Hi all, I started cycling a new tank this past Saturday. It's an IM Nuvo SR60.
Before I started the cycle, I had my dry rock (pukani) curing for about a month. When I started the cycle on Saturday the rock was reading at NH3 0, phosphate .25, Nitrite 1, and Nitrate 40.
I set the tank up with 40# of Agra-Alive special grade reef, and about a 30# mix of the newly cured pukani along with some life rock. After all was said and done I ghost fed the tank with a tiny pinch of reefroids and added 4oz of Fritzyme Turbo start. At the time the tank was first cycled the parameters were NH3 0, Nitrite 1, and Nitrate 10.
I plan on taking parameters every other day so when I took them yesterday they were NH3 0, Nitrite 0.2, and Nitrate 5. I ghost fed again with a very small amount of reefroids in an attempt to raise the NH3.
So it's definitely starting to cycle but will the zero ammonia reading starve certain bacteria? Do I need to start dosing NH3 or increase the ghost feeding?
Separate topic...I want to start thinking of my CUC, QT or not to QT? So many mixed thoughts on this! Thanks!
Before I started the cycle, I had my dry rock (pukani) curing for about a month. When I started the cycle on Saturday the rock was reading at NH3 0, phosphate .25, Nitrite 1, and Nitrate 40.
I set the tank up with 40# of Agra-Alive special grade reef, and about a 30# mix of the newly cured pukani along with some life rock. After all was said and done I ghost fed the tank with a tiny pinch of reefroids and added 4oz of Fritzyme Turbo start. At the time the tank was first cycled the parameters were NH3 0, Nitrite 1, and Nitrate 10.
I plan on taking parameters every other day so when I took them yesterday they were NH3 0, Nitrite 0.2, and Nitrate 5. I ghost fed again with a very small amount of reefroids in an attempt to raise the NH3.
So it's definitely starting to cycle but will the zero ammonia reading starve certain bacteria? Do I need to start dosing NH3 or increase the ghost feeding?
Separate topic...I want to start thinking of my CUC, QT or not to QT? So many mixed thoughts on this! Thanks!
