Cycling Help

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ZachariahBeanz

ZachariahBeanz

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I’ve been cycling my tank for around a week, and I have a question. I added ammonium chloride about 21 hours ago, and I measured my parameters twice today. At 12:00, the ammonia was around 1-1.5ppm, and the nitrite was 1ppm. I just measured again, about six hours later and my ammonia is around 0.2ppm, and nitrites are around 1 still. Could I do a large water change (50%) and add fish tomorrow?
 
Deltec
I would wait to add fish. I am planning on a 90 to 120G tank. When I cycle it, fish are not going to be part of the equation for 2 months. When Ammonia is zero. You CAN cycle with fish, and they will most likely live, but they will be uncomfortable. For me it's important to establish a fully cycled tank before adding livestock, and then to do that slowly.

With this hobby, it's important NOT to rush things. Patience is your best friend.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
If a week ago, you added rock, sand, saltwater, flow and a bacteria source, then you are ready for your first fish

Water change? Sure, your nitrate number appears very low, but I’d do that.
 
Tidal Gardens
ZachariahBeanz said:
what are the benefits of cycling that long? I have live sand and dry rock. My tank is 20 gallons btw
Click to expand...
For me, I travel for work, so I didnt want to bother testing etc etc etc.....
Put it all together, put a frozen shrimp in there for 4 days, took it out and walked away. Came back and tested for nitrates.....cycled.....added corals and fish
 
FUNGI said:
For me, I travel for work, so I didnt want to bother testing etc etc etc.....
Put it all together, put a frozen shrimp in there for 4 days, took it out and walked away. Came back and tested for nitrates.....cycled.....added corals and fish
Click to expand...
Sorry, to clear it up, do you think my tank is ready?
 
you dont mention Nitrates....I would wait....its just another day or so......BUT, clowns are damsels so they shouldnt have any issues.....
 
Nutramar Foods
ZachariahBeanz said:
Wouldn’t you want to, to get rid of the nitrates, and nitrites?
Click to expand...

I don’t think you have much evidence of high nitrate (the nitrite interferes with testing nitrate) and the nitrite is no concern at that level.
 
ZachariahBeanz said:
Oh sorry, my nitrates seemed be around 20
Click to expand...
Nitrates at that level won’t hurt your fish, they’re not as big an issue in saltwater as they are in freshwater.

If you want to grow soft corals, or even some LPS, you’ll want to keep them about that high. There’s folks here who run successful reef tanks with nitrates a fair bit higher still.
 
FUNGI said:
yeah....should be well safe for your clowns
Click to expand...
Uncle99 said:
I think that’s perfect!
Enjoy your new friends….
Click to expand...
So, there were shipping problems with the day I wanted the fish to come. I paid an extra $20 for the shipping to come the day I wanted. The amazing people at Cultivated Reef said I could pick an extra fish out of a couple options for $20! I ended up choosing an Orchid Dottyback. This should be fine, right?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
I have that fish but in a 180g.
They have some attitude so 20g going to be tight.
For sure need some rock in which it can stay.
Better to try now before the clowns stake their spilt.
 

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