Hello with Test Measurements

[jkruer01]

What levels would you say my tests are at?

 

[WWIII]

Welcome to R2R! I already answered on fb lol. Hopefully some guys here will chime in!

 

[Big G]

Welcome to the group! How old is your tank?

 

[Palyzoa]

I would guess you are just finished cycling or haven't even started yet.

 

[Palyzoa]

Oh yeah, Welcome to R2R!!! Lots of info lurking around here. Don't be afraid to ask questions

 

[jkruer01]

Thanks everyone. I setup the tank about 2 weeks ago. I added bacteria and dumped some food in. Then about a week ago I added 6 chromis, some crabs, and some more bacteria. Two of the chromis died within 12 hours, all of the crabs seem to be doing fine. 3 of the chromis were beating up on the 4th chromis. They ate all his fins off and he died last night.

I'm trying to decide if the cycling is complete and I can add another fish and shrimp or not.

Thanks

 

[IslandLifeReef]

If the tank is only two weeks old, I'd say you are in the middle of the cycle. Did you see a spike in ammonia or nitrite and then watch it go down? How big is the tank? Take it easy on adding fish or other livestock to quickly. A new tank is very unstable and you could easily wipe out everything in it if you go to fast.

 

[jkruer01]

If the tank is only two weeks old, I'd say you are in the middle of the cycle. Did you see a spike in ammonia or nitrite and then watch it go down? How big is the tank? Take it easy on adding fish or other livestock to quickly. A new tank is very unstable and you could easily wipe out everything in it if you go to fast.

It is a 150 gal tank. I just got my test kit yesterday so I haven't been able to test yet.

I thought the whole point of adding bacteria was to eliminate the huge ammonia spikes.

Thanks!

 

[jsker]

Reefing take time and patients. Even though some suggest adding bacteria to speed up the cycle, I would suggest not adding any fish until you hit the 45 day mark. add clean up crew about 30 day into the cycle.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

It is a 150 gal tank. I just got my test kit yesterday so I haven't been able to test yet.

I thought the whole point of adding bacteria was to eliminate the huge ammonia spikes.

Thanks!

Adding bacteria can help with starting the cycle, but you really need to test during the cycle to see how it is progressing. The bacteria you add need to multiply significantly to build your biological filtration. The fact that you are still showing ammonia and nitrite in your test means that the cycle could just be starting, or it could be towards the end. You need several more tests to show how the cycle is progressing.

If your ammonia goes up, I would add more bacteria. If it continues to go down to 0ppm, then I would just wait a couple of weeks before adding other livestock except more CUC. Just take it slow.

 

[jkruer01]

Thanks everyone

 

[SurfLife]

Reefing take time and patients....

If there is one lesson I learned, it was this one. This coming from one of the most impatient people. So many times when I would read "Wait for this, wait for that, do not do X until Y, etc". I wanted results quicker. In every single case, I was wrong and if I was patient I would have avoided many headaches. For me and probably many others, the idea of doing something and waiting 1-2 months for a result was just too much to ask.
Now, a year later and doing things properly you are able to look back and understand exactly what everyone is trying to tell you. Slowwww.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to the family!

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!!