How are my parameters looking during cycle?

[berry79]

Tank has been up and running a week now. Used natural water from the ocean offshore here in south Florida, caribsea life rock and natural ocean, live sand. I also did the Microbacter start xlm. I know it says not to use with live sand but, read many still did with good success. Just got my test kit in today and this is the first time I was able to check.

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate. 20

salinity reads 1.026 with the instant ocean hydro meter and reads 1.029 with the ATC refractometer which was calibrated with fluid to 35. Might have to accept the instant ocean reading as that should be what our ocean water is down here

 

[attiland]

Tank has been up and running a week now. Used natural water from the ocean offshore here in south Florida, caribsea life rock and natural ocean, live sand. I also did the Microbacter start xlm. I know it says not to use with live sand but, read many still did with good success. Just got my test kit in today and this is the first time I was able to check.

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate. 20

salinity reads 1.026 with the instant ocean hydro meter and reads 1.029 with the ATC refractometer which was calibrated with fluid to 35. Might have to accept the instant ocean reading as that should be what our ocean water is down here

In short since you have nitrate indicate you are cycled. In a week you are good for first fish

 

[Supa]

Looks good I would say, maybe try to get salinity down to 1.024-1.026.

 

[berry79]

Perfect!!! Thanks for the input. Still not sure what salinity to go by. I’ve read the refractometer is supposed to more accurate but, knowing what our ocean water should be, I’m having my doubts in trusting it.

 

[Supa]

Perfect!!! Thanks for the input. Still not sure what salinity to go by. I’ve read the refractometer is supposed to more accurate but, knowing what our ocean water should be, I’m having my doubts in trusting it.

I would go by the refracto. And pretty much you neeed to be right there at 1.024-1.026.(1.026 with corals and stuff, I was told is better)

 

[Dan_P]

Tank has been up and running a week now. Used natural water from the ocean offshore here in south Florida, caribsea life rock and natural ocean, live sand. I also did the Microbacter start xlm. I know it says not to use with live sand but, read many still did with good success. Just got my test kit in today and this is the first time I was able to check.

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate. 20

salinity reads 1.026 with the instant ocean hydro meter and reads 1.029 with the ATC refractometer which was calibrated with fluid to 35. Might have to accept the instant ocean reading as that should be what our ocean water is down here

Did you add ammonia? What was the nitrate levelof tbe water you added?

 

[aSaltyKlown]

How's evaporation, are you topping off with fresh RODO/Distilled? It could be high due to evaporation. I would test a few more times, calibrate and check again with the refractometer.

Refractometer > Swing Arm Hydrometer.

 

[berry79]

Did you add ammonia? What was the nitrate levelof tbe water you added?

Didn’t add any ammonia. Only the Microbacter. Test kit just came in today. This is the first time testing

 

[berry79]

How's evaporation, are you topping off with fresh RODO/Distilled? It could be high due to evaporation. I would test a few more times, calibrate and check again with the refractometer.

Refractometer > Swing Arm Hydrometer.

Evaporatoration isn’t that bad. Only down about 1/2” on the 3rd chamber site glass of the biocube. RO buddy came today as well. I should be making water to top off tomorrow

 

[UCF Alum]

If you didn’t add ammonia, what’s your source? Did you add fish? Fish food? Dr. Tim’s? Ammonia is not going to magically appear unless it’s coming from somewhere. The microbactr is good, but it only works if you have ammonia for the bacteria to consume. Your ammonia level should be zero by the time nitrates show up. And go by what your calibrated refractometer says, not the hydrometer.
And for what it’s worth, and not to shoot down previous posts on this thread, you are NOT cycled until ammonia and nitrite show up and subsequently zero out, leaving ONLY nitrate showing on your test kit.

 

[berry79]

If you didn’t add ammonia, what’s your source? Did you add fish? Fish food? Dr. Tim’s? Ammonia is not going to magically appear unless it’s coming from somewhere. The microbactr is good, but it only works if you have ammonia for the bacteria to consume. Your ammonia level should be zero by the time nitrates show up. And go by what your calibrated refractometer says, not the hydrometer.
And for what it’s worth, and not to shoot down previous posts on this thread, you are NOT cycled until ammonia and nitrite show up and subsequently zero out, leaving ONLY nitrate showing on your test kit.

I’m using the Carib sea life rock and natures ocean live sand. I know the life rock is infused with bacteria. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I wish I had the test kit sooner so I could’ve been testing along the way but, it didn’t show up until today. Just really trying to see where I might be at with the cycle. Water came from the ocean, maybe there’s already some ammonia in it? Just getting back into the hobby and trying to get all these things figured out. Thanks for the help

 

[UCF Alum]

@berry79
Get some Dr. Tim’s ammonia and start there. Do not use store bought ammonia as it contains surfactants. That way, you can follow the instructions on how to properly cycle a tank. This method has never let me down and I’ve been in this hobby over 30 years.
And NSW (natural seawater) does not have ammonia in it.
good luck!

 

[berry79]

@berry79
Get some Dr. Tim’s ammonia and start there. Do not use store bought ammonia as it contains surfactants. That way, you can follow the instructions on how to properly cycle a tank. This method has never let me down and I’ve been in this hobby over 30 years.
And NSW (natural seawater) does not have ammonia in it.
good luck!

thanks again

 

[attiland]

Carib sea life rock already has bacteria
You have added additional bacteria
You have used real sea water too.
By all means you can add DR Tim’s but how much bacteria you want?
You have nitrate which is end of the nitrifying cycle. It is safe to say you are ready to add fish.

You can play with adding ammonia but you are wasting money and time. If you really want to do something do pinch of ghost feed
I would not trust your ammonia test to be honest. Most of them are proven to be off.

just reading your other posts you don’t have an ATO. Now that is a mistake. It is not for your convenience it is for your life stock’s safety. If your salinity is off that is because of you don’t top up fresh water. Spend your money where it is really needed.
As per calibration fluid for refractometer some reportedly off so do some research on which one is you can trust.

 

[Dan_P]

Didn’t add any ammonia. Only the Microbacter. Test kit just came in today. This is the first time testing

Thanks.

if you have ammonia and did not add any, this could mean your system has not cycled. The presence of nitrate could mean it came in with the water or it could support the idea that your system is cycled. Too much contradictory information to conclude anything about your system.

 

[Supa]

Welcome

 

[berry79]

Welcome

Thanks