Saltwater CYCLING.

[Amit Kumar]

My tank is 4 days old. Just set up and this is what I have...
30 gallon long tank:
•Aquaclear 30; BIO BALLS AND A NITRATE REMOVER PAD THAT I CAN CUT OUT AND CHANGE EVER 2 WEEKS OR SO.
•30 pounds of live sand.
•8 pounds of live rock.
•An Aquaclear 50 powerhead.

I also put in the first day, Kordon NovaAqua Water Conditioner.
And one bottle of Instant Ocean BIO-SPIRA Live Nitrifying Bacteria. And using Instant Ocean Salt.

Questions: As you can see on the live rock I'm not sure what is growing out of it? Doesn't look like diatoms?
My salinity is at 1.018. Would the tank still cycle? I have salt but is waiting for the first water change.
How is my tank looking? What should I add ( My budget is a problem )
And can i shorten the cycle progress and test my water in the first week and if all is good add a clownfish or damsel?

 

[brandon429]

your thread is an exact copy of this one, welcome!!
B

http://reef2reef.com/threads/week-2-tank-still-not-cycling.213996/page-2

 

[Amit Kumar]

The test results

 

[jazonPartij]

The test results

My tank never cycled. Using live rock and live sand you shouldn't and don't need to have such a hard cycle. You should see a diatom bloom. Once that happens, throw in a clean up crew and you're ready to go IMO. Be careful adding any live rock later on. Once you add livestock then you should quarantine any new live rock.

 

[Amit Kumar]

I'm adding a damsel fish soon.

 

[eliramos]

I'm adding a damsel fish soon.

Save yourself the trouble and go for a blue green chromis, that damsel will take out any new comer once it's established. And you'll have to find him a new home eventually!

 

[Amit Kumar]

Maybe I'll get both lol

 

[ReeferBob]

Why is your salt level so low? It should be around 1.025.

 

[brandon429]

nice catch

my lfs sometimes sells water that low but i have to top it up w salt each time, wish they'd keep it .023 ish, .025 prefs range

i know of no online reefs at .018 long term by design although there may be some

 

[Amit Kumar]

lol i know, their no way , im cycling the tank right now and when i do the first weeks water change im rasing the salt level and buying a 3 chromis