Cycling!! Quick couple of questions

[Nem0]

Hi guys, brand new to the saltwater hobby (been keeping freshwater fish for a while) and I set up a fluval 9 gallon flex (all in one) tank.

I had a couple of questions regarding cycling, as I want to ensure everything is fine before I add fish in.

1. I added Instant Ocean Biospira on the first day I got the tank set up. It's been 3 days now. I do ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests each day. The most recent test showed about 0.25ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 30ish ppm nitrate. I was wondering if I needed to add ammonia or fish food as I haven't really seen an increase in nitrite yet...or what I needed to do to finish the nitrogen cycle.

2. I do not have live rock, I plan on buying some today and adding it to the aquarium. Is there anything I need to do, besides curing it, to ensure a good transfer?

3. In the back of the tank, there is some space to add some more carbon, phosphate remover, etc. What should I stock up on? I already have the carbon and biomax insert included!

4. Finally, regarding the CUC (after the tank is done), I wanted to add a turbo snail, some small snails, hermit crabs, and one cleaner shrimp. Is there a certain amount of CUC I should add to ensure I'm not overstocking?

Thank you guys! Happy to be apart of the forum.

 

[lapin]

Howdy from Texas

 

[Reefer5640]

If you don’t have anything living in the tank yet then throw the live rock right in the tank, it should be good to go if it’s “live” rock. If you get dead rock make sure you get the dead organic matter off first and soak it in vinegar, then spray it off and soak it in fresh water to get all the vinegar and debris out/off the rock, then throw it in the tank (this will obviously take longer to get the tank cycled) You’ve got to add the rock and sand as soon as possible though. That’s where the bacteria will be able to populate the most. Then your cycle will really get going. Their numbers will grow substantially once they have more surface area (rock and sand).

Regarding the nitrites, if you’re seeing nitrates then the cycle is working. It goes from waste> ammonia> nitrites> nitrates. Algae and corals consume nitrates from a biological standpoint, and from a mechanical standpoint skimmers and reactors can remove nitrates as well. Some breaks down to nitrogen gas which then forms little bubbles which float to the surface to off gas.

As far as CUC in a 9 gal tank I would think 1 turbo, 4-5 smaller type of snail that grazes on rocks, 2-3 sand sifting type snails, and maybe like 3-6 hermits. Maybe an emerald crab or something like that. I see so many people suggest a ton of CUC and they always starve to death anyway. Which by the way, you should hold off until you see some algae for them to graze on before you add them...

 

[lapin]

Hi guys, brand new to the saltwater hobby (been keeping freshwater fish for a while) and I set up a fluval 9 gallon flex (all in one) tank.

I had a couple of questions regarding cycling, as I want to ensure everything is fine before I add fish in.

1. I added Instant Ocean Biospira on the first day I got the tank set up. It's been 3 days now. I do ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests each day. The most recent test showed about 0.25ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 30ish ppm nitrate. I was wondering if I needed to add ammonia or fish food as I haven't really seen an increase in nitrite yet...or what I needed to do to finish the nitrogen cycle.

2. I do not have live rock, I plan on buying some today and adding it to the aquarium. Is there anything I need to do, besides curing it, to ensure a good transfer?

3. In the back of the tank, there is some space to add some more carbon, phosphate remover, etc. What should I stock up on? I already have the carbon and biomax insert included!

4. Finally, regarding the CUC (after the tank is done), I wanted to add a turbo snail, some small snails, hermit crabs, and one cleaner shrimp. Is there a certain amount of CUC I should add to ensure I'm not overstocking?

Thank you guys! Happy to be apart of the forum.

1. Yes add ammonia. You will be feeding the bacteria so when you add critters the tank can process the waste

2.. No that should do it. If it comes from an LFS and is in water then its ready to go after inspecting for unwanted critters.

3. Nothing except filter pads if your filter uses them. They need to be changed when dirty.

4 . No just be sure there is something for them to eat. The hermit might eat your snails

 

[ihavecrabs]

Great advice above. Nothing to add but welcome!

#WelcometoR2R

 

[saltyhog]

I always try to add ammonia to get the peak to 1-2 ppm. When you can do that and your tank reduces it to zero in 24 hours you are ready for a water change and are cycled. Go slow with additions. If you have nitrates, you have had nitrites.

I agree with above, don't start adding clean up crew till you start to see a little algae for them. If you add them earlier you will need to feed them some type of algae food. I would not put a turbo in a tank that size. They get HUGE and tend to knock stuff over (ask me how I know). I would also avoid hermit crabs. In a tank that size I suspect snail predation would be high. If you do add hermits pick a smaller less aggressive species like scarlet hermits...and just a couple. I enjoy watching hermits but with coral they often seem to be more trouble than they're worth!

For snails I would have 3 or 4 trochus, a few ceriths and dwarf ceriths and maybe a couple of nassarius if you have a sand bed. I have an IM Fusion 1o gallon and that's what I have, minus the nassarius for now.

 

[Brew12]

The most recent test showed about 0.25ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 30ish ppm nitrate.

This worries me a bit.
Without an ammonia source, your tank should not have any nitrate. Dry sand, dry rock, and a bottle of Biospira shouldn't have done anything to generate nitrate. Until this is figured out I would hold off adding anything additional, including rock. If you have an unknown nitrate source you could find yourself battling algae and not enjoying the system.
Quick thoughts are that it is a bad nitrate test kit, the rock wasn't clean and had organics that broke down into ammonia and/or nitrates, or that your water source has high levels of nitrates.

 

[Nem0]

Wow!! You guys rock and are so welcoming. Thank you for quick and informative responses. I'll go buy some ammonia drops asap. @Brew12 , I have live sand added (forgot to mention that in the initial post) and have been adding a bit of fish food for it to decompose. With this info, are the levels still a bit worrying?

 

[Brew12]

I have live sand added (forgot to mention that in the initial post) and have been adding a bit of fish food for it to decompose. With this info, are the levels still a bit worrying?

Hard to say with such a small tank volume. Live sand shouldn't add much nitrate but I feel it would take a few tablespoons of fish food to build up that much nitrate. Have to admit that is a wild guess.

Did you use tap water to mix the salt? If so, I would do a nitrate test on your tap water.

 

[Nem0]

Hard to say with such a small tank volume. Live sand shouldn't add much nitrate but I feel it would take a few tablespoons of fish food to build up that much nitrate. Have to admit that is a wild guess.

Did you use tap water to mix the salt? If so, I would do a nitrate test on your tap water.

I used store bought distilled water! haven't used any tap water

 

[Brew12]

I used store bought distilled water! haven't used any tap water

Does your tank smell in any way? Like fish or decaying vegetation?

 

[sfin52]

What test kit are you using to test. I would test the distilled water as well.

I would hold of on clean up crew for algea till you start to see them. If you really want the algea clean up crew you'll have to supplement with nori algea sheets. Nassaruiss snails are good to turn over the sand.

 

[Nem0]

Does your tank smell in any way? Like fish or decaying vegetation?

it does not

 

[Nem0]

What test kit are you using to test. I would test the distilled water as well.

I would hold of on clean up crew for algea till you start to see them. If you really want the algea clean up crew you'll have to supplement with nori algea sheets. Nassaruiss snails are good to turn over the sand.

the Api test kit!

 

[sfin52]

Retest with that again. The API test kits will give false positive on Ammonia. I've had it do that more than a few times.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Welcome. I am also quite new to the hobby. I have a fluval evo 13.5 with 2 clowns and a damsel. Also have a coral banded shrimp.

 

[Brew12]

it does not

I would proceed with at least having the water tested at your LFS. Otherwise, adding pure ammonia as others have advised is how I would proceed. Make sure it is pure ammonia, or ammonia chloride. Many of the ammonia products on the shelf have scents and soap in them. If you aren't sure, shake the bottle and make sure it doesn't have bubbles on top.

 

[Nem0]

I would proceed with at least having the water tested at your LFS. Otherwise, adding pure ammonia as others have advised is how I would proceed. Make sure it is pure ammonia, or ammonia chloride. Many of the ammonia products on the shelf have scents and soap in them. If you aren't sure, shake the bottle and make sure it doesn't have bubbles on top.

Tested the distilled water. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates all at 0. i'll go get some ammonia in the next couple days. no need to dillute the ammonia right?

 

[Hybrid Ken]

Hi guys, brand new to the saltwater hobby (been keeping freshwater fish for a while) and I set up a fluval 9 gallon flex (all in one) tank.

I had a couple of questions regarding cycling, as I want to ensure everything is fine before I add fish in.

1. I added Instant Ocean Biospira on the first day I got the tank set up. It's been 3 days now. I do ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests each day. The most recent test showed about 0.25ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 30ish ppm nitrate. I was wondering if I needed to add ammonia or fish food as I haven't really seen an increase in nitrite yet...or what I needed to do to finish the nitrogen cycle.

2. I do not have live rock, I plan on buying some today and adding it to the aquarium. Is there anything I need to do, besides curing it, to ensure a good transfer?

3. In the back of the tank, there is some space to add some more carbon, phosphate remover, etc. What should I stock up on? I already have the carbon and biomax insert included!

4. Finally, regarding the CUC (after the tank is done), I wanted to add a turbo snail, some small snails, hermit crabs, and one cleaner shrimp. Is there a certain amount of CUC I should add to ensure I'm not overstocking?

Thank you guys! Happy to be apart of the forum.

Welcome to the group and hobby.
There are lots and lots of ways to cycle a tank that being said here is how I cycle.
First off I start with all substrate/sand and live rock that I intend to have in the tank from day one. I do not add more after the fact barring it has a piece of coral attached and that is the only way I get to have the coral. After setting up and adding the salt water I turn on the pumps and skimmers and drop a big old shrimp (uncooked) from the grocery store in the sump or strait into the tank followed by the bacteria in a bottle of my choice. I test Salinity daily and all other parameter's once a week. There is lots of argument about it but I do do normal water changes during my cycle just like if the tank was fully stocked (current tank is a 24 gallon so its 6 gallons a week). This serves to get me started in keeping good husbandry habits from the start and helps manage nitrates and phosphates (said current tank at just under 4 months maintains a nitrate level of 5 and phosphate at 0.044ppm) I didn't add fish until after the ammonia went to zero along with the nitrites. I did not turn the tank lights on at all until I had the nitrates under control to attempt to avoid a algae bloom or explosion. Two weeks with lights on and I get a light brown dust on the glass and substrate that I stir and scrape about every third day ( If this is the worst of my ugly stage I am going to be very happy).
As for clean up crew, I wait and select according to what is needed. Sand stirring, rock cleaning ect.

 

[Nem0]

Another additional question! I have an airpump/stones from an old freshwater tank. Could I toss it in the saltwater tank? I know I don't really need it but I already have it...and it would just collect dust if I'm not using. Any downsides to having air bubbles in fish only tank?