Cycle question Day 2

[Keviwal1]

Hi, Cycling my first aquarium the RSR Max E 260. Just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

I'm using live sand, RO water and TMC Eco Reef Rock.

I added the salt yesterday and and started Day 2 of RSR Mature started kit.

Got a Alkalinity reading of 11 dKH. 3.93 Mep/L so didn't add any KH-Coralline Gro. Its was higher than RSR recommended 8.4 dKH (3 Mep/L)

Also water is already starting to go cloudy.

Is this down to the live sand and EcoRock? Am I on the right track?

 

[K7BMG]

I dont know why the Alk would be so high.
But I would not worry about it now.

Most people who have cycling issues do way to much thinking they will speed up the cycle. In reality most of the time they delay the process.

Get your salinity right
Get your temperature stable
Add your bacteria
Add an amonia sorce.
And do absolutly nothing but test for
Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate.
Run your lights and I would skip the skimmer (My way)
Thats it and thats all one needs to do.

The cloudiness is most likely from the live sand and a bacterial bloom.
Just leave it alone, time will clear it up.

Read the cycling threads here on R2R.
They are the best.
Cycling is a waiting game not a do anything game.

 

[Keviwal1]

Great, thank you. What is the best ammonia source?

 

[Moscar]

Great, thank you. What is the best ammonia source?

Dr Tim sells a source - otherwise decaying fish food can work. Check out the BRS 5 minute guide videos.

 

[Payne Train]

Turbo start 900 has had some of the best testing results - I used it to cycle my tank ... very happy that I did

 

[Payne Train]

Cycling new tank - could use a little input

I am cycling my new SR 80 gal mixed reef tank I am using RODI water my my new unit from Melevs reef. For rock, I am using Caribsea life rock . For sand I went with 1/2 pink Fiji and 1/2 Grade A mixed throughout the tank . I am also using Marinepure 1 1/2 media spheres, and I used a 4 oz...

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