Been running my tank for 2 weeks now. Its a 29g biocube with 25 pounds of live rock that I got from another tank that's been up and running for 2 years, 20lb of live sand and saltwater from my lfs. PH is at 8.2, amonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate at 20ppm. I was going to wait 1 more week to see if everything stays the same. Then do a 10% water change and add a clownfish. I was thinking of adding my protein skimmer to get the nitrate down. What do you guys think? I am a newbie and trying to get this right. Heres a pic of my test results not sure if im reading it right...
Has my fish tank finished his cycled?
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tyler1503
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As long as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate have had a decent spike and ammonia and nitrite have dropped and stayed at 0 for atleast a few days your good to start water changes to bring down nitrate then add a CUC or small fish, which sounds like what your planning to do anyway!
The longer you leave it and the slower you make changes (stocking, lighting, flow, filtration, chemistry changes etc) the easier it should be in the long run.
You can turn on your skimmer now, it may not affect nitrate till you start adding livestock as there's not much in there for it to skim though. But adding it now will help prevent a break in period later when you do add fish.
Sounds like your on the right track and you know what your doing
The longer you leave it and the slower you make changes (stocking, lighting, flow, filtration, chemistry changes etc) the easier it should be in the long run.
You can turn on your skimmer now, it may not affect nitrate till you start adding livestock as there's not much in there for it to skim though. But adding it now will help prevent a break in period later when you do add fish.
Sounds like your on the right track and you know what your doing
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Bad Company
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Looks like it's cycled. Get ready for the sand to look ugly for a while :]
beaslbob
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FWIW IMHO your tank and mine and everyone else's will never finish cycling. But they do get the the place where spikes don happen. (I know, I know picky picky picky LOL)
I would add macro algaes to get nitrates down. they also fight nusiance algaes, and stabilize the tank. They also consume ammonia directly before nitrates and consume co2 and return oxygen.
But that's just the way I do tanks.
and worth at most. .02
I would add macro algaes to get nitrates down. they also fight nusiance algaes, and stabilize the tank. They also consume ammonia directly before nitrates and consume co2 and return oxygen.
But that's just the way I do tanks.
and worth at most. .02
Bad Company
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The nitrites will give you a cyano, and then algae bloom. it happens with almost every new tank. Usually a clean up crew will help, along with patience and water changes.
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
Agreed. It's called a cycle because it keeps going
if it didn't continually do it's thing, it wouldn't be called a cycle!Do you have any sources about macro algae consuming ammonia? I haven't heard that before.
as far as I know the only thing that will eat ammonia is the bacteria in your deep sand bed or clams... but macro algae will eat po4
in the first year your tank will start with having an initial cycle when you set it up, at about 3 months you will have another small cycle mostly because your tank is stabilizing from everything added... then at 7-8 months another small spike (everything stabilizing because you have stopped messing with things....) after that you shouldnt have to worry about it
in the first year your tank will start with having an initial cycle when you set it up, at about 3 months you will have another small cycle mostly because your tank is stabilizing from everything added... then at 7-8 months another small spike (everything stabilizing because you have stopped messing with things....) after that you shouldnt have to worry about it
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beaslbob
2500 Club Member
Agreed. It's called a cycle because it keeps going
Do you have any sources about macro algae consuming ammonia? I haven't heard that before.
Virtually any text on plants. This is well documented. Can't give the actual organic equations but something like macros (and other plants) actually use less energy using ammonia for nitrogen then macros. Just that in a mature tank nitrates are the only source available.
Although macros consume ammonia directly there is still bacteria which will expand and start consuming ammonia. So after a few weeks nitrates drop down after the bacteria consume the ammonia.
But some time later say you get a bump up of ammonia. Due to a fish death, over feeding or whatever. What happens is the macros consume that ammonia directly for nitrogen and in the process less nitrates. So instead of an ammonia spike you get a nitrate spike. Then again after things settle down, the macros return to consume the nitrates again. So instead of a possible and dangerous tank crash you get a much safer nitrate bump. Which to me means the system has greater stability and can forgive operator errors or other bumps in the night
but that just my .02
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
From what I hear that is incorrect. Aerobic bacteria will consume ammonia and is at the surface of the sand and rocks. Deaper in the sand bed are anoxic/anaerobic bacteria which will consume nitrates. When working correctly those nitrates are reduced to nitrites and then to nitrogen gas. If not working corectly the nitrItes can be further reduced to ammonia.
Macros consume 16 nitrogens for each phosphate ions. In some forms like cyano (yea I know not a macro but they do have plant life) can take their nitrogen from nitrogen gas. So in a low nitrates environment but with some remaining phospates cyano can and does bloom.
Macros generally use ammonia then nitrates and in that order to get the nitrogen.
And you are correct in that new tanks do go through various cycles. IMHO starting the tank with macros algaes right from the start creates a stable system where those cycles are much less and shorter.
Still just my .02
Scubafrog
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I started a 29G Biocube on Labor Day weekend (8/30). I used live rock (20lbs), live sand (20lbs), and real ocean water (a little less than 20G). For two weeks I never saw a spike in ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates, all levels were at zero. At about 1 1/2 weeks my sand and rocks were covered in diatoms. I added snails on (9/10) which cleaned the tank up in a few days. Added (2) ocellaris clowns on (9/13) and they are doing fine. Just now seeing a slight rise in nitrates due to the fish and feeding.
I know I probably added the fish too early but all parameters were at zero with every test I did.
I know I probably added the fish too early but all parameters were at zero with every test I did.
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hawkinsrgk
Valuable Member
You should be able to get the nitrates down with either macro algae and/or water changes
