Nitrates Reading 0

[Quintz]

Hi this is my first thread ever on any forum so hopefully I can find some help. I’ve recently set up a 15 Gallon innovative Marine, but I’m running into some problems. My Nitrates are reading 0, but everything else is good to go. I did use Nutri-Sea water because that’s all my local fish store had on hand, but I don’t plan on adding anything for at least 4-5 weeks. Just to make sure everything is good. I will be swapping over to Red Sea salt later on and Ro-Di water. As for now what do you guys think of this test? It looks like 0, but could possibly be in between 0 and 5.0 ppm.

 

[KrisReef]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Freshly started tanks, if not cycled with ammonia (to be metabolized into nitrates) can often have near zero or zero nitrates. Once you start feeding fishes (or corals) these foods will be broken down and nitrates will appear. They may accumulate or they can also be removed by corals or metablized into N2 gas if you started with live rock, possibly?

Nice first post!

 

[Quintz]

Thanks Kris! I didn’t really expect to hear back from anyone so fast, but I actually started with dry rock. I will say I did pick up some Stability Seachem just incase I ran into this problem. My only concern is that I don’t want to rush into the decision of using it to soon. It’s only been about 3 days since I’ve set the tank up. Other than that I was thinking about letting it run for about a week and doing a water change. Then see where the parameters were at. If they were the same I was going to add the Seachem.

 

[KrisReef]

Welcome.
Did you add any bottle bacteria to jump start the microbial life in this tank? Getting zeros is expected until you start adding life and feed fish or corals. Otherwise, waiting 5 weeks (without bacteria additions) is a way to let the bacteria (which are ubiquitous) to start to colonize the rock surfaces where they will form the basic water filtration capabilities necessary for keeping fishes alive.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

+1 to above. Also, I suggest letting the tank cycle for 4-6 weeks. I wouldn't bother testing anything until after then. To speed up the cycle, bottled bacteria and adding fish food daily, or a whole shrimp once, will work too. The food feeds the bacteria (they will live in the rock and sand), which is your real filter. Dry rock will take a while to mature. And....welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Quintz]

I see thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately I think I should have just went with my gut and bought some

Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter Start​

I think my local pet store let me down on this one I was told Seachem Stability alone would start my cycle and it should take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to cycle. Considering I did live sand and live water. I guess it’s time to hit up Amazon.

 

[KrisReef]

I see thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately I think I should have just went with my gut and bought some

Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter Start​

I think my local pet store let me down on this one I was told Seachem Stability alone would start my cycle and it should take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to cycle. Considering I did live sand and live water. I guess it’s time to hit up Amazon.

LIve sand and water will contain some bacteria and with enough time (weeks you mentioned earlier) the MicroBacter will be redundant in efficacy. On the other hand, starting with these products you get more peace of mind that the unscene world is present. I prefer live rock myself (greater expected diversity of biotic life) but that may include critters that are considered pests.

 

[Quintz]

LIve sand and water will contain some bacteria and with enough time (weeks you mentioned earlier) the MicroBacter will be redundant in efficacy. On the other hand, starting with these products you get more peace of mind that the unscene world is present. I prefer live rock myself (greater expected diversity of biotic life) but that may include critters that are considered pests.

It really did bring a greater peace of mind, but now knowing what I do. I would probably have taken a different route. Also does this mean I could just leave my tank alone since I used live sand and water? It would just cycle slower considering I didn’t use any bacteria starter? I also have enough live water to do about three or four 20% water changes

 

[KrisReef]

It really did bring a greater peace of mind, but now knowing what I do. I would probably have taken a different route. Also does this mean I could just leave my tank alone since I used live sand and water? It would just cycle slower considering I didn’t use any bacteria starter? I also have enough live water to do about three or four 20% water changes

The bacteria in the water and on the live sand will seed the rock surfaces. If you ghost feed the tank then the bacteria population will increase with the extra energy added to the system. IF you are not in any hurry I would just let it soak. @brandon429 has posted a lot about "cycle" times and once the water is added, given x days (I forget the X) the bacteria will be present to consume fish wastes and the tank is "cycled" for keeping fish.

 

[Quintz]

The bacteria in the water and on the live sand will seed the rock surfaces. If you ghost feed the tank then the bacteria population will increase with the extra energy added to the system. IF you are not in any hurry I would just let it soak. @brandon429 has posted a lot about "cycle" times and once the water is added, given x days (I forget the X) the bacteria will be present to consume fish wastes and the tank is "cycled" for keeping fish.

Okay that’s a big relief. I was worried at first, but I will definitely let it soak since I’m in no hurry. I’ll definitely check out @brandon429 and see the different cycle times. I know I’ve been saying thank you a lot since I started this thread….But, Thank you again! I appreciate it!

 

[brandon429]

Q

Post a pic of the tank so we can see how much rock surface area is in the tank and you can cycle with what u currently have

 

[gbroadbridge]

I see thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately I think I should have just went with my gut and bought some

Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter Start​

I think my local pet store let me down on this one I was told Seachem Stability alone would start my cycle and it should take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to cycle. Considering I did live sand and live water. I guess it’s time to hit up Amazon.

Seachem stability is a good start. It works as well as any other product out there.

I use it to quick cycle QT tanks

 

[Quintz]

Q

Post a pic of the tank so we can see how much rock surface area is in the tank and you can cycle with what u currently have

I haven’t added my two little islands in the front, but I’m trying to keep it simple. Hopefully my reef scape is decent lol

 

[brandon429]

Perfect, that’s plenty surface area

how to cycle the reef without testing / using calculated wait days vs any testing

don’t add in any ammonia you don’t need it

get two small pinches of fish food ground into powder in the palm of your hand and add in the system, let stew for fifteen days and it’s cycled and can’t not be cycled

fifteen days is the right wait for restless cycling due to your bacteria sources in play. It won’t matter if you add the bottled bacteria or not, same readiness in two weeks wait after the fish food. The cycle isn’t the part you need to worry about, skipping fish disease preps in a system with no live rock is the risk, if you want to keep fish alive read this thread + copy it

Has anyone done coral/inverts only and no fish at first?

Fish seem to be the main cause of disruption in a display tank, given the current circumstances in the hobby with pests (ich, velvet, parasites, etc.). I have been in this hobby for 18 years, and the amount of pests that are showing up lately is much more (could also be the fact that we have...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Quintz]

Perfect, that’s plenty surface area

how to cycle the reef without testing / using calculated wait days vs any testing

don’t add in any ammonia you don’t need it

get two small pinches of fish food ground into powder in the palm of your hand and add in the system, let stew for fifteen days and it’s cycled and can’t not be cycled

fifteen days is the right wait for restless cycling due to your bacteria sources in play. It won’t matter if you add the bottled bacteria or not, same readiness in two weeks wait after the fish food. The cycle isn’t the part you need to worry about, skipping fish disease preps in a system with no live rock is the risk, if you want to keep fish alive read this thread + copy it

Has anyone done coral/inverts only and no fish at first?

Fish seem to be the main cause of disruption in a display tank, given the current circumstances in the hobby with pests (ich, velvet, parasites, etc.). I have been in this hobby for 18 years, and the amount of pests that are showing up lately is much more (could also be the fact that we have...

www.reef2reef.com

Your a life saver Brandon! It’s a good thing I’m mainly doing coral and can wait on adding fish. I will definitely check out that thread though just to educate myself further. It might also sway my decision. Who knows, but from what I’ve digested from your post. I just need to add fish food that’s ground up to powder and wait 15 days. I’m guessing no water changes in between the wait until the 15th day as well. Also, there’s no reason to test till the cycle is done to make sure there is nitrate present in the tank.

 

[Quintz]

I forgot to ask this early, but I also take my filter sock out and leave my pump on correct?

 

[Dom]

I see thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately I think I should have just went with my gut and bought some

Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter Start​

I think my local pet store let me down on this one I was told Seachem Stability alone would start my cycle and it should take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to cycle. Considering I did live sand and live water. I guess it’s time to hit up Amazon.

It is difficult to trust local stores as they are trying to compete with their on line counterpart. If you have a problem, they are quick to sell you something to correct it.

I would suggest that you stick to getting your advice here.

 

[Zero_Cool]

I haven’t added my two little islands in the front, but I’m trying to keep it simple. Hopefully my reef scape is decent lol

That's going to look great. Plenty of coral space and room to swim. Careful on that right side - make sure to leave enogh space for glass cleaning.

 

[Quintz]

@brandon429 So, I started my cycle on the 7th and it’s now the 25th. Based off of the tests I have taken today it seems like the tank is still cycling. I think the ammonia is reading very close to zero. While the nitrite is reading around 0.25 ppm. As for nitrate it’s most likely sitting between 20 ppm - 40 ppm. Probably closer to 40 ppm. This is just a update on the cycling process and it might be a few more days till the cycle is complete, but I’m looking forward to the future possibilities of the tank. Also could I perhaps do a water change considering the test are reading so low when it comes to ammonia and nitrite?