Not sure if tank is cycling

[Crass]

Hey guys!

so I started up my first saltwater tank a week ago, Looks like there is no algae growth yet on my rocks. is this normal? is my tank cycling?

unfortunately no ammonia or nitrite test kit available. LFS said its a waste of money, and to just wait 2 weeks to bring in a water sample for accurate testing. they said once cycled i wont need to measure ammonia that much, just nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity etc. thing is, now i have no clue if its cycling lol.

I have been dosing bacteria daily.

thanks!

 

[lilgrounchuck]

I'd definitely get test kits. Even though you won't wind up testing for ammonia a lot later on, it's nice to know you can if you suspect an issue down the road. What bacteria are you adding? Some of the bottle bac will insta-cycle your tank and you're basically good to go right off the bat. How did you start the tank? Live rock/sand, dry rock sand?

 

[Crass]

Ya probably a good call. Started off with live sand, as for the rock it was on the shelf on display, but they put it in their tank for a day. Not sure if this is considered live rock lol.

Been dosing aqua vitra seed bacteria for a week, but switching to microbacter7 now

 

[SudzFD]

To know if your cycles you should add some bio load or ammonia (fish, live rock, etc). Then you should began to see nitrates once cycled.
Also sure sign you have cycled.....in about a month you get a nice brown diatom bloom on everything. I just saw a thread on using bakers yeast for the diatoms. I added a pinch twice to my 35g tank and it took care of it. Not sure why it works but it did.

good luck.

I second the test kit. Your LFS is correct that once it’s cycled your ammonia and nitrite will likely always be zero, but if you suspect and issue it’s nice to be able to check as many things could cause spikes that outpace your bacteria load.

 

[Crass]

To know if your cycles you should add some bio load or ammonia (fish, live rock, etc). Then you should began to see nitrates once cycled.
Also sure sign you have cycled.....in about a month you get a nice brown diatom bloom on everything. I just saw a thread on using bakers yeast for the diatoms. I added a pinch twice to my 35g tank and it took care of it. Not sure why it works but it did.

good luck.

I second the test kit. Your LFS is correct that once it’s cycled your ammonia and nitrite will likely always be zero, but if you suspect and issue it’s nice to be able to check as many things could cause spikes that outpace your bacteria load.

Ok thank you! I'm a week in, and probably will go with the adding fish for bioload route.

This coming friday my LFS has a new stock of clowns coming in. Will they be hardy enough to add a couple at the 2 week mark? Or should I look for one smaller fish to do the trick.

 

[Seanb1]

Instead of buying fish to cycle its way easier to buy ammonia to cycle a tank.

 

[SudzFD]

Damsels are typically the go to. A clown would likely be fine too. As long as you’ve been dosing bacteria it should be ok, but definitely test your water daily and prepare for water changes if you have any spikes. And be careful not to over feed.

 

[SudzFD]

Damsels are typically the go to. A clown would likely be fine too. As long as you’ve been dosing bacteria it should be ok, but definitely test your water daily and prepare for water changes if you have any spikes. And be careful not to over feed.

also, I will second the ammonia dosing prior to adding fish as it is far safer for the animals.

 

[Crass]

also, I will second the ammonia dosing prior to adding fish as it is far safer for the animals.

Ok thanks guys! Will grab some ammonia this week and a test kit for ammonia/ nitrite

Already have nitrate tester so good their

 

[Seanb1]

You can find ammonia at ace hardware. Its the 100 percent ammonia no dies no suffructants.
Has to be the correct type or buy some off the net at onling reef stores.
Not just any ammonia will do.

 

[Crass]

You can find ammonia at ace hardware. Its the 100 percent ammonia no dies no suffructants.
Has to be the correct type or buy some off the net at onling reef stores.
Not just any ammonia will do.

Well looks like I am in fact cycling. Nitrate are over 100ppm

 

[SudzFD]

The photo makes it look more like 50 to me. 100 is super high.
If it was me, I would do a 20-30% water change, then I would test the water and get a baseline. I would then add some fish food to the water or if you have the ammonia, you could add that. Then I would test for 3 days looking for spikes in anything.

if my ammonia and nitrite remained zero, I would be comfortable adding the clowns.