craigd50
New Member
Hello all, so I expect this has been answered many times but...
I bought a Fluval EVO 52l starter marine tank with the intention of learning the hobby before changing my 550l (+150L sump) tropical.
So day 1 set up the tank with dry rock and live sand, plus I got a bag of something (that came in a sealed jar (container)) from my local aquarium store to put in the filtration media, I can't remember what it is, anyway the shop owner led me to believe that there was a distinct possibility that I would be putting fish in after a week or so. So I diligently tested the parameters, but I used the API freshwater test kit. I suspect my ammonia levels were getting duff results of 0.25, although when testing tap water it reads 0. I have also put some flake in after about day 9 but I really do not believe the tank has cycled. we are at day 12 and the nitrite has jumped to a mighty .25 and stayed that way for 5 days, the nitrate appears to have fluctuated between 0 and .25 over the same period. I have also put in 25ml of fluval bacteria 3 days ago in order to try and get the thing moving. Also (living in Scotland), I was told by the shop keeper that the tap water (conditioned of course) would be perfectly fine to use instead of RODI water.
I am very impatient and would like to speed up this process if possible. Am I doing anything wrong? Any advice would be welcomed.
I bought a Fluval EVO 52l starter marine tank with the intention of learning the hobby before changing my 550l (+150L sump) tropical.
So day 1 set up the tank with dry rock and live sand, plus I got a bag of something (that came in a sealed jar (container)) from my local aquarium store to put in the filtration media, I can't remember what it is, anyway the shop owner led me to believe that there was a distinct possibility that I would be putting fish in after a week or so. So I diligently tested the parameters, but I used the API freshwater test kit. I suspect my ammonia levels were getting duff results of 0.25, although when testing tap water it reads 0. I have also put some flake in after about day 9 but I really do not believe the tank has cycled. we are at day 12 and the nitrite has jumped to a mighty .25 and stayed that way for 5 days, the nitrate appears to have fluctuated between 0 and .25 over the same period. I have also put in 25ml of fluval bacteria 3 days ago in order to try and get the thing moving. Also (living in Scotland), I was told by the shop keeper that the tap water (conditioned of course) would be perfectly fine to use instead of RODI water.
I am very impatient and would like to speed up this process if possible. Am I doing anything wrong? Any advice would be welcomed.
