My test results

[AgentAlice]

I know my ammonia needs to be 0ppm but both my nitrite and nitrate need to be 0ppm I know one does and my ph I'm not sure where it need to be for a saltwater tank.

 

[Anirban]

Your ammonia and nitrite needs to be zero not the nitrate.

 

[grassy_noel]

It is generally accepted that pH should be between 7.8 and 8.3 with the higher end of that range (probably) being better for coral calcification.

You're right that once your tank is cycled Ammonia and Nitrite should both be 0.00ppm.

Everyone has a different opinion on how much Nitrate you should have. Many people say zero, but others feel this starves corals and makes their colors less vivid. I think most people would agree that Nitrates should be less than 10ppm. Red Sea recommends that Nitrates be between 1-2ppm.

Hope this is a helpful start. There's a lot you can learn by checking out Bulk Reef Supply's (BRS) youtube videos. They have videos covering nearly every topic you can imagine about reefkeeping. Best of luck!

 

[AgentAlice]

Your ammonia and nitrite needs to be zero not the nitrate.

So what should I do about the nitrate??

 

[AgentAlice]

It is generally accepted that pH should be between 7.8 and 8.3 with the higher end of that range (probably) being better for coral calcification.

You're right that once your tank is cycled Ammonia and Nitrite should both be 0.00ppm.

Everyone has a different opinion on how much Nitrate you should have. Many people say zero, but others feel this starves corals and makes their colors less vivid. I think most people would agree that Nitrates should be less than 10ppm. Red Sea recommends that Nitrates be between 1-2ppm.

Hope this is a helpful start. There's a lot you can learn by checking out Bulk Reef Supply's (BRS) youtube videos. They have videos covering nearly every topic you can imagine about reefkeeping. Best of luck!

While I don't have any fish, snails or nothing like that but live sand and I used bottled bacteria. And exactly which brs video I need to see I think I seen bout 50 videos they made

 

[sbash]

Did you see a spike in ammonia at all?

So what should I do about the nitrate??

I'm not sure what you mean, but I can't see the colours well enough to see what the level is in the photo.

If your nitrates are high, you need a method to export the excess nutrients. This can be done through a water changes or a macro algae. I think this system is sumpless, right? Ff that's the case, I recommend an HOB refugium for a macro algae, or decorative ones to live amongst the reef.

Also, are you still feeding your tank?
Did you see a spike in Ammonia and Nitrites?

 

[AgentAlice]

And the ph is some between 7.8 and 8.0 but in don't know where I am is where i need to be tho

 

[Anirban]

So what should I do about the nitrate??

Ok, time for tank biology crash course..lol.

When you start the cycle you seed the tank with bacteria and some food source for the bacteria like ammonia. Now the nitrifying bacteria will convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. Now, to get that nitrate low you can add some denitrifying bacteria which will use the NO3 and convert it back to nitrogen gas. Or you can simple use water change after cycling to keep the nitrate low for the beginning. It takes time for the denitrifying bacteria to colonise and do its stuff so till then water changes are good. But from your result you don't have nitrite nor nitrate.

 

[AgentAlice]

Did you see a spike in ammonia at all?


I'm not sure what you mean, but I can't see the colours well enough to see what the level is in the photo.

If your nitrates are high, you need a method to export the excess nutrients. This can be done through a water changes or a macro algae. I think this system is sumpless, right? Ff that's the case, I recommend an HOB refugium for a macro algae, or decorative ones to live amongst the reef.

Also, are you still feeding your tank?
Did you see a spike in Ammonia and Nitrites?

How do I do that? And my nitrates are at zero. I didn't have enough money for a hob refugium but I'm trying to get one. What do u mean by decorative ones? Do u mean get a piece of live rock cause I'm using all dry live rock.. and yes I'm still feeding the tank should I stop doing feeding or continue? And yes I seen the spike in ammonia and nitrites but I didn't see any diatoms. But on all of them I see some sponges.

 

[AgentAlice]

Ok, time for tank biology crash course..lol.

When you start the cycle you seed the tank with bacteria and some food source for the bacteria like ammonia. Now the nitrifying bacteria will convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. Now, to get that nitrate low you can add some denitrifying bacteria which will use the NO3 and convert it back to nitrogen gas. Or you can simple use water change after cycling to keep the nitrate low for the beginning. It takes time for the denitrifying bacteria to colonise and do its stuff so till then water changes are good. But from your result you don't have nitrite nor nitrate.

Teacher in here and wide awake lol...

So I need to do a water change today than; and yes everything I tested for is at zero....I'm thinking I did something wrong along the way tho....or maybe I'm second guessing my self a bit

 

[Anirban]

Teacher in here and wide awake lol...

So I need to do a water change today than; and yes everything I tested for is at zero....I'm thinking I did something wrong along the way tho....or maybe I'm second guessing my self a bit

How long its been since you started the cycle and did you dose ammonia to start it or just bottled bacteria? You need to use bacteria and ammonia both to start the cycle.

 

[AgentAlice]

How long its been since you started the cycle and did you dose ammonia to start it or just bottled bacteria? You need to use bacteria and ammonia both to start the cycle.

On the 15 of this month will be a month of the cycling process and I used bio spira and ghost feed like I have fish in it.

 

[Anirban]

On the 15 of this month will be a month of the cycling process and I used bio spira and ghost feed like I have fish in it.

Did you saw ammonia spike and nitrite spike? I dont see any nitrate in the test result thats why I am wondering. You should see some nitrate once the cycle is over.

 

[sbash]

How do I do that? And my nitrates are at zero. I didn't have enough money for a hob refugium but I'm trying to get one. What do u mean by decorative ones? Do u mean get a piece of live rock cause I'm using all dry live rock.. and yes I'm still feeding the tank should I stop doing feeding or continue? And yes I seen the spike in ammonia and nitrites but I didn't see any diatoms. But on all of them I see some sponges.

Keep feeding it. You can force an ammonia spike by over feeding, it is easy to do with some pure ammonia and some math, but if you have food, hmm... put a lot in... lol, hard to advise on how much to put in... You want to add enough so that you can detect the rise in ammonia.

For what it is worth, I don't do any water changes until after I know the nitrifying bacteria is established and I'm ready to add livestock...

Decorative macro algaes are a large algae that helps with your nutrient export, but isn't an eye sore in your tank. Chaeto, for example, I would not consider decorative, it is also messy (it can spread all over). If you join some local (i.e. to wherever you live) facebook reefing groups, there is usually someone that will give you some for free. I mean, they literally just cull it and throw it in the garbage when it gets too big.

Here are some nice examples:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=deco...r7XaAhWVnoMKHRTcAfIQ_AUICigB&biw=1384&bih=841

 

[AgentAlice]

Did you saw ammonia spike and nitrite spike? I dont see any nitrate in the test result thats why I am wondering. You should see some nitrate once the cycle is over.

That's what I don't get I seen a spike in both. So I'm like a lost puppy cause I don't understand why I don't see any nitrate I did last week but not this week

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Keep in mind api nitrate test is notoriously inaccurate due to user error. Directions have to be followed very closely with all the shaking of bottles and such.

I am almost 3 weeks into my cycle.

My ammonia has dropped, nitrites are through the roof and nitrate has risen.

How much of a spike did you see?

How much are you feeding and did you dose any bacteria? How long has your cycle been going?

 

[AgentAlice]

Keep feeding it. You can force an ammonia spike by over feeding, it is easy to do with some pure ammonia and some math, but if you have food, hmm... put a lot in... lol, hard to advise on how much to put in... You want to add enough so that you can detect the rise in ammonia.

For what it is worth, I don't do any water changes until after I know the nitrifying bacteria is established and I'm ready to add livestock...

Decorative macro algaes are a large algae that helps with your nutrient export, but isn't an eye sore in your tank. Chaeto, for example, I would not consider decorative, it is also messy (it can spread all over). If you join some local (i.e. to wherever you live) facebook reefing groups, there is usually someone that will give you some for free. I mean, they literally just cull it and throw it in the garbage when it gets too big.

Here are some nice examples:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=deco...r7XaAhWVnoMKHRTcAfIQ_AUICigB&biw=1384&bih=841

I put at lot in there so much I need to get some more my ammonia rise and drop again in 3 or 4 days....I was thinking about that but I didn't know where I should put it when I did get it....never thought about Facebook tho I got a friend I know and he told me to pee in the tank that's what he did....I was like ewww. Could I add a piece of shrimp??

 

[Anirban]

I put at lot in there so much I need to get some more my ammonia rise and drop again in 3 or 4 days....I was thinking about that but I didn't know where I should put it when I did get it....never thought about Facebook tho I got a friend I know and he told me to pee in the tank that's what he did....I was like ewww. Could I add a piece of shrimp??

Get yourself a bottle of Dr. Tims ammonium chloride and add few drops in the tank. That should be enough ammonia to track anything. Ideally its cycled when you add ammonia and its been processed within 24 hrs.

 

[AgentAlice]

Get yourself a bottle of Dr. Tims ammonium chloride and add few drops in the tank. That should be enough ammonia to track anything. Ideally its cycled when you add ammonia and its been processed within 24 hrs.

Sony have the money for that is there another option I can do

 

[AgentAlice]

Sony have the money for that is there another option I can do

I meant to say I don't