Ammonia at 0

[Trew321]

Hey guys, so finally my tank is at 0 ammonia just waiting for my NO2 to decrease then spike again. Was wondering what do I do to keep my ammonia at 0

 

[moorjames]

If you are dosing ammonia to cycle your tank- you basically just want to see if disappear within 24 hours. Once it's cycled- you shouldn't need to do anything else- your good bacteria will take care of it

 

[Trew321]

If you are dosing ammonia to cycle your tank- you basically just want to see if disappear within 24 hours. Once it's cycled- you shouldn't need to do anything else- your good bacteria will take care of it

I've not been doing anything apart from water changes. I already have one clownfish in tank.

 

[Jekyl]

I've not been doing anything apart from water changes. I already have one clownfish in tank.

Once you have the bacteria built up it takes care of the ammonia for you, regarded as cycling a tank.

 

[Dan_P]

Hey guys, so finally my tank is at 0 ammonia just waiting for my NO2 to decrease then spike again. Was wondering what do I do to keep my ammonia at 0

You are done

 

[Trew321]

You are done

I have to wait for the NO2 to spike twice don't I?

 

[Trew321]

Once you have the bacteria built up it takes care of the ammonia for you, regarded as cycling a tank.

The fish build the bacteria right? I have done research I just like checking with people

 

[Jekyl]

The fish build the bacteria right? I have done research I just like checking with people

Using fish to cycle the tank is often advised against. There are products or other ways to go about it that don't put the fish at risk. The important thing in your situation is to feed lightly and monitor ammonia and nitrate.

 

[Screwgunner]

No the fish put ammonia in the tank. Bacteria grow on the glass ,rock,filter media. That Bacteria only takes care of ammonia that Bacteria converts ammonia into nitrite. Than another Bacteria grows to convert it to nitrates that is the end prosses. But if you carbon dose you feed another Bacteria that will turn nitrates in to nitrogen gas . They say when you see your nitrates going up your cycle is done.

 

[Trew321]

Using fish to cycle the tank is often advised against. There are products or other ways to go about it that don't put the fish at risk. The important thing in your situation is to feed lightly and monitor ammonia and nitrate.

Yeah, I listened to my LFS instead of the research I did. I do test everyday to keep an eye on things.

 

[Trew321]

No the fish put ammonia in the tank. Bacteria grow on the glass ,rock,filter media. That Bacteria only takes care of ammonia that Bacteria converts ammonia into nitrite. Than another Bacteria grows to convert it to nitrates that is the end prosses. But if you carbon dose you feed another Bacteria that will turn nitrates in to nitrogen gas . They say when you see your nitrates going up your cycle is done.

Today I did a test and my ammonia was at 0 and nitrates are going up.

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Nitrogen cycle sounds complete to me.

 

[Dan_P]

I have to wait for the NO2 to spike twice don't I?

NO2 is rendered harmless by all the chloride in saltwater. As for the twice, I am not sure where that comes from

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Today I did a test and my ammonia was at 0 and nitrates are going up.

Sounds like you're good. Just be sure not to add additional livestock too quickly -- you want to give the bacteria time to grow to meet the new bioload.
What size tank? How much rock and other biomedia do you have?

 

[Trew321]

Sounds like you're good. Just be sure not to add additional livestock too quickly -- you want to give the bacteria time to grow to meet the new bioload.
What size tank? How much rock and other biomedia do you have?

The tank is 52L I only have two rocks in the tank and not sure what you mean by biomedia how long would you wait to add more livestock.....the LFS owe me a clownfish

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

The tank is 52L I only have two rocks in the tank and not sure what you mean by biomedia how long would you wait to add more livestock.....the LFS owe me a clownfish

Biomedia is anything the bacteria can colonize. This is where the old "rule" of 1-2 pounds of rock per gallon of water came from. If you don't have a lot of rock, you can add other biomedia like bio bricks, Seachem Matrix, rubble rock, etc in your sump to add surface area for the nitrifying bacteria. Without enough surface area, it can be difficult to build the necessary level of bacteria to handle a normal bioload.

As for the 2nd clown, that should be fine. Just try not to add more than 1-2 fish at a time. While you tank is "cycled", it's only cycled to the current bioload (aka fish poop and leftover food). A significant increase in these can result in ammonia levels rising until the bacteria catches up.

Let me know if that makes sense

 

[Trew321]

Biomedia is anything the bacteria can colonize. This is where the old "rule" of 1-2 pounds of rock per gallon of water came from. If you don't have a lot of rock, you can add other biomedia like bio bricks, Seachem Matrix, rubble rock, etc in your sump to add surface area for the nitrifying bacteria. Without enough surface area, it can be difficult to build the necessary level of bacteria to handle a normal bioload.

As for the 2nd clown, that should be fine. Just try not to add more than 1-2 fish at a time. While you tank is "cycled", it's only cycled to the current bioload (aka fish poop and leftover food). A significant increase in these can result in ammonia levels rising until the bacteria catches up.

Let me know if that makes sense

Yeah that makes sense pal, basically have enough things for the bacteria to live on?

Also while I have you here. My sand is very dirty at the minute do you have tips how to clean it?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yeah that makes sense pal, basically have enough things for the bacteria to live on?

Also while I have you here. My sand is very dirty at the minute do you have tips how to clean it?

Either stir a small section before a water change and then siphon out the dirty water, or vacuum the sand bed.

How did it get so dirty? It's a new tank, yes?

 

[Trew321]

Either stir a small section before a water change and then siphon out the dirty water, or vacuum the sand bed.

How did it get so dirty? It's a new tank, yes?

It is new yes and I have no idea how it got dirty, woke up one morning and it was like it

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It is new yes and I have no idea how it got dirty, woke up one morning and it was like it

Are you sure it's not a diatom bloom?