First cycle?

Welcome!! Your lights don't need to be on for your cycle, and sometimes it takes a little longer for levels to drop, you just have to continue to be patient. Once nitrites start dropping your nitrates will rise and begin to drop. It usually seemed to take me around a month for everything to spike and drop.

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Happy boy new toys!
 
Obviously I'm a newbie, so I believe this is a typical question with a typical answer. So my 10 gal nano life rock from established store aquarium, 5lbs life sand a pinch of clown fish flake food . Using fluval cycle bacteria starter. Ammonia spiked within the first 5 days to off the charts, nitrite showed and spiked 3 days later, day 14 Ammonia back to 0 , nitrite still off the charts , nitrate is also top of the chart. Copepods all over the place glass really clean lol, diatomaceous on sand some rocks, turned off lights for last 3 days to not get to big of algae bloom. So the ? Are my levels to high I believe I shouldn't do any water changes until nitrite hits zero. But I hear of a stall when levels are to high. Am I looking at a stall? Of just time for levels to drop being bacteria will grow at different rates. Don't want to jump the gun.

Welcome! Glad you joined. Given nitrate 'off the chart' lean towards doing a little water change to help knock it back down. Eventually those nitrites will reach zero so hang in there. Patience is the magic in this hobby.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread under Forum > Member Aquariums and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This might help you find people local to you in Fairbanks:

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:
 
-10 gal nano life rock from established store aquarium-


that’s a skip cycle setup, no wait no bottle bac no ammonia used, I’m amazed eeyore didn’t point that out to you during your cycle coaching

She has seen the thread below more than once

can you post a pic of your tank

the rock was wet, from a pet store and you brought it home wet and added it to your tank is that correct

does your tank match the unique type of cycle shown here for nine pages of skip cycle examples

 
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-10 gal nano life rock from established store aquarium-


that’s a skip cycle setup, no wait no bottle bac no ammonia used, I’m amazed eeyore didn’t point that out to you during your cycle coaching

can you post a pic of your tank

the rock was wet, from a pet store and you brought it home wet and added it to your tank is that correct

does your tank match the unique type of cycle shown here for nine pages of skip cycle examples

No , everything I researched still said best to wait a bit after cycle even with small tank. However yes, rocks wet from store to tank in 45 minutes and 5 lbs live Carib sand. I did ghost feed and use fluval cycle booster. All parameters spiked for a week the zeroed for five days. I did a good 60% water change. Nitrate was still at 40ppm gave a day did another 40% water change, Nitrate at 15 ppm held for 2 days. Got 6 gallons of water mixed a heated.
 

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No , everything I researched still said best to wait a bit after cycle even with small tank. However yes, rocks wet from store to tank in 45 minutes and 5 lbs live Carib sand. I did ghost feed and use fluval cycle booster. All parameters spiked for a week the zeroed for five days. I did a good 60% water change. Nitrate was still at 40ppm gave a day did another 40% water change, Nitrate at 15 ppm held for 2 days. Got 6 gallons of water mixed a heated.
Fishy was added yesterday, I dont have a quarantine tank or space for one yet, tank area to grow over this year for sump area etc ... Fishy is healthy love the micro bubbles when I turn them on eats just fine. I did use fluval cycle since the start although probably unnecessary, ghost feed for a week ammonia and nitrite has stayed at 0 Nitrate at 15ppm got 6 gallons mixing for last 16hours will do a small WC in morning to get Nitrate closer to 5ppm. Ph 8 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 Nitrate 15 alk 11 phosphate 6 , calcium need deionized water to test with hanna instruments working on it. Not worried about last few parameters so much yet but no they need to lower a touch but everything is close.
 
No , everything I researched still said best to wait a bit after cycle even with small tank. However yes, rocks wet from store to tank in 45 minutes and 5 lbs live Carib sand. I did ghost feed and use fluval cycle booster. All parameters spiked for a week the zeroed for five days. I did a good 60% water change. Nitrate was still at 40ppm gave a day did another 40% water change, Nitrate at 15 ppm held for 2 days. Got 6 gallons of water mixed a heated.
 

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Fishy was added yesterday, I dont have a quarantine tank or space for one yet, tank area to grow over this year for sump area etc ... Fishy is healthy love the micro bubbles when I turn them on eats just fine. I did use fluval cycle since the start although probably unnecessary, ghost feed for a week ammonia and nitrite has stayed at 0 Nitrate at 15ppm got 6 gallons mixing for last 16hours will do a small WC in morning to get Nitrate closer to 5ppm. Ph 8 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 Nitrate 15 alk 11 phosphate 6 , calcium need deionized water to test with hanna instruments working on it. Not worried about last few parameters so much yet but no they need to lower a touch but everything is close.
I call my fishy Sloth because he looks like his left side face drops from birth defect. His buddy ill get will need to be named chunks.
 
It's true: all peer coaching and reading material excludes skip cycle options, only sellers at the reef convention know that hidden secret. Buyers are told to buy bottle bac and treat all cycles the same, agreed that's how the training goes.

That indeed was a skip cycle, wet rocks moved among tanks don't uncycle. Wet=stays cycled until dry=the new rules, stolen from sellers and given to buyers, like cycling robin hood;) welcome/ you'll see neat science here at rtr
 
Per pics, there are benthic cue indicators of being fully cycled day one (algae on rocks)

All rocks underwater long enough to have algae had full cycling bacteria in place. LFS employees don't know this: it's the responsibility of forum coaches to catch it, so that we evolve cycling science and reduce wasted purchases (extra bottle bac with no where to implant)

It's true all reading material for cycling omits this information

Macna needs a new and updated podium rule set talk on cycling so that buyers get permission to use sellers rules~
 
It's true: all peer coaching and reading material excludes skip cycle options, only sellers at the reef convention know that hidden secret. Buyers are told to buy bottle bac and treat all cycles the same, agreed that's how the training goes.

That indeed was a skip cycle, wet rocks moved among tanks don't uncycle. Wet=stays cycled until dry=the new rules, stolen from sellers and given to buyers, like cycling robin hood;) welcome/ you'll see neat science here at rtr
From my literal 3 weeks of constant videos and reading, I take it a lot of begginer practice is necessary yet meant to annoy or turn off the ones who won't be dedicated to the art and will at that point kill fish and corals constantly before quitting. Im in this for the long run and much better systems and larger tanks eventually. I look forward to the challenges and the ugly periods. Each one is a new science experiment for me with lots of online help. But I will still introduce slow and steady. I always keep saltwater mixing because I do 7 gallons at a time in food grade bucket and lid no sun light in cabin and water wont sit longer then a week or two.
 
From my literal 3 weeks of constant videos and reading, I take it a lot of begginer practice is necessary yet meant to annoy or turn off the ones who won't be dedicated to the art and will at that point kill fish and corals constantly before quitting. Im in this for the long run and much better systems and larger tanks eventually. I look forward to the challenges and the ugly periods. Each one is a new science experiment for me with lots of online help. But I will still introduce slow and steady. I always keep saltwater mixing because I do 7 gallons at a time in food grade bucket and lid no sun light in cabin and water wont sit longer then a week or two.
Excellent approach and attitude!!
I share your "science experiment" mindset and enjoy learning more about the ecosystem I'm creating/ maintaining. You'll do well, I'm sure :)

FWIW, depending on the brand of salt you use, constant mixing isn't necessary and you can store it in a covered container for quite a while. You will need to remix briefly before using and of course will want to match the temp to your tank water.
 
Excellent approach and attitude!!
I share your "science experiment" mindset and enjoy learning more about the ecosystem I'm creating/ maintaining. You'll do well, I'm sure :)

FWIW, depending on the brand of salt you use, constant mixing isn't necessary and you can store it in a covered container for quite a while. You will need to remix briefly before using and of course will want to match the temp to your tank water.
With mixing, it's an instant, but I like the idea of 12 hour mix or more for osmosis.. plus I like the sound of the power head , my fish tank is so quiet and I like the white noise
 
On to my next question and dilemma, lol sooo.. I live in the middle of Alaska, what or who might be best for me to research for delivery of coral in a few months, keeping it begginer softies zoa rock leather or two etc. I do plan on upgrading down the road ive had high interest in this for decades and finally am financially stable enough to give it a go. I ordered the full Hannah digital test kit so I can be precise.
Welcome to the forum, saltwater aquariums, and the tropical side of Fairbanks.
I've started a list of AK friendly shippers. I haven't bought any live from them but have read from others that have had success in AK or other cold areas mid-winter. PM me if you don't have a list started yet.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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