First saltwater tank and got some questions.

[bjmartie]

I recently moved from fresh to saltwater tanks. Now I believe... My cycle is done. I never actually cycled a tank, but since saltwater in general is more costly, decided to cycle. So last night I checked my nitrite level and it was around 1.0-2.0 ppm. Checked today and it was 0. Attached is my ammonia and nitrate levels from the next day when I measured and the nitrite was 0. Do y'all believe it is cycled now?

Been 3 weeks now with water and live rock (80ish pounds) and all aragonite substrate. The person I bought the tank from also gave me some filter media they has and some bio filter media that I have in the 40 gallon sump.

I have gotten a little impatient and added one emerald crab and a hermit crab last weekend, in hopes of speeding it up (which seems it may of helped). I also bought a rock right out the LFS that ended up having a yellow damsel in it as well.

Next question, if y'all believe it is cycled, should I add more for a CUC immediately or wait till I see alage popping up?

I do plan ok having a few corals in the tank, mainly a few anemones, soft corals, and LPS

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

My first question would be 0 nitrate. Have you added any ammonia source? Ammonia converts to nitrite and nitrite converts to nitrate. Bacteria grows and develops to complete each of these steps in the nitrification cycle. The end result nitrate does not convert to anything without an external method (water change, carbon dosing, special media in a reactor etc.) so lack of nitrate makes me question wether there has been any ammonia to developed the cycle. Couple of small inverts (crabs) shouldn’t produce enough ammonia to complete the cycle.
That being said, if the tank has been set up for 3 weeks and has a yellow damsel in it (how long?) you are probably safe to add another small fish or two. Might want some prime or aquavitro seed on hand to dose when adding the new fish to be on the safe side. Just don’t and a bunch.
I would probably hold off on cycle that are geared toward Algea until you start to see some forming (haze on the glass, don’t wait until you have a tank full of hair Algea) as they could starve, or provide them some Algea tablets or nori (dried seaweed).

 

[bjmartie]

My first question would be 0 nitrate. Have you added any ammonia source? Ammonia converts to nitrite and nitrite converts to nitrate. Bacteria grows and develops to complete each of these steps in the nitrification cycle. The end result nitrate does not convert to anything without an external method (water change, carbon dosing, special media in a reactor etc.) so lack of nitrate makes me question wether there has been any ammonia to developed the cycle. Couple of small inverts (crabs) shouldn’t produce enough ammonia to complete the cycle.
That being said, if the tank has been set up for 3 weeks and has a yellow damsel in it (how long?) you are probably safe to add another small fish or two. Might want some prime or aquavitro seed on hand to dose when adding the new fish to be on the safe side. Just don’t and a bunch.
I would probably hold off on cycle that are geared toward Algea until you start to see some forming (haze on the glass, don’t wait until you have a tank full of hair Algea) as they could starve, or provide them some Algea tablets or nori (dried seaweed).

Nothing was in it for the first two weeks. Wasnt ghost feeding or anything. I have been adding seed i got for LFS to help get bacteria into the tank, did that for a week and used up the bottle. The damsel, hermit crab and emerald all been in there a week today. I did see some ammonia about a week ago, wasnt high at all, as well as nitrite around .25, that was before i added in the fish and crabs. And now last night nitrite around 1.0-2, ammonia zero
Then today 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and looks some nitrate.

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

Nothing was in it for the first two weeks. Wasnt ghost feeding or anything. I have been adding seed i got for LFS to help get bacteria into the tank, did that for a week and used up the bottle. The damsel, hermit crab and emerald all been in there a week today. I did see some ammonia about a week ago, wasnt high at all, as well as nitrite around .25, that was before i added in the fish and crabs. And now last night nitrite around 1.0-2, ammonia zero
Then today 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and looks some nitrate.

I can’t guarantee you that it is fully cycled, but then I’m a guy who fish cycles my tanks. I always put fish in basically day one. But not too many. Large the tank easier to avoid big swings. I would however say that you are safe to add one more fish and watch the results. Could get a seachem ammonia badge (I use them
On my QT tanks).
That being said, depending on the fish, you might also want to look into a small QT tank to avoid introducing any diseases or parasites in your new set up.

 

[Jedi1199]

First off.. Take that API test kit and toss it as far away as you possibly can!

They are notoriously unreliable and for under $100 on Amazon you can get at least a years worth of Salifert testing kits for the main 6 things we test for.


What is the size of the tank? Looks like 24 or 36 x 12 x 18?

On the smaller side for a reef, but doable.

You used live rock and dry substrate if I am reading correctly? The rocks are where the cycling bacteria are most abundant.

In my opinion, after 3 weeks, your tank is cycled. The fact you have added a fish, further develops this. You can add more fish, slowly. I would advise no more than 2 at a time.

There is a bit of debate on when you can add corals. Many advise waiting 6 months, while others say good to go after cycle. I went with sooner with my first batch with no issues. Started with 5. Lost one to being eaten, 2 I removed as they became invasive and frankly boring. Drab brown corals taking over 1/2 the tank was not my goal.. lol and the last 2 I still have.

 

[bjmartie]

First off.. Take that API test kit and toss it as far away as you possibly can!

They are notoriously unreliable and for under $100 on Amazon you can get at least a years worth of Salifert testing kits for the main 6 things we test for.


What is the size of the tank? Looks like 24 or 36 x 12 x 18?

On the smaller side for a reef, but doable.

You used live rock and dry substrate if I am reading correctly? The rocks are where the cycling bacteria are most abundant.

In my opinion, after 3 weeks, your tank is cycled. The fact you have added a fish, further develops this. You can add more fish, slowly. I would advise no more than 2 at a time.

There is a bit of debate on when you can add corals. Many advise waiting 6 months, while others say good to go after cycle. I went with sooner with my first batch with no issues. Started with 5. Lost one to being eaten, 2 I removed as they became invasive and frankly boring. Drab brown corals taking over 1/2 the tank was not my goal.. lol and the last 2 I still have.

Yea thats the dimensions. I used "live rock* the LFS sold to me in a box. The substrate is all caribsea aragonite.

Yeah was definitely looking into better test kits! Lol thank you. I'm not planning on having a crazy amount if corals, just a few to add more color and anemone for the clown fish.

 

[Jedi1199]

Yea thats the dimensions. I used "live rock* the LFS sold to me in a box. The substrate is all caribsea aragonite.

Yeah was definitely looking into better test kits! Lol thank you. I'm not planning on having a crazy amount if corals, just a few to add more color and anemone for the clown fish.

24" long or 36?

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board!

 

[edd59]

live rock should be in water not in a box. looks like 5.0 nitrate to me

 

[Projects with Sam]

I think you're good to go; corals, fish, cuc may want to wait for a little algae. The rocks must have been wet if they had a damsel in them. And I believe that's a 75 gallon tank.

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