Cycle is almost done. Do I need to do a water change now?

[Leon Gorani]

Hi so the cycle of my saltwater tank is almost done, my nitrites are very low, just between 0 ppm and .25 ppm, but my nitrates are almost at 160 ppm, so the highest level possible. If the cycle is now done, do I need to do a huge water change to take out the nitrates? Or should I dose some Prime or something else? What should I do to complete the cycle correctly? Do you think the cycle is complete now?

 

[road_runner]

Hi so the cycle of my saltwater tank is almost done, my nitrites are very low, just between 0 ppm and .25 ppm, but my nitrates are almost at 160 ppm, so the highest level possible. If the cycle is now done, do I need to do a huge water change to take out the nitrates? Or should I dose some Prime or something else? What should I do to complete the cycle correctly? Do you think the cycle is complete now?

This might indicate either cycle is not done yet(biological filtration still building) or your nutrients import is high.

What's your system details?
System age?
System filtration both biological and mechanical?
System equipments?
Live or dry rocks?
Live or dry sand?
System equipments?
System paramaters (whatever you have including no3 and po4 if available)
Pictures of the DT and sump will help greatly

 

[Leon Gorani]

This might indicate either cycle is not done yet(biological filtration still building) or your nutrients import is high.

What's your system details?
System age?
System filtration both biological and mechanical?
System equipments?
Live or dry rocks?
Live or dry sand?
System equipments?
System paramaters (whatever you have including no3 and po4 if available)
Pictures of the DT and sump will help greatly

It’s been set up and running for a month now, I have a HOB filter for mechanical and 30 pounds dry rock for biological, which is now turning into live rock during the cycling process. I have 30 pounds live sand atleast, and that’s it, no sump, skinner, fancy stuff. I used fritz turbostart to cycle with ammonia in a bottle.

 

[road_runner]

It’s been set up and running for a month now, I have a HOB filter for mechanical and 30 pounds dry rock for biological, which is now turning into live rock during the cycling process. I have 30 pounds live sand atleast, and that’s it, no sump, skinner, fancy stuff. I used fritz turbostart to cycle with ammonia in a bottle.

I do not think you finished the cycle yet. Starting with dry rocks take time. A month is very very short.
Do you have any inhabitants in the system?
Any algae?
I need to see the system so pictures please.

 

[Leon Gorani]

I do not think you finished the cycle yet. Starting with dry rocks take time. A month is very very short.
Do you have any inhabitants in the system?
Any algae?
I need to see the system so pictures please.

Okay I thought it was almost done, I have 3 green chromis in the tank now and they’ve been in there for 2 weeks and they are doing fine. I also have 2 hermit crabs. I do have some brown algae on the rock and I put a small rock from my other established tank to help with the cycle.

I have used 3 bottles of fritz turbostart 900 and even dosed aquavitro seed bacteria.

 

[road_runner]

Okay I thought it was almost done, I have 3 green chromis in the tank now and they’ve been in there for 2 weeks and they are doing fine. I also have 2 hermit crabs. I do have some brown algae on the rock and I put a small rock from my other established tank to help with the cycle.

I have used 3 bottles of fritz turbostart 900 and even dosed aquavitro seed bacteria.

You are still in cycle.
Do not add more fish.
10% weekly water change
Mindful with feeding, do not feed more than what fish can eat
Wait for diatom phase(brown algae) that will cover rock and sand and look awful. Once it happen do not do panic and try to fix it. Just let it do its thing
Once this happen add snails, an urchin..I think you added the hermit crab too early but it's ok leave it be they will eat access food just do not target feed them.
The brown algae will eventually turn to green algae(to me this is the beginning of the end of the cycle)
Ince green algae phase start, you can add a fish based in what's your plan, though on your system size, and depend on what system you want(fish only or fish and coral) I think 3 fish already close to the limit of what you should host given you do not have much mechanical filtration. But that's another diacussion.

If anything happen between now and then, that you have a queation call me again will help ad I can.

Patience patience patience..

 

[Leon Gorani]

You are still in cycle.
Do not add more fish.
10% weekly water change
Mindful with feeding, do not feed more than what fish can eat
Wait for diatom phase(brown algae) that will cover rock and sand and look awful. Once it happen do not do panic and try to fix it. Just let it do its thing
Once this happen add snails, an urchin..I think you added the hermit crab too early but it's ok leave it be they will eat access food just do not target feed them.
The brown algae will eventually turn to green algae(to me this is the beginning of the end of the cycle)
Ince green algae phase start, you can add a fish based in what's your plan, though on your system size, and depend on what system you want(fish only or fish and coral) I think 3 fish already close to the limit of what you should host given you do not have much mechanical filtration. But that's another diacussion.

If anything happen between now and then, that you have a queation call me again will help ad I can.

Patience patience patience..

Okay thank you very much for the help! I will follow those steps and wait it out.

 

[Aeb1419]

Im cycling my tank as well and would like some help. Here is my info

22 AIO tank
Abount 18 lbs of dead rock
Used API to start cycling and dropped food pellets to introduce ammonia.
Running for a month and 2 weeks now, I measured every week and at the 3 week period ammonia skyrocketed and then a week later nitrites skyrocketed and finally the week after nitrates skyrocketed.

I measured yesterday and the params are as follows.
Ammonia -0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
pH -7.0 to 7.8

My tank has brown algae all over so I ordered a clean up crew. I am worried about the pH. Not sure why it hasnt gone up yet. Do I need to give it more time??

I am using an API test kit.

I want to get my first fish but I am worried about the pH. Any thoughts?

 

[road_runner]

Im cycling my tank as well and would like some help. Here is my info

22 AIO tank
Abount 18 lbs of dead rock
Used API to start cycling and dropped food pellets to introduce ammonia.
Running for a month and 2 weeks now, I measured every week and at the 3 week period ammonia skyrocketed and then a week later nitrites skyrocketed and finally the week after nitrates skyrocketed.

I measured yesterday and the params are as follows.
Ammonia -0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
pH -7.0 to 7.8

My tank has brown algae all over so I ordered a clean up crew. I am worried about the pH. Not sure why it hasnt gone up yet. Do I need to give it more time??

I am using an API test kit.

I want to get my first fish but I am worried about the pH. Any thoughts?

If you like help I advice open a mew thread and call me if you like my help. This way we do not dilute this op thread and might add confusion to both of you down the line when thread grow with op system progress.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im cycling my tank as well and would like some help. Here is my info

22 AIO tank
Abount 18 lbs of dead rock
Used API to start cycling and dropped food pellets to introduce ammonia.
Running for a month and 2 weeks now, I measured every week and at the 3 week period ammonia skyrocketed and then a week later nitrites skyrocketed and finally the week after nitrates skyrocketed.

I measured yesterday and the params are as follows.
Ammonia -0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
pH -7.0 to 7.8

My tank has brown algae all over so I ordered a clean up crew. I am worried about the pH. Not sure why it hasnt gone up yet. Do I need to give it more time??

I am using an API test kit.

I want to get my first fish but I am worried about the pH. Any thoughts?

Started his own thread so no need to duplicate it here.

 

[road_runner]

Started his own thread so no need to duplicate it here.

Sorry am confused, what do you mean?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Sorry am confused, what do you mean?

Hey!!! Little more respect. I see no "Sir", "yes,Sir," in those sentence. Heee


I'm kidding

 

[road_runner]

Hey!!! Little more respect. I see no "Sir", "yes,Sir," in those sentence. Heee


I'm kidding

What? I am so confused ha ha ha. I think I need more glucose in my blood ha ha

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

What? I am so confused ha ha ha. I think I need more glucose in my blood ha ha

O' it's only Randy, never mind.

 

[road_runner]

O' it's only Randy, never mind.

I know randy very well, did not understand your comment earlier.
Anyway, I will indeed never mind it ha ha.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I know randy very well, did not understand your comment earlier.
Anyway, I will indeed never mind it ha ha.

To some of us, he's very famous/ respected in the marine field.

 

[road_runner]

To some of us, he's very famous/ respected in the marine field.

Oh got it ha ha. My god I was low on glucose.
Indeed that he is, I love randy and have read most of his publications and threads..
Sorry for being slow to get ur point lol.