No Ammonia

[shornik]

I just started a new reef tank with LR and LS(Live sand, still getting used to the abbreviations so I hope I'm using it correctly). I've had the tank for 3 days (60gallon) and started testing the water today and the tests came back showing 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, etc. Is this because I need to be more patient (not my best quality) for the little critters, etc. in the LR and sand to start kicking in, or have I done something wrong?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[jrbates08]

Yes it will be zero until the tank starts creating bacteria (what u want) then ur tank will cycle. Usually between weeks 2 and 6. Mine is a 75g and we are on week 3 and we've had diatoms for about 3 days so we are cycling right now. These members can help ya along the way more then I can since I am also doing it too lol but I do know that part good luck cuz it's a LONG process

 

[gemini9]

Lots of people in here put a shrimp in their tank. I recently started a tank of 30 gallons and my ammonia never went up past .5 or 1 ppm but my nitrites and nitrates were sky high. Even with the shrimp my ammonia never spiked that I noticed. I've had my tank up for a month now and I still don't see any diatoms. These guys are right about it being a long process. But if you want a boost, buy a uncooked table shrimp at the market and drop it in your tank to decay. It will stink like crazy so keep the lid on the tank lol. Put the shrimp in a panty hose so you can remove it if you want.

 

[jrbates08]

Or u can just add a bottle of bacteria. I wouldn't suggest it. I'd rather let things happen on their own but the bottled bacteria helps ur tank to cycle within like 24 hours or something. But if u decide to do that, this is one I heard was good but for all I know it may not be the "best" since I am going the all natural route