can anyone explain my tests to me?

[xxoczukxx]

Sorry for the lack of the test kit indicator sheet! i dont have the saltwater

Here is what I used to compare the colors online!
one! http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Downloads.html

So the tank has only been up for like 3 days, set up using live rock from my lfs and caribsea live sand, about 2" of it. I have an aquaclear 50 with live rock rubble and filter floss in it (going to add chaeto in once my led comes in) to act as a refugium of sorts.

The only things ive added are some fish food to create ammonia and biospira to the tank, but as you can see theres no ammonia.

Could anyone explain how the results look like this so quickly or if theyre supposed to? coming from a freshwater background this is something I shouldnt see for a while

The tests in order are high range ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Any pics of the tank available? Curious as to how the live rock looks and roughly how many # as well as what size tank. It is possibly to have a cycleless build from live rock and live sand depending on quality and potential for die off. Similar to a tank transfer.

 

[Areseebee]

Just to be clear, this is after 5 minutes for each? You shouldn't expect to see much after 3 days honestly. Look for the ammonia to go up first. Maybe the liverock you bought won't allow for a real cycle but I'd bet on some die-off.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Also, it's a matter of opinion on this, but, I recommend using a different test kit. Are you planning to go FOWLR or reef setup?
Are you using a saltwater kit or fresh?
Welcome to the madness that is saltwater. Lol. Happy reefing!

 

[xxoczukxx]

Any pics of the tank available? Curious as to how the live rock looks and roughly how many # as well as what size tank. It is possibly to have a cycleless build from live rock and live sand depending on quality and potential for die off. Similar to a tank transfer.

unfortunately right before i took the tests I used a turkey baster to clear the sand off of some of the live rock, resulting in a nice cloud. I know the fact that it still clouds easily means a biofilm has not sufficiently formed on the sand as the biofilm can help prevent clouding every time the sand is touched.

Ill try to post a better picture tomorrow, but i have about 7 pounds of live rock and 10 pounds of live sand in a 7.5g tank


Idk if it helps but i know my LFS keeps their live rock in like 3 large, shallow aquariums with constant flowing filters going over them, im assuming to further cure their rock?

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

The true test would be ammonia dosing (I honestly have no idea on amount per gallon to reach a specified ppm, etc) Basically dosing pure ammonia in a controlled amount and checking whether the bio filter is able to consume and bring to a solid 0.0 over a controlled period of time. I'm sure there's info in regards to that on a thread somewhere here.

 

[xxoczukxx]

Just to be clear, this is after 5 minutes for each? You shouldn't expect to see much after 3 days honestly. Look for the ammonia to go up first. Maybe the liverock you bought won't allow for a real cycle but I'd bet on some die-off.

Yep this is after waiting a good 5-10 minutes for the color to develop. Ill keep testing daily. is it ok to waterchange during a cycle? i see people saying to leave the tank basically alone besides top offs but i want to lower the nitrates

 

[xxoczukxx]

The true test would be ammonia dosing (I honestly have no idea on amount per gallon to reach a specified ppm, etc) Basically dosing pure ammonia in a controlled amount and checking whether the bio filter is able to consume and bring to a solid 0.0 over a controlled period of time. I'm sure there's info in regards to that on a thread somewhere here.

Ok good point. Ill go pick up some ammonia or order some dr tims tomorrow and see how it turns out

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I would leave the water alone as far as WCs are concerned until you are 100% sure cycle has completed and you're at the nitrate stage (although a cycle never completes it is an ongoing event, I learned that here a while back. Lol. Thanks R2R) Just let the nitrates ride at this moment. Eyes on the ammonia and nitrite at this time. Once everything is established you will be able to do the water change and reduce nutrients. The rock and sand will hold the nitrifying bacteria needed to maintain the tank while the water is disposable. Would like to see a shot of tank once sandstorm settled tomorrow if possible. (More so for the aquascape) What type of plans for the tank? Coral or fish or both?

 

[xxoczukxx]

I would leave the water alone as far as WCs are concerned until you are 100% sure cycle has completed and you're at the nitrate stage (although a cycle never completes it is an ongoing event, I learned that here a while back. Lol. Thanks R2R) Just let the nitrates ride at this moment. Eyes on the ammonia and nitrite at this time. Once everything is established you will be able to do the water change and reduce nutrients. The rock and sand will hold the nitrifying bacteria needed to maintain the tank while the water is disposable. Would like to see a shot of tank once sandstorm settled tomorrow if possible. (More so for the aquascape) What type of plans for the tank? Coral or fish or both?

Alright ill take one when i wake up for you! The rockwork is kind of iffy and i kind of want to rearrange it but we shall see.

My plans are most likely going to be a couple blue neon gobies or a watchman goby and some corals. I want to try some easy stuff. im lookin at zoas, palys, acans, GSP (thats what those isolated rocks up from are for :] ), ricordea, and i do want to try some montipora once the tank is more established. Im gonna run a kessil a80 so id hope i have enough light.

I like the look of like galaxeas and torches but with such a small tank im pretty wary of aggresive corals with long sweepers. do you have any coral recommendations for me?

 

[Areseebee]

The true test would be ammonia dosing (I honestly have no idea on amount per gallon to reach a specified ppm, etc) Basically dosing pure ammonia in a controlled amount and checking whether the bio filter is able to consume and bring to a solid 0.0 over a controlled period of time. I'm sure there's info in regards to that on a thread somewhere here.

This is the right thing to do. You'll find recommended clearance rates (I think people recommend 4 ppm clearance per day or something, I forget). I still would give it maybe a week or two first, stuff on your rocks is going to die from the transport which will contribute for a bit. Google fishless cycle and you'll find good guidance.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I just made a transfer from a 90 to an 80 shallow 2-3 weeks ago (it's all a blur of tanks and rocks lol) Using new sand and almost all the rock from my 90 had no cycle (aside from the diatom bloom on sand being that I used dry sand rather than live, idk if it honestly mattered for a transfer, just did my homework and that's the route I went)

 

[Reef Ryder]

unfortunately right before i took the tests I used a turkey baster to clear the sand off of some of the live rock, resulting in a nice cloud. I know the fact that it still clouds easily means a biofilm has not sufficiently formed on the sand as the biofilm can help prevent clouding every time the sand is touched.

Ill try to post a better picture tomorrow, but i have about 7 pounds of live rock and 10 pounds of live sand in a 7.5g tank


Idk if it helps but i know my LFS keeps their live rock in like 3 large, shallow aquariums with constant flowing filters going over them, im assuming to further cure their rock?

Did you rinse the sand?

 

[xxoczukxx]

Did you rinse the sand?

its live sand and everything ive read told me not to rinse it so i neglected to do that. the tank cleared up pretty fast though with the filter floss in the filter, its just i keep stirring it up so it keeps clouding haha itll go back to normal in a couple hours i think

 

[xxoczukxx]

This is the right thing to do. You'll find recommended clearance rates (I think people recommend 4 ppm clearance per day or something, I forget). I still would give it maybe a week or two first, stuff on your rocks is going to die from the transport which will contribute for a bit. Google fishless cycle and you'll find good guidance.

yea i see 4ppm and wait 24 hours to see if its gone. How long does the stuff on live rock usually take to die/decay?

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Isolation is great for the gsp. Ask me how I know. Haha.
Torches, frogspawn, hammers, are all great eyphylia dependent on placement and neighbors. I personally love the movement of those coral as I'll probably never try an anemone again. They get me as close as I'll get to one. Blue/green symphelia (spelling wrong I'm sure) is a non overly invasive similarity to the galaxia. Plus it doesn't send off feeders. If doing mushrooms try to keep rics, discos, or yumas in their own little areas as they will melt one another. They're beautiful when grouped with themselves but don't play nice together. Montis are great. With so many varietys. Plating, encrusting, Digitata. Acans are great sand dwellers as you can control their growth based on their substrate. Put em on a rock and watch them flourish, sit them in the sand and you can stunt them to space available. For sand space candy canes/trumpets are always a great choice.
I think you're off to a great start. Keep up the good work and take your time. The slower and more stable the better.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Fwiw, first setup i didn't rinse the live sand as that's what research led me to as well. Worked for me.

 

[xxoczukxx]

Isolation is great for the gsp. Ask me how I know. Haha.
Torches, frogspawn, hammers, are all great eyphylia dependent on placement and neighbors. I personally love the movement of those coral as I'll probably never try an anemone again. They get me as close as I'll get to one. Blue/green symphelia (spelling wrong I'm sure) is a non overly invasive similarity to the galaxia. Plus it doesn't send off feeders. If doing mushrooms try to keep rics, discos, or yumas in their own little areas as they will melt one another. They're beautiful when grouped with themselves but don't play nice together. Montis are great. With so many varietys. Plating, encrusting, Digitata. Acans are great sand dwellers as you can control their growth based on their substrate. Put em on a rock and watch them flourish, sit them in the sand and you can stunt them to space available. For sand space candy canes/trumpets are always a great choice.
I think you're off to a great start. Keep up the good work and take your time. The slower and more stable the better.

thanks for all the suggestions! ive been trying to figure out what are good corals for the sand i might try candy canes out!

 

[xxoczukxx]

I would leave the water alone as far as WCs are concerned until you are 100% sure cycle has completed and you're at the nitrate stage (although a cycle never completes it is an ongoing event, I learned that here a while back. Lol. Thanks R2R) Just let the nitrates ride at this moment. Eyes on the ammonia and nitrite at this time. Once everything is established you will be able to do the water change and reduce nutrients. The rock and sand will hold the nitrifying bacteria needed to maintain the tank while the water is disposable. Would like to see a shot of tank once sandstorm settled tomorrow if possible. (More so for the aquascape) What type of plans for the tank? Coral or fish or both?

bad picture but heres what it currently looks like. im really unhappy with the rock placement atm. half my rock is buried under the sand and i cant get the stack the way i want it to look so im gonna keep rearranging til its better

 

[Reef Ryder]

its live sand and everything ive read told me not to rinse it so i neglected to do that. the tank cleared up pretty fast though with the filter floss in the filter, its just i keep stirring it up so it keeps clouding haha itll go back to normal in a couple hours i think

Oh okay, argonot is what you rinse.