Cycling Test results

[MohrReefs]

Hello,

I followed the video from Saltwater Aquarium (Mr Saltwater Tank) and did his method of cycling using two clowns with dry rock and sand and adding a quick start bottle of bacteria. I have a 44gal tank with an eheim filter.

3 days after, Amonia is reading 0, Nitrite color matches the .25 on the card and Nitrate is reading 25 on the card (might be 2.5 supposed to divide that by 10 but instructions were a bit confusing). Test kit brand is Salifert. Seems a little soon to be reading like this but I just wanted your opinions. Is this normal?

 

[Spare time]

That seems unusually fast but if you are getting no ammonia and no nitrite but decent amount of nitrate then it looks like a super cycle lol. What bottle of bacteria did you use. Was the sand live?

 

[MohrReefs]

That seems unusually fash but if you are getting no ammonia and no nitrite but decent amount of nitrate then it looks like a super cycle lol. What bottle of bacteria did you use. Was the sand live?

Sand was dry and I used a bottle of Dr Tim's One and Only lol

 

[rastareefs]

What type of dry rock did you use?

 

[MohrReefs]

What type of dry rock did you use?

About 45 lbs of Bulk Reef Supply ReefSaver and Shelf.

 

[Spare time]

Have you tested your ammonia with any other test? What do you run in your filter

 

[rastareefs]

About 45 lbs of Bulk Reef Supply ReefSaver and Shelf.

That rock is generally much cleaner than something like pukani so that could explain why it is showing safe parameters. I would let your clowns settle in for a week or two before adding more fish so you can see how the tank develops.

 

[MohrReefs]

No just this brand. I was debating on buying a digital one. I'm not sure by what you mean about what I'm running in the filter but its layers of filters and Eheim Substrat media

 

[MohrReefs]

That rock is generally much cleaner than something like pukani so that could explain why it is showing safe parameters. I would let your clowns settle in for a week or two before adding more fish so you can see how the tank develops.

HA, I'm afraid to add anything let alone more fish. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong because of everyone's horror stories lol. But I'll keep an eye on it and maybe wait a month?

 

[rastareefs]

HA, I'm afraid to add anything let alone more fish. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong because of everyone's horror stories lol. But I'll keep an eye on it and maybe wait a month?

It won't hurt to wait a month, what's your stocking plan after the clowns?

 

[MohrReefs]

It won't hurt to wait a month, what's your stocking plan after the clowns?

Well let me tell you, I had dreams like a mandarin but I let that go. We are thinking a goby or blenny, an orchid dottyback, and another 2 fish.

 

[Spare time]

No just this brand. I was debating on buying a digital one. I'm not sure by what you mean about what I'm running in the filter but its layers of filters and Eheim Substrat media

What I meant is what is in it? Sponges? Carbon? Ammonia absorbing media? Biomedia (eheim substrat)

Im guessing the layers you said are the mechanical filters (aka sponges and filter pads).

 

[rastareefs]

Nice, yeah mandarins can be tough. Do you have a sump or is this and AIO?

 

[MohrReefs]

Nice, yeah mandarins can be tough. Do you have a sump or is this and AIO?

No just the eheim canister filter in a pentagon tank.

 

[MohrReefs]

What I meant is what is in it? Sponges? Carbon? Ammonia absorbing media? Biomedia (eheim substrat)

Im guessing the layers you said are the mechanical filters (aka sponges and filter pads).

Yes there are sponges, I think a carbon pad and then the large layer of substrat.

 

[Spare time]

Yes there are sponges, I think a carbon pad and then the large layer of substrat.

Ah ok

 

[Spare time]

Well let me tell you, I had dreams like a mandarin but I let that go. We are thinking a goby or blenny, an orchid dottyback, and another 2 fish.

You can have multiple gobies but only one blenny. Blennies and gobies are compatible. I HIGHLY recommend blennies as they are the goofiest little guys. Mine follows you around as you look in the tank. I also hand feed him seaweed sheets. Also, I want to warn you on the dottyback. They can be very aggressive fish.

 

[Darins]

Any update on your levels? I will begin my first tank on the 15th when my rock/sand arrive, so this caught my interest. I too have followed Mr Saltwater Fish Tank's budget and 120 build, so i will be doing a very similar cycle as you have.

What did you think of your test kits? Do you think they are accurate / easy to use? I was debating investing in the hanna nitrate/nitrite/amonia test, but not sure if its worth it.