AngieLikedThat
Active Member
Here are my perameters. What's good/bad or what should I keep my eye on.
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
PH 8
Ammonia 4
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
PH 8
Ammonia 4
Got my testing kit!
- Thread starter AngieLikedThat
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Hello,
Looking at your test results, you just started your cycle huh?
If so, just sit back and wait a while.
You want ammonia to hit 0 and see nitrite
Then...
Just sit back and wait a while.
You want nitrite to hit 0 and see nitrate
There is more after that but let's get you to
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
30 or so nitrate
That's what your looking for in the next few weeks
Looking at your test results, you just started your cycle huh?
If so, just sit back and wait a while.
You want ammonia to hit 0 and see nitrite
Then...
Just sit back and wait a while.
You want nitrite to hit 0 and see nitrate
There is more after that but let's get you to
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
30 or so nitrate
That's what your looking for in the next few weeks
Last edited:
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
Good
Good
Good
Bad
Unless it's a cycling tank
Good
Good
Bad
Unless it's a cycling tank
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
Yes my concern is that a store employee recommended I cycle with a clown and then I was told by members here that it isnt the best option.. is it still a sit back and wait thing or is there more to cycling with the fish involved? Also, is this safe enough water quality for them or should I be concerned with that as well?
raketemensch
Ape That Likes Fish
Pick yourself up a bottle of Bio spira at your LFS and kickstart things a little.
You need to hit 0 ammonia.
Are you using RODI water?
You need to hit 0 ammonia.
Are you using RODI water?
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
Updating post.
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
Updating post. What is RODI water?
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
UPDATE:
New tank. I added bacteria I use for my fw. Said it was for sw as well. Waiting to get to the store to buy the Dr Tim's (I believe was the one reccomendedon here).
Store employee reccomended I cycle with a clown and so I picked one up as well. However I was advised against it after I posted a photo. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to cycle and keep the little guy as safe as I possible. Picked up some dry rock when I got the clown too.
New tank. I added bacteria I use for my fw. Said it was for sw as well. Waiting to get to the store to buy the Dr Tim's (I believe was the one reccomendedon here).
Store employee reccomended I cycle with a clown and so I picked one up as well. However I was advised against it after I posted a photo. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to cycle and keep the little guy as safe as I possible. Picked up some dry rock when I got the clown too.
A few things to point out...
What size tank is that?
I don't see a filter. Do you have a filter on the tank?
Do you have a heater in the tank?
What brand of salt did you use to make your saltwater?
Do you have a way to measure the salinity?
Freshwater bacteria is different from saltwater bacteria. You would need Dr Tim's one and only or the equivalent.
A clown is an expensive way to cycle a tank with fish. If you absolutely had to cycle a saltwater tank with a fish, I would recommend a damsel. They are only like $1.99 or around that price vs. how much a clown cost.
I would take the clown back to the store for a refund if I could.
Your tank is not ready gor live fish yet.
What size tank is that?
I don't see a filter. Do you have a filter on the tank?
Do you have a heater in the tank?
What brand of salt did you use to make your saltwater?
Do you have a way to measure the salinity?
Freshwater bacteria is different from saltwater bacteria. You would need Dr Tim's one and only or the equivalent.
A clown is an expensive way to cycle a tank with fish. If you absolutely had to cycle a saltwater tank with a fish, I would recommend a damsel. They are only like $1.99 or around that price vs. how much a clown cost.
I would take the clown back to the store for a refund if I could.
Your tank is not ready gor live fish yet.
Ammonia at any level is toxic to fish and will cause permanent injury to them. The employee who told you to cycle with a fish (of any sort) should never be listened to again. 30 years ago when I started in the hobby that might have been ok, but we now know so much more that using live fish to cycle is just plain wrong.
More information about your tank would be helpful. See the above post for some of the information we need to better help you.
More information about your tank would be helpful. See the above post for some of the information we need to better help you.
This video will help you understand the basics of cycling your new tank. Your fish will not survive if that ammonia reading is accurate.
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
20gt
Yes I do have one
No but I have one I can out in
Instant ocean
I have a measuring thing that sticks to the glass
The bottle said for fw and sw but like I said when I have a chance to go to the store I'm picking that one up.
I'll call the store and see what they say I wont be able to stop in until the weekend. Work hours are crazy with the holidays
I was looking at the pics on my cell phone and could not see the filter. I'm at work now on my computer and I "think" I see a HOB (Hang On Back) filter and a Hydrometer.
A few questions for you...
What specific filter do you have?
What size tank do you have? (Answered...20gallon)
What sand did you use?
What salt did you use? (Answered...Instant Ocean)
Do you have a light for the tank?
Can you provide a pic of the whole tank that shows the filter and any equipment that is being used?
If you REALLY want to start a saltwater tank, We will help you and give you GOOD advice. Whoever told you to start the cycle it with a clownfish is NOT the person to be taking advice from.
You will need to figure out if you want a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) tank or a Reef tank (Tank with live Corals and fish)
You asked what RO/DI is. (Reverse Osmosis Deionization) Purified water.
You can buy a RO/DI unit to make your own water but that might be a ways down the line for you. That goes into the question of if you want a Reef tank or A Fish Only tank. Reef tanks need better water than tap can provide. You might be able to buy RO/DI water from the LFS (Local Fish Store) but at this point, you may not NEED to.
For now, you can get away with using tap water AS LONG AS you use something like Seachem Prime.
Based on your picture, These are some of the things you will need.
Seachem Prime
Refractometer to CORRECTLY measure salinity.
Ammonia for Fishless cycle
Biomedia for filter
Live Bacteria to cycle the tank
Heater
Let's start with your pictures and answers to my questions and we will go from there.
A few questions for you...
What specific filter do you have?
What size tank do you have? (Answered...20gallon)
What sand did you use?
What salt did you use? (Answered...Instant Ocean)
Do you have a light for the tank?
Can you provide a pic of the whole tank that shows the filter and any equipment that is being used?
If you REALLY want to start a saltwater tank, We will help you and give you GOOD advice. Whoever told you to start the cycle it with a clownfish is NOT the person to be taking advice from.
You will need to figure out if you want a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) tank or a Reef tank (Tank with live Corals and fish)
You asked what RO/DI is. (Reverse Osmosis Deionization) Purified water.
You can buy a RO/DI unit to make your own water but that might be a ways down the line for you. That goes into the question of if you want a Reef tank or A Fish Only tank. Reef tanks need better water than tap can provide. You might be able to buy RO/DI water from the LFS (Local Fish Store) but at this point, you may not NEED to.
For now, you can get away with using tap water AS LONG AS you use something like Seachem Prime.
Based on your picture, These are some of the things you will need.
Seachem Prime
Refractometer to CORRECTLY measure salinity.
Ammonia for Fishless cycle
Biomedia for filter
Live Bacteria to cycle the tank
Heater
Let's start with your pictures and answers to my questions and we will go from there.
Last edited:
Run, do not walk from the LFS you have been dealing with and Return the clown if you can. You apparently have not done your research in this hobby to be successful. If you continue down the path you are traveling, you will not be successful and you'll spend a lot of money in the meantime.
You need stop, start over and spend the necessary time to educate yourself. Then come up with a plan of what you want to accomplish in this hobby before setting up your aquarium. And find out what ro/di is and why it's important.
You said this is a bz time of year at work with the holidays. Then spend the time you have educating yourself in this hobby during the holidays. This is a very time consuming hobby, especially at the beginning when you are new to it.
If you continue down the path you are traveling, you will continue to chase one problem after the other--And Will NOT be successful. GL whatever you decide to do.
raketemensch
Ape That Likes Fish
Both of these?
@AngieLikedThat, I can see how some of the posts here could be discouraging, but I don't think that's the intent.
Please don't take them personally, no one is blaming you or angry or whatever.
R2R is generally an overwhelmingly positive place, and rather than piling on, people are trying to help you be successful without spending a ton of money and also trying to help you avoid frustration.
OP
OP
AngieLikedThat
Active Member
Yes it's a hang on the back filter, aqua clear 50
I mixed regular with live sand (carabsea I believe)
I dont have a light. I was hoping to do a reef tank so I wanted to see what the best lighting choice would be before I spent the money.
I ordered an ammonia neutralizer to maybe help the clown because I'm not sure what the return policy is..
What is a proper temperature for that type of tank?
SDK
Reef Diver
Having lived on Long Island for 40 years, I would encourage you to get an RO/DI filter for your water, or in a tank that small, buy distilled water.
You should be OK for a while. The two issues I had with LI tapwater back in the day were algae problems, and (I believe) slow buildup of copper over time. In my pre RO/DI days I did not have a problem keeping hardy fish healthy, but my tanks would become fatal to inverts after a year or so. What finally solved it was getting the RO/DI unit.
I'm very curious as to what store gave you that advice. Generally, the LFS stores there were pretty good and there is a strong fishkeeping history/community in the metro NY area. Was it a chain store?
You should be OK for a while. The two issues I had with LI tapwater back in the day were algae problems, and (I believe) slow buildup of copper over time. In my pre RO/DI days I did not have a problem keeping hardy fish healthy, but my tanks would become fatal to inverts after a year or so. What finally solved it was getting the RO/DI unit.
I'm very curious as to what store gave you that advice. Generally, the LFS stores there were pretty good and there is a strong fishkeeping history/community in the metro NY area. Was it a chain store?
