Cycling & water conditions

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hi all, just filled my 50L less than a week ago and started cycling 3 days ago.
1) water colour is disturbingly filthy for being a few days old, is that normal?
2) I'm fishless cycling using aquarium systems unidose which is a 30 day dosing cycle that comes in viles (has Dr. Tim's bacteria). I've added half a large prawn but not sure how long to keep it in there and how often to keep putting prawns in. Please advise.

Running salinity at 20ppm, temp around 78-80F. As recommended by Dr. Tim at 2019 MACNA.

I have red lava rock for aquascape and bio media.

 

[Spare time]

Yes the rotting food caused a bacterial bloom of heterotrophs (not the kinds you want for cycling though I doubt it would cause any serious problem except for being competition for phosphorus against the nitrifiers) unless it only turns cloudy when you put bacteria in. You can take the prawn out. To fully cycle, you can wait for nitrite to go away. A lot of people just throw in a fish once ammonia is gone which is fine but some like to have everything fully ready to go before they add the fish.

This is a handy video

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Yes the rotting food caused a bacterial bloom of heterotrophs (not the kinds you want for cycling though) unless it only turns cloudy when you put bacteria in.

No idea, its day 3 today of cycling. But even before adding the bacteria, the water went a bit yellowish. No carbon in filter as yet. I had read to only add carbon after the cycle.
Interestingly though, the day 2 bacteria dosing viles had a different colour to day 1.

 

[Spare time]

No idea, its day 3 today of cycling. But even before adding the bacteria, the water went a bit yellowish. No carbon in filter as yet. I had read to only add carbon after the cycle.
Interestingly though, the day 2 bacteria dosing viles had a different colour to day 1.

I think it is fine then. I wouldn't worry. Probably just a big buffet party of heterotrophs going to town on your prawn

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Any idea how often and for how long to keep putting prawn in to ensure enough ammonia for bacteria to keep populating?

 

[Spare time]

Any idea how often and for how long to keep putting prawn in to ensure enough ammonia for bacteria to keep populating?

They don't need ammonia constantly present. I don't know an exact timeline as to how long they can go without it but I'm sure you could email Dr tims. I would just let the nitrite settle to zero ish and then do a big water change before you get a fish. Again I think contacting them would be handy to get more specific answers on how long you can go without an ammonia source.

 

[olive'sreef]

the lava rock would be your issue. you want to use something made for reef tanks like marco rock.

 

[Spare time]

the lava rock would be your issue. you want to use something made for reef tanks like marco rock.

Ooo I didn't see that. Yeah that will cause issues with diatoms and worse down the road

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

They don't need ammonia constantly present. I don't know an exact timeline as to how long they can go without it but I'm sure you could email Dr tims. I would just let the nitrite settle to zero ish and then do a big water change before you get a fish. Again I think contacting them would be handy to get more specific answers on how long you can go without an ammonia source.

Yes that's definitely a good idea. Thank you

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

the lava rock would be your issue. you want to use something made for reef tanks like marco rock.

Oh, shame that, I was very pleased with the aquascape. On a technical note, I would have thought that lava rock would be ok considering there is numerous volcano eruptions underwater with lava rock protruding from the seabed.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Ooo I didn't see that. Yeah that will cause issues with diatoms and worse down the road

Thanks for the advance warning, out of curiosity, what's the trigger for diatoms from lava rock?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

I knew I had researched volcanic rock before making the decision to use it. Here's a reply from a geologist reefer on R2R https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/use-of-volcanic-rock-in-our-tanks.528065/post-5489060

Please let me know your thoughts, and maybe invite the author into this discussion...

 

[Spare time]

I knew I had researched volcanic rock before making the decision to use it. Here's a reply from a geologist reefer on R2R https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/use-of-volcanic-rock-in-our-tanks.528065/post-5489060

Please let me know your thoughts, and maybe invite the author into this discussion...

In that case I would just run an ICP test sometime to see if you are in fact getting unwanted metals and what not.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

In that case I would just run an ICP test sometime to see if you are in fact getting unwanted metals and what not.

Believe you me, it's always in the back of my mind, I think I've had a couple nightmares about this lol. But I'm glad the advice I took was from R2R when going back through my research. Gives me a bit of confidence. I've msgs ReeferReefer asking if he would like to join the discussion and comment.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

I invite you all to check my build thread from time to time to see what I'm up to and other calculated risks I'm taking. It's always great to get feedback, be it positive or negative.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hi All,

I thought I'd just update everyone, the water has cleared up on its own!!!

If anyone knows what just happened or why, please let me know out of interest and knowledge.

Just glad it's not the lava rock that was discolouring the water.

Heres some photos of before and now.

Before: Day 2 of cycle

Now: Day 5 of cycle