Not sure what’s going on

  • Thread starter Thread starter JeffS
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None
Tidal Gardens
Jump to Last
J

JeffS

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 3, 2023
Messages
14
Reaction score
9
Location
Milwaukee
What state or country do you live in
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Not sure what’s going on..so much information and so much contradictory information. I started a new tank. I have live sand, live rock and 2 paired clown fish. No ammonia, no nitrate, no nitrite, ph doesn’t seem to move when enhancer is added, salinity finally moved down from1.026 to 1.024. No other readings seem to move. Tank doesn’t seem to cycle. Clowns are happy and active for the first 12 hours. Any thoughts or recommend actions? CN there be something in the water that is frustrating all tests?

image.jpg
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Why do you say the tank doesn’t cycle? Did you add an ammonia source? How long has it been up? Did the clowns die? What is Ph?
 
Upvote 0
View ReefStash's latest YouTube video!
Rtaylor said:
Why do you say the tank doesn’t cycle? Did you add an ammonia source? How long has it been up? Did the clowns die? What is Ph?
Click to expand...
I mean fish are an ammonia source. I’ve added a cycle enhancer, I’ve added live rock, live sand. All these things are supposed to add ammonia. Not a single test varies. Ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, nothing. The clowns are thriving. But nothing has changed a test result regardless of what I add. The only thing that changes was salinity from adding fresh water
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
I mean fish are an ammonia source. I’ve added a cycle enhancer, I’ve added live rock, live sand. All these things are supposed to add ammonia. Not a single test varies. Ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, nothing. The clowns are thriving. But nothing has changed a test result regardless of what I add. The only thing that changes was salinity from adding fresh water
Click to expand...
If you used real live rock and sand, it likely can handle the tiny bioload created by the clowns and may not need to cycle if so. You can add an ammonia source until it reads 2.0 PPM. If the tank is cycled, it should be back to zero in 24 hours. I’d suggest removing the clowns before dosing ammonia that high.
 
Upvote 0
WWC
Rtaylor said:
If you used real live rock and sand, it likely can handle the tiny bioload created by the clowns.
Click to expand...
I get that. I just don’t understand why none of the values are changing and why I don’t see an algae bloom..nothing. My ph has been 8.2 from the beginning but I’ve added 4oz I’d enhancer trying to get 8.4 but it hasn’t moved. Ammonia has always been 0. Nitrate 0. Nitrite 0. How is there no fluctuations? I just don’t believe I can be doing everything perfect
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
I mean fish are an ammonia source. I’ve added a cycle enhancer, I’ve added live rock, live sand. All these things are supposed to add ammonia. Not a single test varies. Ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, nothing. The clowns are thriving. But nothing has changed a test result regardless of what I add. The only thing that changes was salinity from adding fresh water
Click to expand...
I didn’t catch that. Yeah, ammonia would likely not have a chance to accumulate with just the fish in only 12 hours.
 
Upvote 0
Nutramar Foods
JeffS said:
I get that. I just don’t understand why none of the values are changing and why I don’t see an algae bloom..nothing. My ph has been 8.2 from the beginning but I’ve added 4oz I’d enhancer trying to get 8.4 but it hasn’t moved. Ammonia has always been 0. Nitrate 0. Nitrite 0. How is there no fluctuations? I just don’t believe I can be doing everything perfect
Click to expand...
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN RUNNING?
 
Upvote 0
Nutramar Foods
JeffS said:
No i started the tank Thursday. I added clowns monday
Click to expand...
So the clowns (the only ammonia source) have only been in the tank 24 hours? That’s not long enough for anything to happen. You’re going to need to up the patience about 1000%
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
I get that. I just don’t understand why none of the values are changing and why I don’t see an algae bloom..nothing. My ph has been 8.2 from the beginning but I’ve added 4oz I’d enhancer trying to get 8.4 but it hasn’t moved. Ammonia has always been 0. Nitrate 0. Nitrite 0. How is there no fluctuations? I just don’t believe I can be doing everything perfect
Click to expand...
Those numbers are far from perfect
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
I get that. I just don’t understand why none of the values are changing and why I don’t see an algae bloom..nothing. My ph has been 8.2 from the beginning but I’ve added 4oz I’d enhancer trying to get 8.4 but it hasn’t moved. Ammonia has always been 0. Nitrate 0. Nitrite 0. How is there no fluctuations? I just don’t believe I can be doing everything perfect
Click to expand...
It will take a few weeks to see algae. Algae needs nutrients and time to grow
 
Upvote 0
Chewy.com
Rtaylor said:
So the clowns (the only ammonia source) have only been in the tank 24 hours? That’s not long enough for anything to happen. You’re going to need to up the patience about 1000%
Click to expand...
And take the clowns back to the store!
 
Upvote 0
Top Shelf Aquatics
JeffS said:
Not sure what’s going on..so much information and so much contradictory information. I started a new tank. I have live sand, live rock and 2 paired clown fish. No ammonia, no nitrate, no nitrite, ph doesn’t seem to move when enhancer is added, salinity finally moved down from1.026 to 1.024. No other readings seem to move. Tank doesn’t seem to cycle. Clowns are happy and active for the first 12 hours. Any thoughts or recommend actions? CN there be something in the water that is frustrating all tests?

image.jpg
Click to expand...
Why would you say tank has not cycled?
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
My understanding of the live rock is they are also an ammonia source. At the fish store they said they feed the rocks ammonia and they should cycle the tank immediately
Click to expand...
I'm not trying to be mean, but you seem to have a very slim grasp of this basic process (the nitrogen cycle). Please do some research and educate yourself about responsible reefing.
 
Upvote 0
JeffS said:
My understanding of the live rock is they are also an ammonia source. At the fish store they said they feed the rocks ammonia and they should cycle the tank immediately
Click to expand...
JeffS said:
My understanding of the live rock is they are also an ammonia source. At the fish store they said they feed the rocks ammonia and they should cycle the tank immediately
Click to expand...
The rock is real reef rock. This is my first tank. I don’t know exactly what’s what. And the information out there is so contradictory that it would have you believe you can create an ocean in 20 minutes or shouldn’t even try for 20 years
 
Upvote 0
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Upvote 0
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Nutramar Foods
World Wide Corals
Chewy.com
Tidal Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
Deltec
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
TCK Corals
New Posts
Back
Top