live rock?

Yes there is live rock in the tank.

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Wudotcom said:
Yes there is live rock in the tank.

If it was cured live rock you very likely already had the cycle running, the am detected prob from minor die off..
So yea, Id say its ready.
Cudos to you for waiting.

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Well its possible i suppose, but id water change and get some snails really.

Was it live rock?

I'm thinking of do a water change and get some Astrea Snails.

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
If it was cured live rock you very likely already had the cycle running, the am detected prob from minor die off..
So yea, Id say its ready.
Cudos to you for waiting.

I'm really taking it as slow as I can before adding fish. Thank you so much!

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Wudotcom said:
I'm thinking of do a water change and get some Astrea Snails.

Sweet. Take a look at the rock, see what you can see for algaas. Id def get some small turbos in there and maybe consider some other slime eaters and grazers. you should get some stuff you cant see but they can.
you prob wont need meat eaters till you feed it.

Have you checked this out? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/#post-3063945

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Wudotcom said:
I'm really taking it as slow as I can before adding fish. Thank you so much!

I wish more folks did it. We would lose less fish I think.

3 day cycle Pfft....

RamsReef · May 23, 2017

Did you take 100 bucks out of your wallet, burn it, and not shed a tear? Only then are you ready.

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Sweet. Take a look at the rock, see what you can see for algaas. Id def get some small turbos in there and maybe consider some other slime eaters and grazers. you should get some stuff you cant see but they can.
you prob wont need meat eaters till you feed it.

Have you checked this out? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/#post-3063945

I do have some macros trying to grow, but I also have GHA which I contribute to nitrates, phosphates and leaving light on too much.

Wudotcom · May 23, 2017

Ramasule said:
Did you take 100 bucks out of your wallet, burn it, and not shed a tear? Only then are you ready.

lol...the live rock alone was over that at 10.00/lb. That doesn't even get to the sand, wavemakers, and filtration.

120reefkeeper · May 23, 2017

Ramasule said:
Did you take 100 bucks out of your wallet, burn it, and not shed a tear? Only then are you ready.

Lol

saltyfilmfolks · May 23, 2017

Nah

Wudotcom said:
but I also have GHA which I contribute to nitrates, phosphates and leaving light on too much.

nah normal. scrub it the snails will eat it. maybe a crab or two.
Sounds like your tank is farther along than ya think.

Ramasule said:
Did you take 100 bucks out of your wallet, burn it, and not shed a tear? Only then are you ready.

Please take this to the painfully honest forum please.

RamsReef · May 23, 2017

Wudotcom said:
lol...the live rock alone was over that at 10.00/lb. That doesn't even get to the sand, wavemakers, and filtration.

Yeah but if you lost that youd have a tear. I just lost a colony to rtn and an apache tear was had.

Klwheat · May 25, 2017

Sounds like it's ready. Add a small fish or two and get it going!

Susan Bates · May 25, 2017

I am cycling on 100g tank, has been least then 3 weeks, i had a small amount of ammonia but now 0 nitrite 0 nitrates 5, diatoms are going and GHA is starting , is my tank ready??

saltyfilmfolks · May 25, 2017

Susan Bates said:
I am cycling on 100g tank, has been least then 3 weeks, i had a small amount of ammonia but now 0 nitrite 0 nitrates 5, diatoms are going and GHA is starting , is my tank ready??

did you track the numbers, did you start with live rock?

Susan Bates · May 25, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
did you track the numbers, did you start with live rock?

yes started with some live rock and dry rock,also marine pure i had taken from sump of tank i am pulling down, ammonia went 2 0.25 on day 2 and 0.5 on day 7 and 0 on day 11 and has stayed there nitrites 0 nitrates 5, i have put in raw prawn and frozen brine shrimp, also Zeobak, Diatoms started day 7,GHA started day 12