Cycling an Aquarium

[reyc]

I didn't realize you had fish in your system. Yes, feed lightly and add keep adding the bacteria. Unless started with live rock I prefer not to add fish until after the cycle is complete.

And no, an airstone shouldn't hurt.

Ok thanks for the advice will do

 

[reyc]

Ok thanks for the advice will do

I just bought 10lbs of dry rock just came in.... i will wash it with RODI water and put it in the tank and some in the sump and will add some live bacteria

 

[reyc]

I just bought 10lbs of dry rock just came in.... i will wash it with RODI water and put it in the tank and some in the sump and will add some live bacteria

Hows this look:

 

[reyc]

Now to put pipe tubing for more hiding spots... and to setup my quarantine tank

 

[Brew12]

Now to put pipe tubing for more hiding spots... and to setup my quarantine tank

Looking good!

 

[reyc]

Looking good!

Thanks

 

[reyc]

Looking good!

Its a noob tank... ill stock more dry rock little by little and make it looks awesome with rock decorations you will see

 

[Brew12]

Its a noob tank... ill stock more dry rock little by little and make it looks awesome with rock decorations you will see

Don't forget to save space for the coral to grow into!

 

[reyc]

Don't forget to save space for the coral to grow into!

Good call.. i just ordered me a nice dry rock tower shaped rock piece... setting up my other tank to put fish there before my main tank

 

[mikus]

I am also in the process of cycling my first tank. Its a 120dis w/ 55gal sump. I began cycle 9 days ago after placing my dry rock aqua scape in the dis and more in the fuge (approx. 120lbs total)… dropping in a shrimp and began seeding with auqavitro seed. My skimmer (rsk 300) went crazy for the first two days just overflowing with liquid foam. I spent quite a bit of time with the ATO off, letting the skimmer waste drain into a bucket, and topping off with fresh saltwater (also raised my skimmer elevation so water level was right at the bubble diffuser, about 3 inches) My local fish store guy said the excess skimming was prob from the auqauvitro Bond I used for the aqua scape. After the 2nd day, skimming became manageable at the raised elevation so I let it run it coarse for the next 5 days. As of 2 days ago, shrimp is gone (it was marble size), ammonia - nitrite - nitrates all tested zero and water is still very close to crystal clear. I shut the skimmer down, added another larger piece of shrimp along with a bottle of Dr. Tims one and only. Today, ammonia tested about .1ppm and still zero for nitrite/nitrate but water is a little cloudy. Am I on the right track?? first time cycling a tank and am very anxious of the process...Just want to make sure I am going about it properly and what I need to look for. Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all!!

 

[Brew12]

I am also in the process of cycling my first tank. Its a 120dis w/ 55gal sump. I began cycle 9 days ago after placing my dry rock aqua scape in the dis and more in the fuge (approx. 120lbs total)… dropping in a shrimp and began seeding with auqavitro seed. My skimmer (rsk 300) went crazy for the first two days just overflowing with liquid foam. I spent quite a bit of time with the ATO off, letting the skimmer waste drain into a bucket, and topping off with fresh saltwater (also raised my skimmer elevation so water level was right at the bubble diffuser, about 3 inches) My local fish store guy said the excess skimming was prob from the auqauvitro Bond I used for the aqua scape. After the 2nd day, skimming became manageable at the raised elevation so I let it run it coarse for the next 5 days. As of 2 days ago, shrimp is gone (it was marble size), ammonia - nitrite - nitrates all tested zero and water is still very close to crystal clear. I shut the skimmer down, added another larger piece of shrimp along with a bottle of Dr. Tims one and only. Today, ammonia tested about .1ppm and still zero for nitrite/nitrate but water is a little cloudy. Am I on the right track?? first time cycling a tank and am very anxious of the process...Just want to make sure I am going about it properly and what I need to look for. Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all!!

Yup, the bonding agents are known for making skimmers go nuts.
My guess is that it was a very small piece of shrimp for a tank your size when combined with the heavy skimming. I normally don't mind running the skimmer while cycling but only if it operates normally.

The only thing I would have done differently is to have gotten the skimmer running well before adding the shrimp. If your goal is to add livestock in the near future I would keep the skimmer running while the tank cycles. It may slow down the cycle but I feel that is better than the stability issues overskimming can cause with livestock in the tank. It could take as long as a few weeks for the bonding agent to fully cure.

 

[reyc]

I am also in the process of cycling my first tank. Its a 120dis w/ 55gal sump. I began cycle 9 days ago after placing my dry rock aqua scape in the dis and more in the fuge (approx. 120lbs total)… dropping in a shrimp and began seeding with auqavitro seed. My skimmer (rsk 300) went crazy for the first two days just overflowing with liquid foam. I spent quite a bit of time with the ATO off, letting the skimmer waste drain into a bucket, and topping off with fresh saltwater (also raised my skimmer elevation so water level was right at the bubble diffuser, about 3 inches) My local fish store guy said the excess skimming was prob from the auqauvitro Bond I used for the aqua scape. After the 2nd day, skimming became manageable at the raised elevation so I let it run it coarse for the next 5 days. As of 2 days ago, shrimp is gone (it was marble size), ammonia - nitrite - nitrates all tested zero and water is still very close to crystal clear. I shut the skimmer down, added another larger piece of shrimp along with a bottle of Dr. Tims one and only. Today, ammonia tested about .1ppm and still zero for nitrite/nitrate but water is a little cloudy. Am I on the right track?? first time cycling a tank and am very anxious of the process...Just want to make sure I am going about it properly and what I need to look for. Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all!!

Use:

I recommend bio-spira on amazon if you are in a rush like i was.... i added a damsel first, Hardy fish to test then 2-3 days later added 2 clown fishes.... so please use this or your stuff will keep dying on you. Since your tank is completely new..then dont add anymore fish. Just do like one at a time every 1 month or so and add more live bacteria...

 

[reyc]

Use:

I recommend bio-spira on amazon if you are in a rush like i was.... i added a damsel first, Hardy fish to test then 2-3 days later added 2 clown fishes.... so please use this or your stuff will keep dying on you. Since your tank is completely new..then dont add anymore fish. Just do like one at a time every 1 month or so and add more live bacteria...

The stablity i had from before laying around... but i highly recommend bio-spira and yes you can add fish the 1st day atleast one. But one hardy like a damsel and if you dont want him after one month get rid of him lol give him away back to fish store.. i had to do that when i moved states.

 

[reyc]

I think i got 0.25 ppm ammonia in my tank... should
I add more live bacteria?

 

[reyc]

I think i got 0.25 ppm ammonia in my tank... should
I add more live bacteria?

What you all think?

 

[Brew12]

I think i got 0.25 ppm ammonia in my tank... should
I add more live bacteria?

I'm more interested in your Nitrate test than ammonia.
With an API test it is common for them to read 0.25ppm even with no measurable ammonia in the tank. Seems to be a reaction with something else in the water.

 

[reyc]

I'm more interested in your Nitrate test than ammonia.
With an API test it is common for them to read 0.25ppm even with no measurable ammonia in the tank. Seems to be a reaction with something else in the water.

Ah ok nice here is a better pic of ammonia and i also did nitrate here is a pic of that as well lol

They think imma give them food man i just fed em... greedy fishes lol

 

[reyc]

Is light yellow = 0 still

Nitrite test coming in now in 5 mins

 

[Brew12]

Ah ok nice here is a better pic of ammonia and i also did nitrate here is a pic of that as well lol

They think imma give them food man i just fed em... greedy fishes lol

Well, all I can say is that I wouldn't have put fish in that aquarium yet. Just continue to monitor ammonia regularly, feed lightly, and be ready to do a large water change if needed.

 

[reyc]

Well, all I can say is that I wouldn't have put fish in that aquarium yet. Just continue to monitor ammonia regularly, feed lightly, and be ready to do a large water change if needed.

Someone told me no water change at all? Just let it be?