New Tank Cycling

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

Fortunately, my husband recently bought me a red sea max s650 from a normal 90gal SW tank. Before it was ok to have somebody to water changes but as i get deeper into the hobby the expenses are shockingly high as they accumulate.

I wanted to learn my own so i did start cycling my new tank already for a week now and i added biospira, live rock and sand. I havent tested the water yet but im planning to do water change pretty soon.

I threw 1 chromis in tank 2 days ago and this is his 3rd in the tank and still swimming and alive. Does this mean my tank is cycled?

Thank. [emoji3]

cromag27 · Nov 10, 2018

that doesn’t mean your tank is cycled. because you used live rock and biospira, it could be cycled, however. do you have a seachem ammonia badge?

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

cromag27 said:
that doesn’t mean your tank is cycled. because you used live rock and biospira, it could be cycled, however. do you have a seachem ammonia badge?

——
Thanks for the reply. Yup thats the next thing i need to check my ammonia nitrate and nitrite level.. [emoji3]

IslandLifeReef · Nov 10, 2018

Welcome to R2R!

Since you used live rock, you are probably ok. The only question is was it all live rock, or was it a mix of LR and dry rock?

@Lasse has started tanks the way you are. You might want to check out his thread about cycling a tank.

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

Great! I’ll check his page. Im using pure Haitian LR

Idoc · Nov 10, 2018

I'd recommend testing your ammonia levels. If zero, go down to ACE hardware and pick up some janitorial grade ammonia (no surfactants, dyes, perfumes) and dose the tank up to 2ppm. Google it.... the are calculators to help decide how much you need to add to get to 2ppm...or just add a little and test until up to 2ppm. Then wait 24hrs and retest ammonia levels. If after 24hrs your ammonia is zero, then you're cycled, if not...then dose again with ammonia until you can clear 2ppm to zero in 24hrs.

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

Idoc said:
I'd recommend testing your ammonia levels. If zero, go down to ACE hardware and pick up some janitorial grade ammonia (no surfactants, dyes, perfumes) and dose the tank up to 2ppm. Google it.... the are calculators to help decide how much you need to add to get to 2ppm...or just add a little and test until up to 2ppm. Then wait 24hrs and retest ammonia levels. If after 24hrs your ammonia is zero, then you're cycled, if not...then dose again with ammonia until you can clear 2ppm to zero in 24hrs.

Gotcha!

IslandLifeReef · Nov 10, 2018

You don't dose ammonia when using live rock. The ammonia can kill things living on it. If it is live rock, it already has the beneficial bacteria needed for the cycle. Dosing ammonia is best used when cycling with dry rock.

Also, adding that much ammonia will probably kill the fish you have already added or at least permanently harm its gills.

I would recommend that you keep an eye on your ammonia levels with a good test kit and do water changes to keep it below the 0.2 ppm range. Then go slow adding fish.

Ruben's Reef · Nov 10, 2018

Also if you already have a fish on the tank if you add ammonia now that will kill your fish. Better is get the Seachem ammonia batch or test your water for ammonia Nitrite and nitrates to get your parameters. You can also take a bottle of water out of the tank to your LFS and they can tested for you.

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

IslandLifeReef said:
You don't dose ammonia when using live rock. The ammonia can kill things living on it. If it is live rock, it already has the beneficial bacteria needed for the cycle. Dosing ammonia is best used when cycling with dry rock.

Also, adding that much ammonia will probably kill the fish you have already added or at least permanently harm its gills.

I would recommend that you keep an eye on your ammonia levels with a good test kit and do water changes to keep it below the 0.2 ppm range. Then go slow adding fish.

Good point!!

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

spyder813 said:
Also if you already have a fish on the tank if you add ammonia now that will kill your fish. Better is get the Seachem ammonia batch or test your water for ammonia Nitrite and nitrates to get your parameters. You can also take a bottle of water out of the tank to your LFS and they can tested for you.

Doing that today.. usually how many weeks to cycle to add my existing fishes on QT?

Captain Quint · Nov 10, 2018

Welcome to R2R Angels best.

You have a nice looking system and will be a true beauty when all is said and done for sure.

I have a couple of questions to help me understand at what point the nitrogen cycle is currently at.

*Do you have a test kit for your water parameters or an LFS checking the parameters?
*Did you buy the LR local or order it? Haitian LR is nice. Good choice.
*Did your LFS test your water and advise it was okay to intro the Chromis? Or suggest adding it to help the tank cycle?

SPR1968 · Nov 10, 2018

You really need to start testing to see if your tank has cycled and also if you want to add fish look at one of the bacteria in a bottle additives. I can recommend ATM Colony which I have used twice and basically it instantly cycles the tank ready for fish.

A few of us have the Max S 650 tanks so if you need any advice just ask.

And welcome to R2R as well!

Oscaror · Nov 10, 2018

Angels best said:
Fortunately, my husband recently bought me a red sea max s650 from a normal 90gal SW tank. Before it was ok to have somebody to water changes but as i get deeper into the hobby the expenses are shockingly high as they accumulate.

I wanted to learn my own so i did start cycling my new tank already for a week now and i added biospira, live rock and sand. I havent tested the water yet but im planning to do water change pretty soon.

I threw 1 chromis in tank 2 days ago and this is his 3rd in the tank and still swimming and alive. Does this mean my tank is cycled?

Thank. [emoji3]

Welcome to R2R! Your tank is cycled when all the ammonia is being converted into nitrate, which you need to test for

GoldeneyeRet · Nov 10, 2018

Welcome!

Dr. Dendrostein · Nov 10, 2018

Welcome

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

Captain Quint said:
Welcome to R2R Angels best.

You have a nice looking system and will be a true beauty when all is said and done for sure.

I have a couple of questions to help me understand at what point the nitrogen cycle is currently at.

*Do you have a test kit for your water parameters or an LFS checking the parameters?
*Did you buy the LR local or order it? Haitian LR is nice. Good choice.
*Did your LFS test your water and advise it was okay to intro the Chromis? Or suggest adding it to help the tank cycle?

Im actually on my way to have it tested. The chromis i just decided to buy 1 last Tuesday and out of curiosity placed him there.

Angels best · Nov 10, 2018

SPR1968 said:
You really need to start testing to see if your tank has cycled and also if you want to add fish look at one of the bacteria in a bottle additives. I can recommend ATM Colony which I have used twice and basically it instantly cycles the tank ready for fish.

A few of us have the Max S 650 tanks so if you need any advice just ask.

And welcome to R2R as well!

Thank you so much!