LFS said ready for fish?

[jamesb07]

I’ll definitely keep it in mind. I’ll let it sit for a couple more days to see if there is any movement and if not go ahead and do a 30 gallon water change.

Looks like maybe in between 3-4?

looks like it’s moving along from yesterday! You should be good without a water change then unless you wanna speed up the nitrates when the nitrites are gone

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Just an update, doesn’t look like much has changed.

Looks like maybe 2? Man, I don’t remember the colors being this hard when I was in reef keeping almost a decade ago. I try to do the API one as well, but I literally can’t tell the difference in purples anymore. Haha.

 

[jamesb07]

Just an update, doesn’t look like much has changed.

Looks like maybe 2? Man, I don’t remember the colors being this hard when I was in reef keeping almost a decade ago. I try to do the API one as well, but I literally can’t tell the difference in purples anymore. Haha.

Weird, looks darker than the other day
Still no ammonia?

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Weird, looks darker than the other day
Still no ammonia?

Yes, still no ammonia.

Maybe I just gave the weirdest cycle ever.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes, still no ammonia.

Maybe I just gave the weirdest cycle ever.

Did you add ammonia chloride or something to increase ammonia initially ?
I suspect you have what is known as a stuck cycle. When ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled. The denitrifying bacteria will not lower the ammonia but rather assure bacteria is sufficient and supported to break down waste

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Did you add ammonia chloride or something to increase ammonia initially ?
I suspect you have what is known as a stuck cycle. When ammonia rises then falls and holds a steady reading of Zero for at least 5 days and also nitrate rises and falls and holds at 20 or below- you are cycled. The denitrifying bacteria will not lower the ammonia but rather assure bacteria is sufficient and supported to break down waste

Yes I added the brightwell ammonia initially.

Haven’t had ammonia since the other day. Nitrites are around 2-4 and nitrates look around 20 ppm. I do not know what nitrates were before yesterday as I stopped testing for it when nitrites were there as I was told that there’s no point testing for it with nitrites present.

 

[jamesb07]

Yes I added the brightwell ammonia initially.

Haven’t had ammonia since the other day. Nitrites are around 2-4 and nitrates look around 20 ppm. I do not know what nitrates were before yesterday as I stopped testing for it when nitrites were there as I was told that there’s no point testing for it with nitrites present.

Which is true, they will continue to rise until nitrites are gone. They are just not a tell tail sign that your cycle is done because your nitrates still have to drop at that point

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes I added the brightwell ammonia initially.

Haven’t had ammonia since the other day. Nitrites are around 2-4 and nitrates look around 20 ppm. I do not know what nitrates were before yesterday as I stopped testing for it when nitrites were there as I was told that there’s no point testing for it with nitrites present.

Disregard nitrites yes which is freshwater specific. Nitrates will be a little higher until you create a bioload which is with addition of fish. The bacteria will help with lowering numbers.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Disregard nitrites yes which is freshwater specific. Nitrates will be a little higher until you create a bioload which is with addition of fish. The bacteria will help with lowering numbers.

So are you saying that I should add fish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So are you saying that I should add fish?

Try 1-2 Low cost fish such as firefish, blenny - avoid clowns for now which are territorial

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Try 1-2 Low cost fish such as firefish, blenny - avoid clowns for now which are territorial

Okay

I’d like to do a water change first to raise my salinity up a bit. Then I’ll go out and get one. I always thought clownfish or damsels were the best fish to start with, never thought a fire fish or blenny would be the recommendation!

 

[ScottJ]

With a dry rock and bottle bacteria start up don't we ignore Nitrite right from the start? Don't we test for Ammonia first, then watch Nitrate?

Doesn't the presence Nitrite make the Nitrate test result higher? Isn't that why we see the Nitrate test result rise (due to the higher presence/less processing of Nitrite) then fall a bit (due to the lower presence/higher processing of Nitrite)?

If you have 0 Ammonia, 20 Nitrate, after several weeks of the tank running, isn't the tank ready for life?

Also, won't a running tank sometimes show a low level of Ammonia? And depending on what test is used, the result could be higher or lower?

Or am I misunderstanding this whole thing? I only started one of my tanks with dry rock. The other two were wet rock from my sump or my LFS's sump. No Ocean rock, but I would still like to get some

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Just finished a 30 gallon water change.

Decided to move the vortechs to the back of the glass instead of the sides as this is how I had them on my last tank. I like how it looks that way and it creates all kinds of water flow.

Going to let it rest for a few hours and then get a fish.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I ended up getting a clown pair as the store I went to didn’t have any of the fish recommended above.

Ammonia is still at zero today. Just in case, I did at some bacteria when I introduced them to the tank.

Skimmer is turned on and filter socks put in to catch some of the particles flying around the tank. Will keep monitoring!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I ended up getting a clown pair as the store I went to didn’t have any of the fish recommended above.

Ammonia is still at zero today. Just in case, I did at some bacteria when I introduced them to the tank.

Skimmer is turned on and filter socks put in to catch some of the particles flying around the tank. Will keep monitoring!

Monitor the ammonia level and hopefully you did a god acclimation.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Monitor the ammonia level and hopefully you did a god acclimation.

Yes I drip acclimated them.

Both seem to be doing good so far and swimming around the tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes I drip acclimated them.

Both seem to be doing good so far and swimming around the tank.

How long and did you match the salinity and Ph? These guys can look good for a week and then get hit with brook and other issues. I assume you have no coral at this time and if true, add some Ruby rally pro to water which will help eliminate and prevent typical clown issues.
It will become tempting but avoid adding any anemone to the tank until it reaches at least 4 months in age

 

[acroholicanonymous]

How long and did you match the salinity and Ph? These guys can look good for a week and then get hit with brook and other issues. I assume you have no coral at this time and if true, add some Ruby rally pro to water which will help eliminate and prevent typical clown issues.
It will become tempting but avoid adding any anemone to the tank until it reaches at least 4 months in age

It was a little over 45 minutes.

Salinity matched my LFS and PH was the same on the tested water from the store and mine.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Tank is looking good so far. Fish are swimming and eating with no signs of stress still.

Tank is ammonia free but still have nitrites.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Still no ammonia. Nitrites still look the same.

Fish are eating like pigs but have hosted the back of the tank. Not ideal but they come out anytime I walk by as they think they are going to be fed.