Cycle Progress?

[austinindia]

This is my first reef tank(hints the freshwater test kit.. I've read that it gives pretty similar results as the saltwater!) I've been cycling since February 25th, today being March 4th. I've been ghost feeding with hikari sinking pellets. Ammonia seems to be reading .50ppm, Nitrite in between 0-.25ppm, and nitrate in between 0-.25ppm. Am I well on my way? Any estimates on how long I'm gonna be cycling? Running a fluval evo 13.5 stock filtration/lighting, and hydor koralia 240gph. I'm in the process of 3D printing a media basket to beef up filtration. I have someone trying to give me two nassarius snails in 2-3 weeks, I'm trying my best to accommodate, but also trying not to rush anything.

 

[Spare time]

You are probably ready for a fish soon (assuming you had put bacteria in). However, when you get the fish, its always nice to get a little more bacteria to dump in or some prime to make the mini spike of ammonia from the first fish less harmless/go away. If there is green in the API I typically wait till its not green to recommend fish. Usually if it looks like 0.25 or something slightly less than that then I would say a hardy fish is ok (just get some prime or another small bottle of bacteria).

Btw keep in mind when you place a basket in there, becareful if you remove the sponge as it is a source of much of your good bacteria.


edit: make sure you have some nitrate appearing before you put in the fish

 

[austinindia]

You are probably ready for a fish (assuming you had put bacteria in). However, when you get the fish, its always nice to get a little more bacteria to dump in or some prime to make the mini spike of ammonia from the first fish less harmless/go away.

Btw keep in mind when you place a basket in there, becareful if you remove the sponge as it is a source of much of your good bacteria.

Thanks for the reply!
I'm glad to hear that I'm probably ready. I'm going to wait another two weeks or so before I put in any inhabitants, just to be safe. I plan to cut up the sponge and put it into the media basket, keep the biomax ball things, and add filter floss.

 

[Glott3133]

You are well on your way. It looks like you are using dry rock and no sand? Adding live rock will make your cycle go lightning fast.

 

[Spare time]

Thanks for the reply!
I'm glad to hear that I'm probably ready. I'm going to wait another two weeks or so before I put in any inhabitants, just to be safe. I plan to cut up the sponge and put it into the media basket, keep the biomax ball things, and add filter floss.

Just remember to take things slow with the tank. Nothing good happens fast in the hobby

 

[austinindia]

You are well on your way. It looks like you are using dry rock and no sand? Adding live rock will make your cycle go lightning fast.

Correct on the dry rock, and I am using Caribsea black aragonite sand, as opposed to the traditional white sand look. I may have the opportunity to buy some live rock rubble this weekend. Tips on curing?

 

[Vinman]

Running lights during your cycle could enhance unwanted algae bloom...IMO

 

[austinindia]

Just remember to take things slow with the tank. Nothing good happens fast in the hobby

I'm taking in two nassarius snails as a favor to a pal in the hobby, no plans for livestock for a while after that. Thank you for all your help!

 

[austinindia]

Running lights during your cycle could enhance unwanted algae bloom...IMO

Lights were on for the photo, but I haven't ever had algal issues in cycling tanks before. I use RODI for freshwater, and now saltwater. May be the reason, or I may have been lucky in the past.

 

[Spare time]

Correct on the dry rock, and I am using Caribsea black aragonite sand, as opposed to the traditional white sand look. I may have the opportunity to buy some live rock rubble this weekend. Tips on curing?

I would avoid any sort of live rock to avoid pests.

 

[tankstudy]

Any estimates on how long I'm gonna be cycling?

If you didn't add any bottled bacteria, it could be anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. It depends on how optimal your conditions are for growing the bacteria are and how many you have to initially start.

If you did add bottled bacteria, 0.5 ppm ammonia gets consumed relatively fast. 4 days to as long as 4 weeks.

Since you still have ammonia and nitrite present, your tank is still cycling. You want to let those values zero out before adding any inhabitants. Some of the of hardy specimens in this hobby can tolerate 0.25-0.50 ppm ammonia for a duration of time but the more sensitive creatures in this hobby won't.

Test again tomorrow. If you still show ammonia, test again in 7 days.

At this time and phase, do not use Prime or anything that binds to your ammonia source. During this time, you want to grow bacteria and that means you need the ammonia to grow them.

 

[Spare time]

If you didn't add any bottled bacteria, it could be anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. It depends on how optimal your conditions are for growing the bacteria are and how many you have to initially start.

If you did add bottled bacteria, 0.5 ppm ammonia gets consumed relatively fast. 4 days to as long as 4 weeks.

Since you still have ammonia and nitrite present, your tank is still cycling. You want to let those values zero out before adding any inhabitants. Some of the of hardy specimens in this hobby can tolerate 0.25-0.50 ppm ammonia for a duration of time but the more sensitive creatures in this hobby won't.

Test again tomorrow. If you still show ammonia, test again in 7 days.

At this time and phase, do not use Prime or anything that binds to your ammonia source. During this time, you want to grow bacteria and that means you need the ammonia to grow them.

The bacteria can still remove the ammonia when prime is in use.

 

[tankstudy]

The bacteria can still remove the ammonia when prime is in use.

I'm reading it on their site as well, however..., it's not very specific on which organisms of the biofilter will consume the converted ammonia. Wonder if I can find their actual research on this...