Need help with reef cycling!

[Tank.Bro!]

So my tank is now starting to cycle. I can tell because diatoms are present and ammonia is .25 and nitrate and phosphate are 0. Ph is low but I'm buffering it. When can I add a cuc here's a pic of the tank.

I'm wanting to add a cuc but when should I do it? Tank has been running for almost 3 weeks. I added live rock that I had used in a tank. It had a lot of dead things on it from a previous tank algae crash. It all died and when I added it it had a little bit of red algae that disappeared so I need help. Cuc now or when? Thanks

 

[Reefing Madness]

Gotta wait for your cycle to end. Your ammonia and nitrites must be 0, and your last water change should bring your nitrates under 30, then id add a CUC.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you tracking ammonia?

Ph is low but I'm buffering it. When can I add a cuc here's a pic of the tank.

DO NOT buffer because pH is low. Buffer only when alkalinity is low as all buffers are alkalinity supplements, and they do not do much for pH but they can push alkalinity too high.

This has more:

The “How To†Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Tank.Bro!]

No I used some buffer because my kh was low an my ph was low in also using oh tablets...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OH tablets?

What brand name product?

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Jungle

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you have a link to it? I can't find such a product.

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Here

 

[Tank.Bro!]

It only buffers to 7.4 then I use a dog buffer which buffers to 8.3 but raises alkalinity. I use the tablets so I don't have to raise alkalinity much higher...

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Not dog I ment dkh

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK, I wouldn't use the fizz tabs in a reef aquarium.

Just use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate; e.g., Arm & Hammer) to boost alkalinity, or washing soda (sodium carbonate; baked baking soda) to boost alkalinity and also boost pH.

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Well I've always used these brands so I don't want to change but thanks for the ideas if it comes time and I don't have them I will try that out. Thanks tho

 

[heathd.hd]

+1 on what randy said. Imo.

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Well my ph is almost balanced so nah bro

 

[heathd.hd]

Your tank bud. Anything that's got freshwater fish on the box makes me scarred. But hey people have nice tanks using tap water or far worse stuff in there tanks and they somehow work so what do I know.

 

[Tank.Bro!]

I don't know it doesn't say freshwater only it has marine aquarium written on the box.

 

[sk8elenex92]

+1 on not using those tablets

 

[Tank.Bro!]

To late guys....

 

[heathd.hd]

Always future. I'm sure it's not gonna be the end of the world. Cuc can be added soon as your ammonia and nitrites go down. I would add maybe 2 or 3 of a few things. Couple snails for rocks couple for glass couple for sand. Also just a few small crabs with lots of shells for growth. If not they will eat your snails for there homes!

 

[Tank.Bro!]

Thanks