Cycling, Am I on the right track?

[Badabing0077]

Hi guys and girls,

My first post here.

This is my first attempt at running a marine aquarium. It's a fluval spec nano.

I would be really grateful if anyone could read further and suggest if I am on the right track or not.

So, made my first mistake,
My LFS is a marine specialist and solely stock NSW. So I guessed as they are local to me and I dont mind fetching the water when I need it, I would use this.

After setting my tank up and filling it with water, crushed coral, and dry rock. As I wanted to take my time I let it run for a couple of weeks just to run through the system with nothing in there.

My test kit arrived so thought i would do a test, just to get used to using it, I had 4ppm ammonia! Apparently the ben/bac within the NSW had died off giving me ammonia.

After that I was advised by my shop to do a big water change and add ATM colony to kickstart the cycle and add fish the next day. I felt a little uneasy doing this after testing my fresh water in the tank stil had 1ppm ish ammonia.

My head then told me that seeing as there was ammonia in the system then the colony would get to work, without needing fish.

Day 14 since adding colony, So far I have been watching the parameters closely, ammonia has gradually dropped and now at zero, nitrites have dropped to 0.25ppm from 1ppm ish and nitrates are at between 20/40ppm, I have got Biohome in my spare chamber within the tank aswell that will help with nitrates I believe so effectively those could be higher.

Also noticed some very small spots of diatom maybe. So far my lights have been off.

So the question is, am I on the right track of getting it cycled?

As it's a small nano, my livestock I have planned would be a pair of clowns, some CUC and hopefully a BTA down the line.

Thanks again for getting this far through my post and I am really grateful for any responses.

Cheers

 

[T-J]

Welcome to R2R and congrats on your tank!!!

Yes, you are on your way! From what I know and understand, there isn't too much free-floating bacteria. Most of it is going to be on a "bio film" that surrounds the rocks, sand, etc. I would continue to dose bacteria, such a MicroBacter 7. You'll also need an ammonia source for the bacteria, although with NSW, that may be providing it. I've never used NSW.

Typically, many people will place organic matter in the tank, such as a raw shrimp or fish food, to get the cycle going. Don't add any fish or inverts until your Nitrites and Ammonia are zero! That's when you know it can start to handle a bio load. Don't add any corals or anemones for several months. Some corals and other animals need a "dirty" tank in order to survive. Also, make sure you have the appropriate lighting for whatever you'd like to keep.

If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Badabing0077]

Thanks TJ for your welcome and thanks for your reply!

So far I have not dosed any ammonia into the system and not used any organics.

The reason for me not dosing ammonia is that I dont currently have access to any.

I figured my existing ammonia source should kick the atm colony off which it looks like it has. Now I am at zero ammonia and when my nitrites hit zero I plan on doing a WC for the nitrates, then add 2 clowns with another dose of colony?

Would this sound about right?

Or am I thinking in the wrong way?

Thanks again for the reply, I really appreciate it

 

[ScottyD36]

Welcome. I have the same exact tank. Mine is four months old. I used BioSpira bacteria for my tank when I first cycled it as well as Dr. Tim’s ammonia to kick start everything. If your tank can take 2.0 ammonia and remove it within 24 hour period you are good to go. I have a clown fish, 3 hermit crabs, ten snails and some corals currently. Best of luck with your journey.

 

[KrisReef]

Warning, those API ammonia tests are known to reliably give false high readings. Your cycle sounds like it is moving forward just fine.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Badabing0077]

Thanks guys for your replies and welcomes!

My nitrites have hit zero today.

And also showing some more diatoms forming, even with the lights off.

I have a feeling that my bacteria workforce wont be strong enough for the 2 clowns i want as I haven't done the dosing method and just relied on the ammonia I had in there. I also dont have any ammonia to dose and test until I hit the 24hr mark.

I'm thinking of adding a pair of clowns this weekend, seeing as it has technically cycled and after a water change adding another dose of atm colony to support the bio load and grow more Bacteria.

Is this logical?

Also I am showing lowish nitrates even though the nitrite has dropped. Could this be because of the small load my ben/bac have had or possibly the biohome filter media I have in there as it claims to remove nitrates?

Thanks again guys, it is really appreciated.
Hopefully one day I'll pass on all this knowledge.

Cheers!

 

[KrisReef]

When I start a new tank i wait for the first cycle to pass and then add new things (2 clowns) and feed them every other day with minimal rations for the first week or so and then slowly increase their rations. Fish can live on almost zero food inputs in our aquariums as they can scavenge freely and without the same predator threats they face in the wild.

Over feeding greatly increases the possibility of ammonia spikes in tanks, imo.

So add the clowns and feed them a few brine shrimp per day, maybe a couple of times a day if you really only feed them 3 or 4 flake sized morsels but no more and the bacteria and fish will grow slowly together without danger from pollution from fish evacuation.