New fishlees cycle using turbo start and nitrocycle need advice

[Slevin007]

Hello All

New to this after about 5 years out of the hobby. Was looking for some guidance. I’ve never done a fish lees cycle but wanted to try one. I started on 2/17 with the Algaebarn fritz turbo start and nitrocycle. The first few days the ammonia spiked and came down. The nitrites have spiked but haven’t come down. It’s been about two weeks. The ammonia is reading 0 according to the Red Sea kit I have and the nitrites are reading around 1+ according to the same kit. Any advice is welcome as I’m new to this process.

Info:
IM INT-50 with sump.
50 lbs live sand
50 lbs dry rock from caribsea
Salinity is 1.024
RODI water
Lights are on 15% unless I’m taking pictures
Skimmer is off
Pumps are about 50%
No water changes
Auto top off active with RODI water

I have not tested nitrates since I have so much Nitrite.

Diatoms on the right hand side showed up two days ago

I’m assuming the answer is stick with it but wanted to verify.
Thanks in advance

 

[Seansea]

add a couple fish. your ready. clowns are always good but most will be good at this point. Let a couple fish chill in there for a couple weeks then your good.

Do you have a refugium. Might want to get that or your algae scrubber going pronto or your gonna have massive algae invasion. I started an algae scrubber day 1 with dead shrimp rotting in tank.

 

[Slevin007]

add a couple fish. your ready. clowns are always good but most will be good at this point. Let a couple fish chill in there for a couple weeks then your good.

Do you have a refugium. Might want to get that or your algae scrubber going pronto or your gonna have massive algae invasion. I started an algae scrubber day 1 with dead shrimp rotting in tank.

Thank you for the input I appreciate it. So I don’t need to worry about the Nitrites being to high right now?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello All

New to this after about 5 years out of the hobby. Was looking for some guidance. I’ve never done a fish lees cycle but wanted to try one. I started on 2/17 with the Algaebarn fritz turbo start and nitrocycle. The first few days the ammonia spiked and came down. The nitrites have spiked but haven’t come down. It’s been about two weeks. The ammonia is reading 0 according to the Red Sea kit I have and the nitrites are reading around 1+ according to the same kit. Any advice is welcome as I’m new to this process.

Info:
IM INT-50 with sump.
50 lbs live sand
50 lbs dry rock from caribsea
Salinity is 1.024
RODI water
Lights are on 15% unless I’m taking pictures
Skimmer is off
Pumps are about 50%
No water changes
Auto top off active with RODI water

I have not tested nitrates since I have so much Nitrite.

Diatoms on the right hand side showed up two days ago

I’m assuming the answer is stick with it but wanted to verify.
Thanks in advance

Youre on track. Typically as you did, you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride and then monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle

 

[Slevin007]

Youre on track. Typically as you did, you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride and then monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle

This helps. Thank you very much I sincerely appreciate it. I’ll test the nitrates to double check and will start getting ready.

 

[Seansea]

What vette said about nitrite. No need to worry about it especially with fish.

 

[Slevin007]

What vette said about nitrite. No need to worry about it especially with fish.

Thank you both I really appreciate the help

 

[Slevin007]

Youre on track. Typically as you did, you want to add your bacteria and then ammonia chloride and then monitor ammonia , When your ammonia is steady at zero for 5 days and Nitrate is steady at 20 or below- You are cycled. Ignore nitrIte Unless sky high
The tank will go through two phases in which ammonia will rise then fall and nitrate will rise and fall which is normal. When fish are added, the bacteria population will increase with the new bio load, converting waste to nitrate.
Overloading tank with too many fish up front will exceed what the bacteria can handle

Just a quick follow up. Ran my Hannah Nitrate HR and it’s at 64.1. Still safe to move forward or would you recommend waiting a little longer. Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just a quick follow up. Ran my Hannah Nitrate HR and it’s at 64.1. Still safe to move forward or would you recommend waiting a little longer. Thanks

I’d bring it down to at least 25

 

[Seansea]

Solid water change ang good to go

 

[Slevin007]

I’d bring it down to at least 25

Down to 53 today. Almost there

 

[vetteguy53081]

Down to 53 today. Almost there

Progress !!!

 

[Slevin007]

Progress !!!

Quick question for you. Ammonia is at 0, nitrites are at 0. Nitrate is fluctuating between 38-45. I am assuming I am about done with this cycle. Should I do a water change? Thanks in advance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Quick question for you. Ammonia is at 0, nitrites are at 0. Nitrate is fluctuating between 38-45. I am assuming I am about done with this cycle. Should I do a water change? Thanks in advance.

I suspect with readings you are using Api test kit? If so, Please take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at.

Ammonia zero for 5 days steady

Nitrite- Disregard Nitrate UNLESS its sky high above 100

Nitrates 20 or below for 5 days

A second test mentioned above will confirm your numbers

 

[Slevin007]

I suspect with readings you are using Api test kit? If so, Please take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at.

Ammonia zero for 5 days steady

Nitrite- Disregard Nitrate UNLESS its sky high above 100

Nitrates 20 or below for 5 days

A second test mentioned above will confirm your numbers

Thank you for the reply. I am actually using 3 kits

for ammonia - Red Sea and api
Nitrites - Red Sea and api
Nitrate - hannah/Red Sea/api

I should add I’ve had zero ammonia now for about a week and a half. Nitrites 0 for 2-3 days and nitrates slowly going down for a week

let me know what you think. Was considering doing a 10-20% water change and adding a few snails and pods.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the reply. I am actually using 3 kits

for ammonia - Red Sea and api
Nitrites - Red Sea and api
Nitrate - hannah/Red Sea/api

I should add I’ve had zero ammonia now for about a week and a half. Nitrites 0 for 2-3 days and nitrates slowly going down for a week

let me know what you think. Was considering doing a 10-20% water change and adding a few snails and pods.

My trust is with the Red Sea kits
You can try initial stocking and add snails and pods when you see signs of algae/algaes and introduce a fish to increase bioload

 

[Slevin007]

My trust is with the Red Sea kits
You can try initial stocking and add snails and pods when you see signs of algae/algaes and introduce a fish to increase bioload

Perfect thank you. I have a ton of diatoms on the glass and sand. Thank you for the help I appreciate it