Concerning adding stability to a started tank with bacteria from other brands (nitrite 0.2ppm)

[tonyhk]

Hi All, I am new to the saltwater aquarium! I have the following questions. Would you please provide some kind assistances to me, thanks a lot!

Background:
Currently using products: Biodigest from prodibio, Seachem Prime, Seachem Marine Trace, Seachem stressguard
Considering to use: Seachem stability, Seachem matrix

My tank was started at 16/11/2018.

It is a 60L tank with filtration medium of 5L of sera siporax and 1 KG of maxspect bio-sphere. Skimmer is BMQQ2. It has been cycled for about 1.5 months.

I have been using Seachem Prime, marine trace in the cycling process.

There are currently 10 nos. of 1 inch chromis viridis in my tank.

1. For the bacteria I used, I have applied the Biodigest from the prodibio. But the nitrite level never goes to 0 so long. The reading from API test kit is always 0.2ppm which cannot drop from 0. I don't know if there anything wrong with my bacteria used or the filtration medium. Would you please give any advice?

2. I am going to apply Seachem stability to deal with the nitrate issue. Should I use the Stability to a started tank? Or would you suggest bacteria from other brands can do well? (I am not sure whether I can get those bacteria in Hong Kong, but I sall brightwell, Kent, Seachem bacterias)
Will the bacteria in Stability compete with those in Biodigest and cause any side effect?
In such case I want to deal with the nitrate level (0.2ppm), what dosage should you suggest would help?

3. Is my filtration medium appropriate? I am going to add my Seachem Matrix. What amount of matrix would you suggest for reducing the nitrite (Main target)?

Thanks a lot for your advices!

Regards,
Tony

 

[SPR1968]

Hi Tony and welcome to R2R!

The Seachem Stability should establish/complete your biological filtration in the tank for you and of course there are many other brands to do this. This should also get rid of any nitrite if the cycle isn’t complete yet.

What are you trying to achieve with Nitrate, you don’t really want 0 Nitrate or you will risk unwanted issues (cyno etc) and a good target would be 5-10ppm Nitrate but it of course depends on your personal goals with the system.

Seachem Matrix is very good (I use about 6 litres of it) but again this will reduce your nitrates so it depends what your trying to do and this may help decide wether to put the Matrix in either a low flow area (anaerobic denitrification) or high flow area

I would also just consider all the additives your using and are they really necessary and what are there affects

You may find this useful as well:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[tonyhk]

Hi Tony and welcome to R2R!

The Seachem Stability should establish/complete your biological filtration in the tank for you and of course there are many other brands to do this. This should also get rid of any nitrite if the cycle isn’t complete yet.

What are you trying to achieve with Nitrate, you don’t really want 0 Nitrate or you will risk unwanted issues (cyno etc) and a good target would be 5-10ppm Nitrate but it of course depends on your personal goals with the system.

Seachem Matrix is very good (I use about 6 litres of it) but again this will reduce your nitrates so it depends what your trying to do and this may help decide wether to put the Matrix in either a low flow area (anaerobic denitrification) or high flow area

I would also just consider all the additives your using and are they really necessary and what are there affects

You may find this useful as well:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

Sir Thanks a lot for your reply! The reason for I striking for a 0- level nitrite is that I have consulted several LFS and they all said that a 0 level of nitrite is essential for a fish only tank. I don't know whatever the statement is correct!

Sir would you suggest some brand of bacteria which are recognized as good bacteria? I have used invest a lot for the bacteria but none of them can control my no2 level to zero, including biodigest, bactiv8 npx from two little fish and so on. But none of them give good result. Would you kindly advise?

So in case of aiming at the nitrite level instead of nitrate level, is matrix is a good choice? I am using sera siporax as a medium and I am going to replace it with the Matrix. Does it sound better?

For additives, as I am trying to control the no2 and don't let it propose any harm to my current fish, I add prime to my tank as per instruction of Seachem website to detoxify the ammonia and no2. The Seachem Marine Trace, Seachem stressguard are used for keeping the chromis viridis healthy though I don't know whether they are useful or not!

Thanks a lot again!

 

[tonyhk]

I just get off my work and am going to buy a 500ml stability and some matrix, hope it works.......

 

[SPR1968]

Just to be clear nitrIte should be 0, NitrAte can be whatever you aim for with 5-10ppm a good target

So if you still have nitrite, is the tank still cycling ? If it is the Seachem Stability should help finish that off (although I haven't used this personally). You just need to make sure the tank has properly finished cycling if it hasn't already

You might find this helpful
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

 

[tonyhk]

Just to be clear nitrIte should be 0, NitrAte can be whatever you aim for with 5-10ppm a good target

So if you still have nitrite, is the tank still cycling ? If it is the Seachem Stability should help finish that off (although I haven't used this personally). You just need to make sure the tank has properly finished cycling if it hasn't already

You might find this helpful
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

Sir thanks a lot for your help!

I would read the link when I got home in detail!

By the way, I just decided to get a micobacter7 from brightwell instead of stability . Would it be a better bacteria choice?
is it beneficial or harmful for uaingg biodigest and micobacter7 together?

Great thanks for reply!

 

[tonyhk]

I have read that you guys would use live rock to boosten the cycling.

But in my district the price for live rock is unreasonably high. Also my Gf doesn't like the appearance of rocks...

 

[SPR1968]

Sir thanks a lot for your help!

I would read the link when I got home in detail!

By the way, I just decided to get a micobacter7 from brightwell instead of stability . Would it be a better bacteria choice?
is it beneficial or harmful for uaingg biodigest and micobacter7 together?

Great thanks for reply!

I think there probably all similar and i have also used the Microbacter7 when I was 'seeding' some Brightwell NO3 bricks a while ago.

I haven't used biodigest but normally there arent issues using different ones

 

[tonyhk]

I think there probably all similar and i have also used the Microbacter7 when I was 'seeding' some Brightwell NO3 bricks a while ago.

I haven't used biodigest but normally there arent issues using different ones

Ok thank you sir, see what result I will get after adding MB7, cheers!

 

[SPR1968]

We just need to make sure your tank has cycled correctly so have a read of the article and see were you are.

Live rock forms part of the biofiltration in the system to help with the conversion of waste as part of the cycle. You don't have to have it but it helps. There are other options if you don't want rock work such as the Seachem Matrix which you have been looking at. That's what I use now having tried different things (along in my case lots of rocks)

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome to R2R Tony.

You're doing a nice job. We like pics.

Again, welcome.

 

[Ghost_Rebel5]

If you need any more info on Cycling you can check our brandon429 article on Cycling. He helped me greatly by answering all my newbie questions. Will definitely recommend you to read his article

 

[tonyhk]

Sirs, attached some photo

No2 = 0-0.2 (0.1? not sure!!)
No3= 25
My canister filter with 1.5 kg maxspect bio sphere and 2L seachem matrix

My upper filter with 5L of sera siporax

 

[tonyhk]

Overview

 

[tonyhk]

We just need to make sure your tank has cycled correctly so have a read of the article and see were you are.

Live rock forms part of the biofiltration in the system to help with the conversion of waste as part of the cycle. You don't have to have it but it helps. There are other options if you don't want rock work such as the Seachem Matrix which you have been looking at. That's what I use now having tried different things (along in my case lots of rocks)

Thank you sir! Hope my filter medium can fulfill the lack of live stone!

 

[tonyhk]

Welcome to R2R Tony.

You're doing a nice job. We like pics.

Again, welcome.

Thank you sir !

 

[tonyhk]

If you need any more info on Cycling you can check our brandon429 article on Cycling. He helped me greatly by answering all my newbie questions. Will definitely recommend you to read his article

Thank you sir! I will pay a visit to his posts!

 

[Ghost_Rebel5]

No worries [emoji6] most important thing to Cycling is to be patient and take things slow, fast doesn’t work in the hobby

 

[tonyhk]

Sirs I would like to get your helps again!

I know it is wrong to add any fish in the current stage. However, I have made a wrong decision at the Decemebr 2018 which is made an international order for some fish as I expect I can finish the cycling in 1.5 month! But it just out of my control...

I have ordered the following East African fish from a LFS:

2 nos. of 3 inch Paracanthurus hepatus (

2 nos. of 3 inch Pomacanthus imperator

I was just notified by the LFS that the shippment is arriving tomorrow and I need to collect it tomorrow.



My test result was shown above, no2 level -> 0.1ppm, no3 ->25ppm, temperature is 24 degree celsius.

I have the following questions:

1. Are these two types of fishes sensitive to my current tank condition?

2. What should I do to treat my tank tonight before the shipment tomorrow? I have the following things on hand: Biodigest, micobacter7, Seachem Prime, Seachem Stressguard, Seachem marine trace.

3. What supplement should I buy today after work to treat the tank urgently tonight? Please kindly advise!


Quite panic!!!!

 

[SPR1968]

You could add the microbacter7 (I’m not familiar with the others) but basically make sure there is 0 ammonia or you risk killing the fish.

I dont know what size your tank is, is doesn’t look that big, but those fish need lots of swimming room so I think your tank looks a little small for them and especially if you have 2 of each ?

The Tang grows very quickly and is an extremely active swimmer, I have one in my 650 litre system and even that’s getting to small for him.