Could use some advice

[DanaReef]

Just started up this 32 BioCube. I used all nutrisea water nutri live sane and 30lbs of seaded rock for ApurpleReef. Tank has been running for 2 weeks now and I know the water says you can add fish right away I don’t trust that at all. Do you think 2 weeks is long enough cycle time with what I added if should I let it go longer? I do have protein skimmer and in-line uV sterilizer though have not yet turned those on... also upgraded the filter rack and I’m running matrix/ carbon/ and chemical pure blue... thanks in advance

 

[Copingwithpods]

Was any ammonia added to the tank?

 

[DanaReef]

No

 

[DanaReef]

Anyone out there?

 

[Victor_C3]

I say wait a bit longer, perhaps another two weeks.

Don’t do any water changes either. It’ll just prolong the cycle.

Adding fish too soon is a great way to kill them.

 

[esther]

Definitely wait. 2 weeks is not enough. Also, always better to be safe than sorry. No need in having fish die on you because you couldn't wait another 30 days.

 

[Jonify]

Wait until you get to 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrite, then see a little nitrate on your chart. Then you can add very slowly.

 

[DanaReef]

Definitely wait. 2 weeks is not enough. Also, always better to be safe than sorry. No need in having fish die on you because you couldn't wait another 30 days.

So I’m guessing the nutrisea waters claims you can add fish instantly is bogus

 

[esther]

So I’m guessing the nutrisea waters claims you can add fish instantly is bogus

I wouldn't say it's bogus, but you just never know. Check out some of the cycling threads on here. They're chock full of info. It took us about 2 months to cycle our QT and about a month for our DT.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Using a test kit many of do not trust, grab a good sized water sample and take to a trusted LFS and have them test water for you to see what they come up with and for comparison to yours.

 

[DanaReef]

Using a test kit many of do not trust, grab a good sized water sample and take to a trusted LFS and have them test water for you to see what they come up with and for comparison to yours.

Unfortunately I don’t have any that are close.. closest one is about 1 1/2 hours away

 

[ca1ore]

I would imagine ‘seeded’ means head start .... not fully cycled. And, yes, live sand is bogus . What are you feeding the cycle with? Agree to wait until ammonia is zero.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately I don’t have any that are close.. closest one is about 1 1/2 hours away

If in doubt - Do a water change

 

[DanaReef]

I would imagine ‘seeded’ means head start .... not fully cycled. And, yes, live sand is bogus . What are you feeding the cycle with? Agree to wait until ammonia is zero.

Haven’t added anything to jump start it was thinking of dropping a piece of raw shrimp in over night?

 

[ca1ore]

You definitely should be feeding the biofilter. Drop in a raw cocktail shrimp or a cube of fish food.

 

[DanaReef]

You definitely should be feeding the biofilter. Drop in a raw cocktail shrimp or a cube of fish food.

Will do.. thank you... how long do I leave raw shrimp in tank?

 

[ca1ore]

The beautiful thing is that it quickly disappears .... so you don’t have to do anything with it.

 

[DanaReef]

The beautiful thing is that it quickly disappears .... so you don’t have to do anything with it.

Update... few days after last posted..

 

[DanaReef]

Update... few days after last posted..

Diatoms blooming