Cycling an Aquarium

[Brew12]

Sounds fine. It just needs more time.

+1 Agreed.

It may not be typical, but it isn't unusual either. Some bottles of bacteria seem to work better than others. I'm guessing it has to do with the conditions the bottle experiences during shipping and storage.

 

[lapin]

Ya just wait it out. You could add another bottle of bacteria. A different brand perhaps. Might help, might not. All my rock has taken about 4 to 6 weeks to become populated with enough bacteria to do its job.

 

[ChelseaBidwell]

Hi! Has anyone done their own "make-up" water? As in, chlorinating tap water, dechlorinating it and removing harmful metals, filtering it, and then adding salt? I don't have a RO/DI unit yet and want to start my cycling process. Please help! Thanks!

 

[Baurochs]

Hi! Has anyone done their own "make-up" water? As in, chlorinating tap water, dechlorinating it and removing harmful metals, filtering it, and then adding salt? I don't have a RO/DI unit yet and want to start my cycling process. Please help! Thanks!

You can do that to cycle your dry rock. For some reason tap water makes the rock stink so I wouldn't do it in the tank, I made that mistake. You can jump start the cycle for your tank by curing/cycling the rock separate until you get Rodi unit then transfer to tank, I use the small 4 stage rodi off Amazon for like 60$. I'm no expert but I'd look up videos on curing/cycling the rock in bins to get a head start.

 

[lapin]

Hi! Has anyone done their own "make-up" water? As in, chlorinating tap water, dechlorinating it and removing harmful metals, filtering it, and then adding salt? I don't have a RO/DI unit yet and want to start my cycling process. Please help! Thanks!

Soaking in declor tap salt water

 

[Piranha76]

Hey guys:

My water isn’t clear and it’s driving me nuts. The tank is 5 months old FOWLR tank have a cleaner crew, yellow tamg, powder blue tang, 2 damsels, 2 clowns and a missing goby.

Nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are all zero.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Piranha76]

Ohh filter. I have a protein skimmer, bio pellets, and a 2 litter bottle of filter floss and carbon. And purigen.

 

[Matt Carden]

Looks perfect to me! Any fish losses? Mine is 8 months old and still cloudy. To me that's just food for the filter feeders.

 

[Piranha76]

I freshwater tanks were as clear as glass. This seems to have some cloudiness and it’s driving me crazy. I ended up installing a up sterilizer

 

[Bape47]

I just got new tank yesterday and i used my 5 gallon tank water and sand 2 pcs live rock into new tank 29 gallon and tested water today ph nitrite nitrate all good except ammonia too high

What i should do now? I have to wait few more days to cycling? Ammonia will go down to 0? I just want to add 2 clownfish

 

[Piranha76]

You need to wait. Ammonia will drop and the nitrates and nitrites will raise. You can put in two pieces of shrimp to speed it along. I used damsels as cycle fish. That’s frowned upon now a days and getting the damsels out after cycling can be a real pain. I had to remove all my rock.

 

[Bape47]

You need to wait. Ammonia will drop and the nitrates and nitrites will raise. You can put in two pieces of shrimp to speed it along. I used damsels as cycle fish. That’s frowned upon now a days and getting the damsels out after cycling can be a real pain. I had to remove all my rock.

Oh wow yeah i got 3 damsels in there now from my last 5 gallon tank,and i heard they will beat up the clown is that true? 1 of my damsel is so mad always chased 2 other so i have to remove 3 of them to add clownfish or other fish?

 

[Piranha76]

Depends. They are usually aggressive fish. The black ones Sargent dominos etc are just mean. My yellow tails are peaceful. But damsels are known to be mean. Chromis are peaceful and two clowns per tank.

 

[Bape47]

Depends. They are usually aggressive fish. The black ones Sargent dominos etc are just mean. My yellow tails are peaceful. But damsels are known to be mean. Chromis are peaceful and two clowns per tank.

I got the black damsel and 1 blue and yellow and 1 black and white

So just move the black one? Yeah try to get 2 clown and maybe 1-2 other cause only 29 gallon,so the ammonia should be 0 and what else so i can add clownfish in?

 

[Piranha76]

I would remove the black one and the black and white one and cross your fingers the yellowtails are friendly.

 

[Bape47]

Ok my ammonia now around 1-2.0ppm so maybe atleast few more day? When 0 ppm i can add clown in?

 

[Piranha76]

Yes because when ammonia goes to zero your nitrates and nitrites will go up.

 

[TobyMayes]

I've had my first blue starfish and he has brown stuff coming out of his arms can anyone help?

Water preameters
NO2-0.05
NO3-20ppm
NH3/NH4-01/02
PH-8.3
salinity 1.023

 

[Bape47]

Yes because when ammonia goes to zero your nitrates and nitrites will go up.

If i add shrimp in can i leave whole shrimp? Or cut to small pc? How long i can leave the shrimp in the tank?

 

[Bape47]

Ammonia now 4.0 what i should do or just wait