Help Needed Because I am Slow....

[DadHeller]

Ok. I will begin this with a short story to try to explain where I am at and why. Also, if you just want to talk trash and say I am a dummy, I know already. Thank you.

To begin, I started purchasing things around January while I was out of town and had them shipped to my house. I didn't get home from work till about April, so then I had to settle back into the house and get my stuff together. I thought I had it all set up early June. I was projected to finish on Father's Day weekend. My kids picked me up two beautiful clown fish that weekend, and I figured I would cycle the tank while they QT and everything would be done about the same time, right? I got all the rock, sand, water, biomedia, and everything into the tank because it was going to be great. Well, the plumbing leaked when I turned it on that weekend. I couldn't figure it out. I called my local fish store and they said they charge 150 an hour but at this point I didn't care, I wanted to be able to get going. They said they were booked about 2 weeks out. Fine. So be it. Two weeks comes and goes, and I hear nothing from them. Then we go on vacation for a couple weeks, then fast forward another couple weeks and I just started messing with it myself. Taking apart pieces, testing, getting it all to work and back together. Finally, I got it. Let it run for a couple days. We're now in mid-August. Two clown fish are still in QT tank, doing well actually. I added Dr. Tim's ammonia and one and only. I added it in 3 doses as it states. On my last dose, I realized I did not have enough one and only, so I went the next day and bought another small bottle and added it as well. I did test the water but likely missed something I should have tested for or something else. I tested with API, Hanna, and Even Test Strips. I included that information in the table below. These are the readings that I have...

On one hand, I am just trying to be cautious. On the other hand, I feel like it is ready. I could really use some guidance. It would be really nice to get my clown fish over to the big tank as they have been in QT since Father's Day (June 18) and we're now in September. Here is a picture of the tank. Lights only on for the picture as I have been keeping the lights off.

It is a 40-gallon breeder with a 40-gallon sump below. I have included a picture of the tank and a little bit of algae that I saw growing as well. Please let me know what you all think or if I missed anything please let me know.

 

[exnisstech]

Seeing the results from todays test I would say its ready. The only thing I really test for when cycling is nitrates. Your at 11 today which is fine and just a trace of ammonia which is probably false anyway I would be comfortable adding the clowns then move forward slowly. I'm no expert tho so lets see if others concur.

EDIT: Tank looks good. The deep sand just begs for a sand burrowing wrasse

 

[littlefoxx]

Ok. I will begin this with a short story to try to explain where I am at and why. Also, if you just want to talk trash and say I am a dummy, I know already. Thank you.

To begin, I started purchasing things around January while I was out of town and had them shipped to my house. I didn't get home from work till about April, so then I had to settle back into the house and get my stuff together. I thought I had it all set up early June. I was projected to finish on Father's Day weekend. My kids picked me up two beautiful clown fish that weekend, and I figured I would cycle the tank while they QT and everything would be done about the same time, right? I got all the rock, sand, water, biomedia, and everything into the tank because it was going to be great. Well, the plumbing leaked when I turned it on that weekend. I couldn't figure it out. I called my local fish store and they said they charge 150 an hour but at this point I didn't care, I wanted to be able to get going. They said they were booked about 2 weeks out. Fine. So be it. Two weeks comes and goes, and I hear nothing from them. Then we go on vacation for a couple weeks, then fast forward another couple weeks and I just started messing with it myself. Taking apart pieces, testing, getting it all to work and back together. Finally, I got it. Let it run for a couple days. We're now in mid-August. Two clown fish are still in QT tank, doing well actually. I added Dr. Tim's ammonia and one and only. I added it in 3 doses as it states. On my last dose, I realized I did not have enough one and only, so I went the next day and bought another small bottle and added it as well. I did test the water but likely missed something I should have tested for or something else. I tested with API, Hanna, and Even Test Strips. I included that information in the table below. These are the readings that I have...

On one hand, I am just trying to be cautious. On the other hand, I feel like it is ready. I could really use some guidance. It would be really nice to get my clown fish over to the big tank as they have been in QT since Father's Day (June 18) and we're now in September. Here is a picture of the tank. Lights only on for the picture as I have been keeping the lights off.

It is a 40-gallon breeder with a 40-gallon sump below. I have included a picture of the tank and a little bit of algae that I saw growing as well. Please let me know what you all think or if I missed anything please let me know.

So your ammonia looks to be 0.3 as of today. Its best to wait until its at 0 and that usually indicates full cycle. I would say give it this week and re test Saturday or something. Its super close to being ready though! Nitrites typically should also be 0 and those still seem to be high as well. I think waiting a week and retesting to see if those both read 0 is best as with the added bioload of the clowns would bump the ammonia, but if its at 0 the tank can handle it and you shouldnt have a huge ammonia spike.

And no youre not a dummy at all friend. R2R is a place to learn and receive help! Youre right there! Also API tests have been known for not giving good readings I would stick with the hanna. I use a combo of red sea and fluval tests myself!

 

[Pickle_soup]

Looks pretty good to me. Cycling the tank is not what it used to be. If you feel uncomfortable you can dose some beneficial bacteria to be sure. It won't hurt any.

 

[DadHeller]

Ammonia is at .03 per the Hanna tester. If it were .30 i would be more concerned. I did also check on 8/30, 8/31, and 9/1 and Ammonia was at 0.00, not sure why I didn't take a picture like I usually do. I was actually surprised by the 0.09 as I don't know where it came from. Nothing is in the tank.

 

[Pickle_soup]

Ammonia is at .03 per the Hanna tester. If it were .30 i would be more concerned. I did also check on 8/30, 8/31, and 9/1 and Ammonia was at 0.00, not sure why I didn't take a picture like I usually do. I was actually surprised by the 0.09 as I don't know where it came from. Nothing is in the tank.

It's ready and clowns are pretty tough fish. Acclimate them and add them.

 

[littlefoxx]

Ammonia is at .03 per the Hanna tester. If it were .30 i would be more concerned. I did also check on 8/30, 8/31, and 9/1 and Ammonia was at 0.00, not sure why I didn't take a picture like I usually do. I was actually surprised by the 0.09 as I don't know where it came from. Nothing is in the tank.

Completely up to you! I was always taught wait for 0 but others seem to be good with it and I trust them! Clowns are pretty hardy too

 

[Pickle_soup]

I don't have one so I am asking, do Hanna Checkers measure NH3 and NH4?

 

[littlefoxx]

I don't have one so I am asking, do Hanna Checkers measure NH3 and NH4?

Not sure I dont have hanna but I think they do have testers for that when I looked at them

 

[DadHeller]

Indeed, they do...

 

[DadHeller]

Seeing the results from todays test I would say its ready. The only thing I really test for when cycling is nitrates. Your at 11 today which is fine and just a trace of ammonia which is probably false anyway I would be comfortable adding the clowns then move forward slowly. I'm no expert tho so lets see if others concur.

EDIT: Tank looks good. The deep sand just begs for a sand burrowing wrasse

I am looking forward to getting a lawnmower blenny and watching him play!

 

[exnisstech]

I am looking forward to getting a lawnmower blenny and watching him play!

My lawnmower blenny stays on the rocks mostly. If you really want to watch a fish play in the sand get a sand sifting goby. If you want to step the fun up a notch get some nice corals that live on the sand bed while you still have the goby

 

[DadHeller]

My lawnmower blenny stays on the rocks mostly. If you really want to watch a fish play in the sand get a sand sifting goby. If you want to step the fun up a notch get some nice corals that live on the sand bed while you still have the goby

Yeah, thats the one I meant. I watch 2 of them the other day throw sand at each other. LOL

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Looks to me like you're good to go!!
How exciting, your tank looks really good and sounds like you really paid attention to the process. That shows how much you care for the fish you'll be putting in there....AWESOME job
Just keep an eye on your parameters for a bit after adding your fish, your bound to get a change, try not to panic and just let the tank do it's thing
I'm looking for something to work my sand bed as well but I can't decide what to get, I have a snowflake eel so I'm a little more limited on the bottom dwellers...lol

 

[RedoubtReef]

I agree with the others who say good to go!

 

[DadHeller]

Looks to me like you're good to go!!
How exciting, your tank looks really good and sounds like you really paid attention to the process. That shows how much you care for the fish you'll be putting in there....AWESOME job
Just keep an eye on your parameters for a bit after adding your fish, your bound to get a change, try not to panic and just let the tank do it's thing
I'm looking for something to work my sand bed as well but I can't decide what to get, I have a snowflake eel so I'm a little more limited on the bottom dwellers...lol

I love the way the eels look but my wife has told me that eels are a firm no because they freak her out. I cant complain too much she never asks what I spend or anything like that. She just loves to watch them swim. I get to check out the eels when we go to the LFS.

 

[00W]

Haven't heard from you in awhile so I'm glad you're still at it!
You're ready tank looks really good have a good time and keep us updated.

 

[brandon429]

once you pay for qt fish, adding anything wet to the tank that isn't qt'd undoes all the work you did. entrants need to be fallow prepped for months before addition, so that means if you get any more fish/corals/clean up crew/they all have to be passed through the separate fallow prep tank before going into the display. I saw the degree of care you put into the original fish QT and didn't see this other aspect mentioned...undoing qt work...

the tank is cycled and can carry life agreed as stated. whatever your hanna meter reads now for ammonia doesn't matter: it has a .5 ppm + - accuracy curve so your reading may not be right and ammonia can't drift out of spec in a post cycle reef tank, it will typically run low levels. no need to test for ammonia or nitrite ever again on this tank as of today.