Starting 30 Gal salt tank

[ajmascola]

eh... just spritz the top a few times just to get a measureable reading.

iirc i cycled my 300 gal system with a 1/4 or 1/2 a cup of windex.

just get it detectable and wait for it to drop. dont worry... contrary to the fact people think windex is a cleaning chemical, its like 99% ammonia, fast break-down alcohols, and blue dye. everything a growing rock needs for the big time.

Should I wait a few days or a week before testing everything ?

 

[ajmascola]

Should I wait a few days or a week before testing everything ?

why am i adding ammonia if in trying to keep my levels to Zero?

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome, your tank looks good!

 

[ScottMyers123]

Welcome to R2R! Your setup is looking nice.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to the World of R2R

why am i adding ammonia if in trying to keep my levels to Zero?

to start the tank cycle use a grocery store shrimp to start the ammonia cycle.

Should I wait a few days or a week before testing everything ?

Take your time which I advise, you have a month before you can stick anything in the tank. And when you to stick something use a hardy fish. I would check once a week just to see what you tank is doing.

 

[RyanCSGO]

why am i adding ammonia if in trying to keep my levels to Zero?

you want ammonia to kick start he cycle. you can also use a small amount (ex: 2 PPM) to see how fast your tank gets rid of it once the tank is ready

 

[Eaj1001]

Should I wait a few days or a week before testing everything ?

You can check it as soon as it's had time to circulate fully in your water column and can get a reading..then check it the following day to make sure your bacteria colony is active and converting it.

 

[Lynn52]

DO NOT add windex. It has ammonia but also a lot of stuff you don't want in your tank including soap. Pure ammonia from the store or just ghost feed. You need the ammonia to feed the bacteria. Once the bacteria level builds up your ammonia will drop.

 

[ajmascola]

I'll get pure ammonia from grocery store. Thanks !

 

[oodan]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Russ265]

DO NOT add windex. It has ammonia but also a lot of stuff you don't want in your tank including soap. Pure ammonia from the store or just ghost feed. You need the ammonia to feed the bacteria. Once the bacteria level builds up your ammonia will drop.

perfect example of what i meant. no facts, just "it has dawn soap".

0.1% sodium lauryl sulfate

1/10th of 1% is the so-called soap. old wives tales are fun.

lol. just read between the lines

 

[Russ265]

I'll get pure ammonia from grocery store. Thanks !

this is fine as well. however you will get the purists to ask you to shake it for suds.

itll cycle too, regardless what they say.

 

[ajmascola]

perfect example of what i meant. no facts, just "it has dawn soap".

0.1% sodium lauryl sulfate

1/10th of 1% is the so-called soap. old wives tales are fun.

lol. just read between the lines

I did a nitrate test and it came out between 10-20. Should I do 25% water change? Tank has been up for 3 days.

 

[Eaj1001]

I'll get pure ammonia from grocery store. Thanks !

I did a nitrate test and it came out between 10-20. Should I do 25% water change? Tank has been up for 3 days.

If you're reading nitrates that high this soon you're bacteria colony is pretty active and healthy and converting ammonia...nitrates are the end compound of the nitrogen cycle. If it was me I would start water changes when I'm reading nitrates.

 

[Russ265]

If you're reading nitrates that high this soon you're bacteria colony is pretty active and healthy and converting ammonia...nitrates are the end compound of the nitrogen cycle. If it was me I would start water changes when I'm reading nitrates.

+1

if nitrates are that high already, i would assume you have a cycle.

 

[ajmascola]

If you're reading nitrates that high this soon you're bacteria colony is pretty active and healthy and converting ammonia...nitrates are the end compound of the nitrogen cycle. If it was me I would start water changes when I'm reading nitrates.

Hint I'm getting all water from aquarium store already premixed saltwater

 

[ajmascola]

+1

if nitrates are that high already, i would assume you have a cycle.

So Im going to do a 50% water change and test after that.. And update ..

 

[Eaj1001]

Hint I'm getting all water from aquarium store already premixed saltwater

Good, they usually use R/O water and add Calcium and trace elements. I use R/O as well to mix mine for water changes and just R/O no salt for top offs.

 

[Lynn52]

I did a nitrate test and it came out between 10-20. Should I do 25% water change? Tank has been up for 3 days.

I didn't say it has dawn soap. Just soap, technically detergent not soap but the ingredients are also found in soaps shampoos, etc. There are many types of Windex which contain a multitude of detergents as well as dyes and scents. Detergents can kill the bacteria we are trying to grow during the cycle.

Original Windex has a total of 3 detergents
http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us/en/brands/windex/windex-original-glass-cleaner

There are at least 5 additional products called Windex of which at least one doesn't even have ammonium hydroxide as an ingredient.

 

[ajmascola]

I didn't say it has dawn soap. Just soap, technically detergent not soap but the ingredients are also found in soaps shampoos, etc. There are many types of Windex which contain a multitude of detergents as well as dyes and scents. Detergents can kill the bacteria we are trying to grow during the cycle.

Original Windex has a total of 3 detergents
http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us/en/brands/windex/windex-original-glass-cleaner

There are at least 5 additional products called Windex of which at least one doesn't even have ammonium hydroxide as an ingredient.

Good info ..