Cycling the aquarium. Dealing with strange parameters

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 24, 2022

After years of experience with my 168 gallon aquarium, I have put together a smaller (52 gallon) aquarium. Start with ROW water, salt, bahamas sand, and dead rock.
I have placed in the sump a large number of half Brithwell live blocks, taken from my other aquarium. I've been cycling for 13 days and today I measured parameters.
NH3=0
NO2=0
PH= 8.2
Temp: 79
What confuses me is that I have 1.0 ppm.
I do not have any biological load since I have not yet introduced fish or corals or inverts.
What can be caused this?

blaxsun · Mar 24, 2022

1.0ppm of what?

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 25, 2022

blaxsun said:
1.0ppm of what?

NO3.

blaxsun said:
1.0ppm of what?

hahaha I'm so clueless that I forgot to clarify that it was from nitrates

ReefGeezer · Mar 25, 2022

The NO3 reading is minimal and may just be testing error or the result of the nitrifying process already occurring in the blocks. Did you ever add any ammonia load to the system?

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 25, 2022

ReefGeezer said:
The NO3 reading is minimal and may just be testing error or the result of the nitrifying process already occurring in the blocks. Did you ever add any ammonia load to the system?

nop, i do not add any living things other than the bacteria from the live Brightwell block and a few small live rocks from my other aquarium. Yesterday I tried to add Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter Start XLM and the skimmer and the lights are off

ReefGeezer · Mar 25, 2022

Marcelo ReefUruguay said:
nop, i do not add any living things other than the bacteria from the live Brightwell block and a few small live rocks from my other aquarium. Yesterday I tried to add Brightwell Aquatics Microbacter Start XLM and the skimmer and the lights are off

I'm not familiar the Brightwell product. You imported bacteria with the blocks and rock from your other tank... You really only need to supply some ammonia to see if there is enough or spur bacterial growth.

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 25, 2022

ReefGeezer said:
I'm not familiar the Brightwell product. You imported bacteria with the blocks and rock from your other tank... You really only need to supply some ammonia to see if there is enough or spur bacterial growth.

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 25, 2022

ok, so do you advise me to add some fish?

ReefGeezer · Mar 25, 2022

As I said, I am unfamiliar with the Brightwell product you added. BUT... To be conservative, I would follow this flow chart:

Marcelo ReefUruguay · Mar 25, 2022

Marcelo ReefUruguay said:
ok, so do you advise me to add some fish?

ReefGeezer said:
As I said, I am unfamiliar with the Brightwell product you added. BUT... To be conservative, I would follow this flow chart:

thank you very much

Spare time · Mar 25, 2022

ReefGeezer said:
As I said, I am unfamiliar with the Brightwell product you added. BUT... To be conservative, I would follow this flow chart:

I would think it better for the OP to add ammonium chloride rather than 2 to 3 fish.

ReefGeezer · Mar 26, 2022

Spare time said:
I would think it better for the OP to add ammonium chloride rather than 2 to 3 fish.

Works also but... the blocks and rock are already cycled. The ammonia and organic carbon input ifrom feeding fish is more effective than simple inorganic ammonia. If it were me, I wouldn't even test ammonia. The tests are simply for safety measures.

Spare time · Mar 26, 2022

ReefGeezer said:
Works also but... the blocks and rock are already cycled. The ammonia and organic carbon input ifrom feeding fish is more effective than simple inorganic ammonia. If it were me, I wouldn't even test ammonia. The tests are simply for safety measures.

Ah ok thanks I missed the cycled material moved over