Cycling an Aquarium
- Thread starter Brew12
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OP
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
I would spend time on a website like Liveaquaria.com and try to figure out every fish you would like to eventually get. So many good options and combinations. There are so many options and different varieties that it will come down to your personal taste. But, if you are unlucky and get an aggressive tang, it will make adding future fish difficult.
Why-Me
Been going against the grain since I was a sapling
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@Brew12
Temperature: 77.7 °F
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 1 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
Salinity: 1.025 SG
^Taken with red sea test kit.
Started with Bio Spira and Dr. Tim's ammonia 17hrs before this first test.
Anything look suspicious?
#reefsquad
Temperature: 77.7 °F
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 1 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
Salinity: 1.025 SG
^Taken with red sea test kit.
Started with Bio Spira and Dr. Tim's ammonia 17hrs before this first test.
Anything look suspicious?
#reefsquad
Last edited:
OP
OP
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Nope, I'd say it looks good. Your nitrate isn't that high but it looks about right for the amount of nitrite in your system.
Was there live rock (wet) or live sand in the tank?
Why-Me
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It's cycling in a brute can, with dry rock from reef cleaners. No sand.
I just tested this morning and ammonia is down to 0.2 right now
From the beginning I dumped in Bio Spira waited 5 minutes and dosed ammonia.
I forgot to check after 15-20 min. The first test showed 0.4 ammonia so I dosed, waited 20 and tested again. It was 1.2 ppm ammonia. So I left it alone, next test was yesterday morning at 0.8 when I posted here. Last night I was at 0.4 and this morning 0.2 ammonia.
^12hrs later I'm at 0 ammonia
So I've now processed 1.2 ammonia to 0 in 48hrs.
I just tested this morning and ammonia is down to 0.2 right now
From the beginning I dumped in Bio Spira waited 5 minutes and dosed ammonia.
I forgot to check after 15-20 min. The first test showed 0.4 ammonia so I dosed, waited 20 and tested again. It was 1.2 ppm ammonia. So I left it alone, next test was yesterday morning at 0.8 when I posted here. Last night I was at 0.4 and this morning 0.2 ammonia.
^12hrs later I'm at 0 ammonia
So I've now processed 1.2 ammonia to 0 in 48hrs.
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Why-Me
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Still at 0 ammonia and Nitrite at 1
Will continue to test for Nitrites until they drop, then for Nitrates.
Will continue to test for Nitrites until they drop, then for Nitrates.
Why-Me
Been going against the grain since I was a sapling
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@Brew12
Ammonia still at 0
Nitrites still at 1+
Not sure what I should do.
Keep testing every 12-16 hrs?
Ammonia still at 0
Nitrites still at 1+
Not sure what I should do.
Keep testing every 12-16 hrs?
Last edited:
OP
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
What question were you looking to get an answer for?
Why-Me
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So I'm at zero ammonia for 4 days now but my Nitrites and Nitrates haven't moved, cycle has been going for a week now.
Wondering if I just keep watching/testing or if I should dose ammonia to 2ppm and make sure it cycles within 24hrs before watching Nitrites/Nitrates?
Wondering if I just keep watching/testing or if I should dose ammonia to 2ppm and make sure it cycles within 24hrs before watching Nitrites/Nitrates?
OP
OP
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I would wait for nitrite to drop. Adding ammonia won’t speed it up and will only result in higher nitrates at the end.
OP
OP
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Normally for me it has happened within 24 hours but I normally use Biospira. I've seen other bacterial products take a week or more. I wouldn't test more than once a day.
Why-Me
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I did use Bio Spira...
Since day 1 the Nitrite/Nitrate tests have been much darker than the highest on the test card.
Today's test showed Nitrite at the actual hue on the test card at the darkest/highest being 1.0 ppm.
My guess is it will finally be lowering to a point the card will read, meaning under 1.0 ppm
I say that because yesterday's test was lighter than the days before yet still darker than today's test.
Since day 1 the Nitrite/Nitrate tests have been much darker than the highest on the test card.
Today's test showed Nitrite at the actual hue on the test card at the darkest/highest being 1.0 ppm.
My guess is it will finally be lowering to a point the card will read, meaning under 1.0 ppm
I say that because yesterday's test was lighter than the days before yet still darker than today's test.
IslandLifeReef
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That sounds like you are on your way. Patience is sometimes the hardest, yet most vital part of this hobby. Your NO2 will probably be zero in 24 to 48 hours.
OP
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
Looks good. I would let it get down to around 0.1 ppm and dose up ammonia again.
