How is my cycle coming?

SRAP · Jan 19, 2019

I set up a 36 gal bowfront saltwater tank on 1/3/19. I've been ghost feeding a pinch of food. There is 15 lbs of live rock and the substrate is live sand. On 1/17/19 my readings were: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0, nitrate 160, pH 8.1. Am I on track? I was told by a pet store owner to stop ghost feeding and now it is just a waiting game and to wait for everything to read 0. Do you all agree?
Also I will still need a good protein skimmer and lighting for an anemonie at some point. Suggestions for good quality equipment while on a budget would be appreciated. And I plan on maybe 2 clown fish, a jaw fish, and an anemonie. That's not too much for a 36 gal tank right? Thank you.

Big G · Jan 19, 2019

Did you see a high spike in the ammonia at any point? Same with the nitrites. Did they spike at higher than 1.0ppm?

Flippers4pups · Jan 19, 2019

SRAP said:
I set up a 36 gal bowfront saltwater tank on 1/3/19. I've been ghost feeding a pinch of food. There is 15 lbs of live rock and the substrate is live sand. On 1/17/19 my readings were: ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0, nitrate 160, pH 8.1. Am I on track? I was told by a pet store owner to stop ghost feeding and now it is just a waiting game and to wait for everything to read 0. Do you all agree?
Also I will still need a good protein skimmer and lighting for an anemonie at some point. Suggestions for good quality equipment while on a budget would be appreciated. And I plan on maybe 2 clown fish, a jaw fish, and an anemonie. That's not too much for a 36 gal tank right? Thank you.

When nitrite goes to 0 and your nitrate drops down to close to 5-10 ppm add your fish.

What's your lighting? From the looks of your tank, you will need to upgrade your lighting for a nem.

I have some good reading for you:

https://reefbuilders.com/2018/03/17/beginners-guide-to-cycling-a-saltwater-aquarium/

And

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

Gonebad395 · Jan 19, 2019

Welcome to R2R tank looks nice I would wait a bit for a anemone you want to have a good established tank before you introduce one. Also from the pic you might want to look into a new light before you buy a anemone also. A cheap black box would work well on a budget. I see you are running hob filters while they will work they are a lot of maintenance have you though about a refugium with a hob overflow? Just a few ideas to get to rolling.

SRAP · Jan 19, 2019

1/4 ammonia at .90, nitrite .10, pH 8.1.
1/6 ammonia 1.5, nitrite .15, pH 8.2
1/8 ammonia 2.2, nitrite 1.5, pH 8.2
1/14 ammonia .35, nitrite 1.2, nitrate 150, pH 8.2
1/17 ammonia 0, nitrite 1.0, nitrate 160, pH 8.1

SRAP · Jan 19, 2019

Gonebad395 said:
Welcome to R2R tank looks nice I would wait a bit for a anemone you want to have a good established tank before you introduce one. Also from the pic you might want to look into a new light before you buy a anemone also. A cheap black box would work well on a budget. I see you are running hob filters while they will work they are a lot of maintenance have you though about a refugium with a hob overflow? Just a few ideas to get to rolling.

I also have a Fluval canister filter 106 running. The one HOB will be taken off to fit a protein skimmer probably. The HOB that will stay is a Tidal 55. Will that be enough?

Big G · Jan 19, 2019

Forgot to say welcome to R2R! You are golden my friend. Your tank has gone through the ammonia, nitrite cycle. The 1.0 ppm reading of nitrite you are getting now may be a false positive because your nitrates are so high. Time to do some big water changes to lower your nitrates down to about 10. Big water changes 25-50% at a time.

Flippers4pups · Jan 19, 2019

Gonebad395 said:
Welcome to R2R tank looks nice I would wait a bit for a anemone you want to have a good established tank before you introduce one. Also from the pic you might want to look into a new light before you buy a anemone also. A cheap black box would work well on a budget. I see you are running hob filters while they will work they are a lot of maintenance have you though about a refugium with a hob overflow? Just a few ideas to get to rolling.

Agreed, sump is always nice to have, but isn't needed right away. Chinese Black box are a affordable way to light a reef tank. I use them. Around $100 dollars is cheap and they do get the job done.

Do you have a RO/DI unit?

SRAP · Jan 19, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Agreed, sump is always nice to have, but isn't needed right away. Chinese Black box are a affordable way to light a reef tank. I use them. Around $100 dollars is cheap and they do get the job done.

Do you have a RO/DI unit?

Ummm...what is RO/DI?

Flippers4pups · Jan 19, 2019

SRAP said:
Ummm...what is RO/DI?

Reverse osmosis/dionization unit. Water purifier.......

It's best to have one to insure pure water for top off and mixing saltwater. Tap has a lot of impurities that can cause all kinds of issues like pest algaes...... Heavy metals....etc. poison to fish, inverts and corals.

Read my link on set up.

Big G · Jan 19, 2019

Here's a great video on RO/DI produced by Bulk Reef Supply. They have a video series of 52 weeks detailing the important steps to a successful saltwater tank. This one is week 7 on making high quality water.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/week-7-how-to-produce-the-best-water-possible/

Gonebad395 · Jan 19, 2019

Great link Big G

Big G said:
Here's a great video on RO/DI produced by Bulk Reef Supply. They have a video series of 52 weeks detailing the important steps to a successful saltwater tank. This one is week 7 on making high quality water.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/week-7-how-to-produce-the-best-water-possible/

SRAP · Jan 19, 2019

Big G said:
Forgot to say welcome to R2R! You are golden my friend. Your tank has gone through the ammonia, nitrite cycle. The 1.0 ppm reading of nitrite you are getting now may be a false positive because your nitrates are so high. Time to do some big water changes to lower your nitrates down to about 10. Big water changes 25-50% at a time.

How often do I do these water changes?

Gonebad395 · Jan 19, 2019

Depending on your bioload and trace elements consumption. I have a 29 gallon biocube and I do 4 to 8 gallons every 2 weeks. But you’ll also have to top off your tank with RODI water due to evaporation and that amount will very with time of year and home temperatures. Remember nothing in this hobby happens fast. Do your reading and research I know it is time consuming and a lot but trust me when I tell you it’s a lot less time consuming then dealing with problems from not knowing and jumping the gun. Ask ask ask read read read. This place is a treasure chest of knowledge use it.

Big G · Jan 19, 2019

SRAP said:
How often do I did these water changes?

Great question. I suppose that depends on how fast you can make and mix, or purchase new saltwater. When lowering nitrates in a QT, I usually do 2-3 water changes a day until eventually the nitrate reading is in the 10-15 ppm range. Don't be surprised that you end up using 40-50 gallons of new saltwater to get to where you test 10-15 ppm for your 36 gallon tank. The bigger the percentage of water you change out, the bigger the change.

Flippers4pups · Jan 19, 2019

@SRAP, we all started where your at, well I started back when there wasn't any internet and no forum like reef2reef to guide me. I was fortunate though to have a very good LFS and some good books back then.

My start was just like yours except mine was a 75 gallon. No sump and a HOB skimmer. I bought my RO/DI water from the LFS and mixed my salt water in a grey brute trash can at home. (I still use grey brute trash cans to this day to mix my water) lol.

As others have said, go slow and research and read all you can before making purchases. Ask us here for advice and no questions are dumb questions! Members and the reefsquad are more than willing to help one and all!

You'll find there isnt always one way to do a reef tank, but the basics are all the same. Glad you joined us!

Dimmy007 · Jan 19, 2019

Welcome to R2R! On my 110 gallon i waited almost 9 moths before adding any coral or anemone. Time is your best friend. Do not rush it.

Gonebad395 · Jan 20, 2019

@Flippers4pups well said and @Sarp to reiterate everything said here we all started somewhere. And all have been new this forums is by far the best one out there to learn and ask questions at. The people here are super friendly and always willing to lend advice and help remember read a lot and ask all the questions you want it will only make you a better and successful reefer in the long run.

Matt Carden · Jan 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R!
I've been cycling my 150 for almost 3 months. My Nitrates were so high I just changed 100% of my water today. Probably not the best way to do it but my Nitrates should be pretty close to zero. Still filling so I'll test tomorrow. Don't follow my way because I have 200lbs of rock so if I kill some of my bacteria from dry out no big deal. You would have to start over possibly if you did 100%. Try 60-70% if you can. Your rock can be out of water maybe 2 hours.