Cycling Help - Different Tests giving different results

[DarkReefer]

With new tanks you should take your time with the bioload at first. Will it be able to handle a pair of clowns? Yes

Nice, yeah it'll just be the clowns initially. Would your suggestion be to just add the fish, leave it a while and then add some corals etc? Or add the clowns and maybe a piece or two of coral?

 

[CrimsonTide]

Just add the fish. Corals need stable water quality. So I would give it a little time to stablize with the fish.

 

[DarkReefer]

Just add the fish. Corals need stable water quality. So I would give it a little time to stablize with the fish.

Thanks mate, appreciate it

 

[DarkReefer]

Day 21 results
only minor movements here I think, if much of anything.

Salifert Ammonia - 0.25 approx (honestly wish they'd change their kit for other colours these are trash to identify)

API Ammonia - 0.50

Nitrite - This one moved, I'd say this one is 5.0 now

Nitrate - This one is somewhere between 20-40.

 

[CrimsonTide]

It probably isn't that high nitrate bc you have so much nitrite in the sample still. Its really close. That nitrite will drop any day and you'll be cycled. Nitrite isn't really harmful to marine fish at that lvl but I would wait till it drops to know the bacteria are good.

 

[DarkReefer]

It probably isn't that high nitrate bc you have so much nitrite in the sample still. Its really close. That nitrite will drop any day and you'll be cycled. Nitrite isn't really harmful to marine fish at that lvl but I would wait till it drops to know the bacteria are good.

Honestly can't wait. This has certainly been a long process to get this sorted. Will be amazing once there's actually fish in there swimming about! Also looking forward to not testing every single day. lol

 

[DarkReefer]

Here we are Day 22

Couldn't be stuffed doing the Salifert today as it's starting to get harder to see what colour it matches.

Ammonia 0.5 again

Nitrite still seems to be 2-5.

Nitrate again around 20-40

Doesn't appear to be any real movement from the previous day unfortunately.
See what tomorrow brings I guess!
Still dosing 3 caps of Stability daily

 

[CrimsonTide]

The nitrite will stay like that a couple of days. Ammonia looks a little lighter today. When that nitrite drops you are more than cycled and ready to add fish.

 

[DarkReefer]

The nitrite will stay like that a couple of days. Ammonia looks a little lighter today. When that nitrite drops you are more than cycled and ready to add fish.

Yeah agree that the Ammonia looks a little lighter than previous day, but not to the point where it hits 0.25, at least in my opinion.

 

[DarkReefer]

Day 23

Ammonia - 0.25

Nitrite still up there at 2-5

Nitrate seems to be holding around the 20-40

Also checked salinity today and I'm at 1.029 so I took out approx 4L of salt water and let my ATO top it off with RO.
Will check it again in a couple of hours and see if it's moved.

Bit of a shame it's still up there as my LFS got some clean up crew snails in that look pretty meaty so was thinking I'd potentially get one over the weekend. Alas it doesn't seem it'll happen but oh well.

 

[CrimsonTide]

You can ask them to hold them for you if you really want bc you are probably a couple days from changing water and adding livestock.

 

[Garf]

Your ammonia is nearly gone, your nitrite is on it’s way down. There’s no stopping the bacteria now. You could do a large waterchange and stock up.

 

[DarkReefer]

You can ask them to hold them for you if you really want bc you are probably a couple days from changing water and adding livestock.

Yeah I guess so, see how I go when I get there today.
Get to finally pick up my skimmer, might look at a powerhead if they have them as well.

Your ammonia is nearly gone, your nitrite is on it’s way down. There’s no stopping the bacteria now. You could do a large waterchange and stock up.

Really? you think just a large WC and it's good to go?
I would've thought I'd need to see nitrite drop first?

 

[Garf]

Yeah I guess so, see how I go when I get there today.
Get to finally pick up my skimmer, might look at a powerhead if they have them as well.



Really? you think just a large WC and it's good to go?
I would've thought I'd need to see nitrite drop first?

You’ve waited long enough. The tests suggest it’s only going one way. I think with a big water change, thunderbirds are go!
Look forward to seeing your further threads on this site. Happy reefing

 

[CrimsonTide]

I'm kinda with garf. Its processing ammonia nitrite will eventually turn into nitrate and nitrite isn't really harmful in marine systems. Really your just waiting on the nitrite to turn into nitrate and it should do that without a hiccup. Its close enough.

 

[DarkReefer]

You’ve waited long enough. The tests suggest it’s only going one way. I think with a big water change, thunderbirds are go!
Look forward to seeing your further threads on this site. Happy reefing

I'm kinda with garf. Its processing ammonia nitrite will eventually turn into nitrate and nitrite isn't really harmful in marine systems. Really your just waiting on the nitrite to turn into nitrate and it should do that without a hiccup. Its close enough.

Oh okay, Guess I'll do the big WC then and get a couple fish and stuff and see how they go!

 

[DarkReefer]

Appreciate the help guys, it's been nice having some people to consistently bounce off with the test results and progress. Getting into reefing has been a little daunting, just when I think I'm feeling grounded I suddenly feel like I'm over my head again lol

 

[Garf]

You will be good. You know the story of the young bull and the old bull, walking past a field of heifers?

 

[DarkReefer]

You will be good. You know the story of the young bull and the old bull, walking past a field of heifers?

Haha actually no, haven't heard that one

 

[Garf]

Haha actually no, haven't heard that one

Young one says. let’s run in and nail one of ‘em. The old one said NO. We will walk in and nail them all.