New Reefer

[mOUs3y]

Hi All! I'm new to reefing and wanted to thank everyone for all the detailed posts with all the information I need to be successful. I tried to search for my question but couldn't find it. I started with "https://store.drtimsaquatics.com/nitrifying-bacteria.html". After a few days, I thought I maybe had a bad batch because it was >110F the day I bought it so I went to buy more; however, I didn't realize the 2nd bottle I got was this "https://store.drtimsaquatics.com/On...-for-Reef-Nano-and-Seahorse-Aquaria_p_96.html". Is it ok to mix the two or am I screwed?

One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria for Saltwater Aquaria​

One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria for Reef, Nano and Seahorse Aquaria​

Thanks!

 

[BanjoBandito]

Nah, you'll be fine. Probably a bit of an overkill to use it though. There's a good thread on reef2reef about cycling that's HUNDREDS of pages long....if you can stomach it, give it a breeze.

 

[TuxUrchin07]

I'm not sure if it will because it's the same brand but it might cause cyano

 

[BanjoBandito]

Can I ask how you are "cycling" the tank and the size/setup of it? How long has it been running? Have you tested the original dose attempt?

 

[mOUs3y]

Thanks for quick replies! I got a xl 525 so 108g DT. I forgot to weigh my rocks but I used Caribsea rocks and sand (60lb). I dumped the first dose of the Saltwater Aquaria from Dr. Tim on the 24th of July and ammonia to about 2ppm. I skipped the next of NH3 (day 3 because it was still showing 2ppm. On day 6 I finally i saw it NH3 drop, so I dosed half the amount I did on day 1. After 4-6 hours, I checked the NH3 level and NO2 (this is after I dosed on day 6) and ammonia was like ~2-4ppm and nitrite was >0ppm finally. I'm on day 8 now and am just waiting for NH3 to show 0 before doing anything else and check NO2 and NO3.

Yeah I saw the thread @BanjoBandito and finished reading it a few days ago. I'm just watching BRS' 52-weeks of reefing while I figure out which auto feeder to use - AFS vs AVAST.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Thanks for quick replies! I got a xl 525 so 108g DT. I forgot to weigh my rocks but I used Caribsea rocks and sand (60lb). I dumped the first dose of the Saltwater Aquaria from Dr. Tim on the 24th of July and ammonia to about 2ppm. I skipped the next of NH3 (day 3 because it was still showing 2ppm. On day 6 I finally i saw it NH3 drop, so I dosed half the amount I did on day 1. After 4-6 hours, I checked the NH3 level and NO2 (this is after I dosed on day 6) and ammonia was like ~2-4ppm and nitrite was >0ppm finally. I'm on day 8 now and am just waiting for NH3 to show 0 before doing anything else and check NO2 and NO3.

Yeah I saw the thread @BanjoBandito and finished reading it a few days ago. I'm just watching BRS' 52-weeks of reefing while I figure out which auto feeder to use - AFS vs AVAST.

YOu have ammonia readings, so you just need to be patient. It'll happen. Usually 2-3 weeks. If you cycle without the lights on it'll help curb the eventual (and seemingly endless) algae blooms.

 

[mOUs3y]

After my tank cycles and I add "one" fish, does adding copepods and phytoplankton count against me stocking slowly?

 

[Azedenkae]

After my tank cycles and I add "one" fish, does adding copepods and phytoplankton count against me stocking slowly?

No. Copepods will produce ammonia, so maybe the answer should more be 'theoretically yes' but it is likely to be so minute that it does not really affect anything. Phytoplankton no, and most likely will help with your nitrates too.

 

[mOUs3y]

So I've been going down my checklist as I am nearing the end of my cycle and realized I forgot something. So RedSea suggested a return flow of 1060gph for the xl 525 v3. I have a Vectra M2 (2000gph). I was like well this math is easy and set it to 55% power to get 1100gph. As I was reading through the forums, I learned about head pressure. I have about ~6.5-7ft of head pressure so if my math is correct, running the m2 at 100% gets me ~1200gph. If I run it at 90%, I am around 1080gph. Do I run the return pump at the 90 to100% range?