First time cylcing saltwater: Is this cycled or am I being overzelous?

[saltylilthang]

Hi! I started cycling my tank March 30, 2024 so fairly recent. I have quickstarted my cycle with Stability Seachem. So far the readings look like this (I understand these may not be fully accurate, I am a beginner, and this was recommended since I am not doing a fish in cycle). Salinity is stable at 1.026 when using my refractometer. I am having a hard time keeping PH above 8.0. It usually is around 7.8 without intervention of PH Up. That being said, is it safe to assume I can add some clowns to this tank? Should Nitrites be more detecable? Or would it be better to wait? I do hope to get a wavemaker and an ATO to keep up with adding water and creating more motion in the water. I do hope to own coral down the line. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Aaron75]

It looks like ammonia was never added. You need ammonia to be processed to truly cycle.

 

[The_Paradox]

In a pinch throw a bunch (5-10g) of fish food in and check again in two days.

 

[saltylilthang]

It looks like ammonia was never added. You need ammonia to be processed to truly cycle.

Ammonia was added I thought... This was the reading a few days prior where ammonia is closer to 0.25 ppm at least thats how I see it. What can I do to up ammonia? I thought the reading should be 0ppm?

 

[saltylilthang]

In a pinch throw a bunch (5-10g) of fish food in and check again in two days.

I have been doing that I must be not adding enough. I will go ahead and do that.

 

[Aaron75]

Ammonia was added I thought... This was the reading a few days prior where ammonia is closer to 0.25 ppm at least thats how I see it. What can I do to up ammonia? I thought the reading should be 0ppm?

That looks exactly the same and it's very common for Api to show .25. Just assume .25=0 with Api. You can add a chunk of shrimp and let it rot a bit. But bottled ammonia is way better, it's predictable/controllable.

 

[saltylilthang]

That looks exactly the same and it's very common for Api to show .25. Just assume .25=0 with Api. You can add a chunk of shrimp and let it rot a bit. But bottled ammonia is way better, it's predictable/controllable.

Ill pick some up next week when I get an ATO and wavemaker. Thank you!

 

[TehBrainz]

That looks exactly the same and it's very common for Api to show .25. Just assume .25=0 with Api. You can add a chunk of shrimp and let it rot a bit. But bottled ammonia is way better, it's predictable/controllable.

Just don't drop the bottle in the garage and crack the cap. Not a pleasant thing to happen.

Bottled ammonia is best way, IMO. You can be precise with how much is added and confirm cycle is complete with additional dosing.

I wouldn't fixate on pH at this time, either. Get the cycle complete first!

 

[saltylilthang]

Just don't drop the bottle in the garage and crack the cap. Not a pleasant thing to happen.

Bottled ammonia is best way, IMO. You can be precise with how much is added and confirm cycle is complete with additional dosing.

I wouldn't fixate on pH at this time, either. Get the cycle complete first!

Gotcha I will pick some up. Any particular ammonia to get?

 

[Rjukan]

You need a good solid reading of ammonia to start the cycle. Something around the 2.0 range, then once it goes down to what you are reading now, you can add fish.

 

[Aaron75]

Gotcha I will pick some up. Any particular ammonia to get?

Any ammonium chloride, you don't need a lot. Any fish store should have it, or Amazon has it, probably could same day it.

 

[saltylilthang]

You need a good solid reading of ammonia to start the cycle. Something around the 2.0 range, then once it goes down to what you are reading now, you can add fish.

oh shoot I did not know that ive cycled freshwater before but with saltwaterfish being so expensive I want to doit right.

 

[TehBrainz]

Gotcha I will pick some up. Any particular ammonia to get?

When I started my tank, I used ammonia chloride from Ace hardware. Just be sure it doesn't have additives in it. Dr. Tim's has some as well and it's still fairly cheap even being labeled for fish tanks

 

[Aaron75]

oh shoot I did not know that ive cycled freshwater before but with saltwaterfish being so expensive I want to doit right.

There are plenty of threads/sources to research cycling but if you want 1 on 1 advice, recommendations, etc feel free to pm me.

 

[Rjukan]

oh shoot I did not know that ive cycled freshwater before but with saltwaterfish being so expensive I want to doit right.

It's ok, at least you're asking the right questions and getting answers rather than just guessing!
Also, don't even bother testing for the others until you see the ammonia spike and come down, the presence of ammonia will affect nitrite, and the presence of nitrite will affect nitrate readings.

 

[saltylilthang]

It's ok, at least you're asking the right questions and getting answers rather than just guessing!
Also, don't even bother testing for the others until you see the ammonia spike and come down, the presence of ammonia will affect nitrite, and the presence of nitrite will affect nitrate readings.

Gotcha. For now ill dose with fish food and grab ammonia next week (payday hence the waiting) and continue cycling. I don't mind waiting i'm just anxious to get my fish

 

[TehBrainz]

Gotcha. For now ill dose with fish food and grab ammonia next week (payday hence the waiting) and continue cycling. I don't mind waiting i'm just anxious to get my fish

Get used to the anxious waiting game! Everything is much slower in salt water in order to be successful.

I'm acclimating my tank to some new lights and I have it scheduled to occur over a 2 month period. Overkill? Maybe. But it insures gradual changes and stability to the tank inhabitants

 

[saltylilthang]

Get used to the anxious waiting game! Everything is much slower in salt water in order to be successful.

I'm acclimating my tank to some new lights and I have it scheduled to occur over a 2 month period. Overkill? Maybe. But it insures gradual changes and stability to the tank inhabitants

for sure. rather do it right than wrong and spend $$$ for my mistakes

 

[TehBrainz]

for sure. rather do it right than wrong and spend $$$ for my mistakes

You've got the right mindset!

 

[saltylilthang]

Thank you everyone for your help. I did finally pick up ammonia chloride and paired with StartXLM, I am finally seeing a cycle happen. I am hoping to have it even out by end of next month if not sooner (mainly due to ammonia being higher than 2.0ppm). So excited to see Nitrites