I would agree that it isn't ready. What bacteria product did you use the first time?
I used Fluval Biological. Should i also wait for nitrites to go to zero before dosing with ammonia again?
Never used that one. Looks like it should have worked better than it did. Adding more wouldn't hurt. Personally, I prefer Biospira which is locally available to me since Petco carries it.
Would it be ok to buy Biospira and use that instead of the fluval?..didnt know if you could mix bacterias?..also would i be starting cycle all over again?..thanks for your info and help, I really appreciate it!!
It would be just fine to do that. You can mix nitrifying bacteria all you want. In fact, it is a good idea. Every tank is different and some strains of bacteria will do better in a tank than others. Eventually, the best strains for your particular tank will come to dominate even if isn't one that was added via a bottle.
Wow. You have added a crazy amount of ammonia to this tank already. I would do as large a water change as possible and dump in a big bottle of Biospira.This is where i am at almost 48hrs after dosing it to 2ppm..any ideas?
When you say as large a water change as possible...its 110 gallons plus the sump..what are you thinking?..and then add biospira and test levels or just add ammonia?..could i get away without a water change and just play the waiting game?..just seeing my options..thanks again
You should be able to get away without a water change. I have around 140 gallons total water volume and the largest change I can easily do is 35 gallons and I can push it to 50g if I have to. I know when I started it was tough to do a 15g change. I dont think your high nitrates will cause too much of a problem yet but you will want to bring those way down prior to adding fish.
That looks awesome!!!..I would love to build something like that, but unfortunately the winters here are sometimes brutally cold and my garage gets down into the 30's sometimes...hmmmm, i wonder if i could make in my backroom..You should be able to get away without a water change. I have around 140 gallons total water volume and the largest change I can easily do is 35 gallons and I can push it to 50g if I have to. I know when I started it was tough to do a 15g change. I dont think your high nitrates will cause too much of a problem yet but you will want to bring those way down prior to adding fish.
Setting up this in my garage was a huge quality of life improvement for me. But yeah, this is a little off topic.
I'm in a much warmer climate so if it is going too far below freezing out I throw a small 50W aquarium heater in the RODI tank. I don't worry about the salt mix tank.
To me, it looks like you are over 160ppm so a 50% change will get you down to no less than 80ppm. I would try to get it down below 100ppm prior to adding fish and less than 40ppm prior to adding corals.
Do you think I should throw the whole bottle of Biospira in?
Yup. I would. It is very hard to overdose on nitrifying bacteria.
I understand completely. It often feels like keeping a reef tank is more art than science. It's not really true, but the science is so complex and has so many variables we have less control that we would like. I have seen tanks that were ready for fish a week after getting wet. I have seen tanks that have been set up for months and still aren't ready.
Ok I added a bottle of BioSpira 2 days ago..Should i just sit and wait now for awhile?..or test for ammonia and nitrites?
If you added it 2 days ago, I would test just out of curiosity.
Ok will do tonight, and if ammonia and nitrites are zero should I dose to 1 or 2ppm again?..or test nitrates first as well? and if hight do a water change then dose?
