Hello. I have a Red Sea reefer 250 and am about 4 weeks into my tank cycle. My ammonia and nitrites are at 0, but my nitrates are at about 15 ppm. Is it too late to add Dr. Tims Nitrifying bacteria and would you prefer that I use it? I also have the ammonium chloride from dr. Tims. However, when I look online about how much ammonia to dose and what to do each day (step by step) when adding dr. Tims bacteria, they all revolve around the JUST newly setup tank. But, mine is already 4 weeks in cycling. I have pukani dry rock so I am thinking that since I do not have live rock I should get some bacteria in the tank but am wondering if it is too late and will mess up my cycle parameters currently and will also be confused on how much ammonium chloride to dose each day with ammonia levels already at 0. Any advice? I am new to the hobby. Thanks in advance!!!
Dr Tims Live Nitrifying Bacteria Question
- Thread starter Lucas Lembke
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GBRsouth
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It won't hurt your system adding the bacteria, but if you're already building nitrates with zero ammonia and zero nitrites, it is probably unnecessary.
If adding ammonia, test to ensure you do not exceed 2ppm.
If adding ammonia, test to ensure you do not exceed 2ppm.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I agree. Bacteria added or not, I'd do another shot of ammonia to check its ability to rapidly decline.
Forsaken77
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DP
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Forsaken77
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Once your tank reduced the ammonia and nitrites to zero, they need to keep being fed more ammonia if you want them to stick around. Without food for the bacteria, they will die off and you're parameters will say zero ammonia, zero nitrites (because the bacteria ate it up), but you will have very little bacteria alive after 4 weeks if you weren't adding ammonia the whole time. With nitrates you need more anaerobic bacteria to develop deep within the rock, but you still need to feed the aerobic bacteria that will convert ammonia to nitrite, then nitrate.
Like others have said, put some ammonia to 2ppm and see if your bacteria is still there to reduce it. If it drops back to zero within a day, you're good. If it doesn't, then I would add the bacteria.
Like others have said, put some ammonia to 2ppm and see if your bacteria is still there to reduce it. If it drops back to zero within a day, you're good. If it doesn't, then I would add the bacteria.
