Okay so I've set up a 10gal saltwater aquarium and its been up for about a week and a half now I used instant ocean salt and my salinity and gravity is good I used Carib sea argonite for the bottom after I put in bio spiral to help with bacteria and I got a culture starter too but I took it out after a week I have a heater in there and it keeps it at 76 more or less...and I hope I can get a fish soon...I've tested the water before and my nitrates and carbon were both at zero and my pH was around the middle of 75-80 while my carbonate hardness is like 250 on the strip which confuses me and...when should I expect to see hair grass I'll feel like I failed if I can't even get that to grow XD thank you all who answer in advance
Help please
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Flamed_Razor
Community Member
From my understanding and countless hours reading forums. Testing strips are not accurate. You also need to test for ammonia and nitrites. First comes ammonia which gets converted to nitrites, then the nitrites get converted to nitrate that is how the cycle starts and ends. You will know your cycle has ended or close of ending if your glass, rocks and sand are turning brown. You also don't want any kind of so called grass in your tank.
Mike in CT
Valuable Member
Hi bubbles, have you gone through a cycle?? (Ammonia>nitrite>nitrate) This usually takes a while longer then a week or two. You might want to read up on fish less cycling, that way you won't risk killing/ hurting your first fish. 10 gallons is a pretty small tank to start out with so you going to have to be extra patient and vigilant!
Good luck and read and as a lot of questions !
Mike
Good luck and read and as a lot of questions !
Mike
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
Did you add anything to produce ammonia? Like a deli shrimp or food? The only tests you should be concerned with right now are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Get a test kit that doesn't involve strips. Everyone new to the hobby should read this: The Mature Aquarium
Thanks again and brown as in like the the top layer Darking it started doing that a few days ago I thought it was just my eyes but its darker than it was when I first got it and the live rock is more...eh fossil they were white and are still white I guess time can only tell
Mike in CT
Valuable Member
Read read and read some more! 
Make sure you understand the basics of how a tanks works. People will help you here on every step of the way, but it will all make sense once you get a better understanding.
Congratulations though! You are on the right track by being on this forum!
Make sure you understand the basics of how a tanks works. People will help you here on every step of the way, but it will all make sense once you get a better understanding. Congratulations though! You are on the right track by being on this forum!
