Tank cycle question

[Bonsai reef]

I have started cycling my 24g nano cube (dry rocks+live sand) a week back. Ghost feeding fish food pallets from day 2. On day 6, both ammonia and nitrite measured at 0.25 and nitrate at 0. I have added Dr Tim’s one and only on day 6.
Day 8 - ammonia is at 0.25, nitrite - 0 and nitrate-5. Is that normal?

 

[BadFish619]

What test kit are you using?

 

[BadFish619]

Welcome to R2R! Btw

 

[Bonsai reef]

What test kit are you using?

API reef master test kit

 

[Bonsai reef]

Welcome to R2R! Btw

Thanks ! This is a Great forum!

 

[BadFish619]

So api will always register as .25 because it test for total ammonia, so my tank for years has been .25 ammonia. What you're looking for is 0 (or in this case, .25) ammonia, 0 nitrite, and you'll have a small nitrate reading. It sounds like you're on the right track. What is your next step? You want to add fish? You could probably put a damsel in and be ok. Just don't add too many too fast. Your beneficial bacteria will need to catch up to your bio load. Add a fish, ammonia will rise, bacteria will grow and turn it into nitrite then into nitrate. What kind of filtration do you have?

 

[Bonsai reef]

So api will always register as .25 because it test for total ammonia, so my tank for years has been .25 ammonia. What you're looking for is 0 (or in this case, .25) ammonia, 0 nitrite, and you'll have a small nitrate reading. It sounds like you're on the right track. What is your next step? You want to add fish? You could probably put a damsel in and be ok. Just don't add too many too fast. Your beneficial bacteria will need to catch up to your bio load. Add a fish, ammonia will rise, bacteria will grow and turn it into nitrite then into nitrate. What kind of filtration do you have?

I would like to wait for few more weeks before adding fish or coral. I want to do the fishless cycle. I would probably add Dr Tims ammonium chloride. I have the AIO 4 stage filter system that came with the tank.

 

[BadFish619]

Sounds like you're on the right track then

 

[BeejReef]

looks normal to me. starting to see some nitrate is a good sign. Good plan to give it another couple of weeks. Kudos to you!

 

[Goodair]

Your on the right track, you can start planning out your stocking to add in a few weeks. Did you have any fish in mind?

 

[Bonsai reef]

Your on the right track, you can start planning out your stocking to add in a few weeks. Did you have any fish in mind?

Since it’s a 24g, wouldn’t go beyond 2-3 small fishes and few cleanup crews. My long vision is more of a mixed reef tank with less fish. I would start with cleanup crews and then fish and corals. I am confused between clownfish and damsel. While clowns are good for display but less active than damsel. So still not decided.

 

[G8rBait92]

Normal cycle. Good luck and take it slow. Damsels can be aggressive btw

 

[Bonsai reef]

Normal cycle. Good luck and take it slow. Damsels can be aggressive btw

Right. I know that I can’t keep both. Will keep one or the other. So I’m bit confused. What the best looking clean up crew? Any suggestions?

 

[reef-rc]

Clean up crew on a nano is limited unfortunately. Since you have sand, I would consider the following 3 types of snails. Long term it'll save you money and does work and are not destructive in the tank based on my own experience.

• NASSARIUS SNAILS - for substrate, such as sand or gravel.
  
• TROCHUS SNAIL - for green film algae and diatoms + they right themselves unlike astraea snail.
  • could reproduce in your tank so it's a good thing.
• CERITH SNAIL - a little of both snail and rocks clean up

So why not:

• hermit crabs - they need shells and will eventually kill your snails or die due to no shelter as they grow. They eat leftover/fallen food but so will your nassarius snail if you have them.
• astraea snail - they're fine imo. just know some will die because "i've fallen and I can't get up issue"
• shrimp - they're iffy with corals and may take to snacking a few

I would not start putting clean up crew in until you have sufficient algae to support them. introduce a few at a time when needed.

For myself personally, I have been using only Trochus mostly and a few nassrius snails for last 6 months and moved away from cerith snail as I mostly have bare bottom tanks.

cycling a new tank is exciting for sure. as others mentioned for good reasons, take your time...enjoy the ride.

hth

 

[Bonsai reef]

Clean up crew on a nano is limited unfortunately. Since you have sand, I would consider the following 3 types of snails. Long term it'll save you money and does work and are not destructive in the tank based on my own experience.

• NASSARIUS SNAILS - for substrate, such as sand or gravel.
  
• TROCHUS SNAIL - for green film algae and diatoms + they right themselves unlike astraea snail.
  • could reproduce in your tank so it's a good thing.
• CERITH SNAIL - a little of both snail and rocks clean up

So why not:

• hermit crabs - they need shells and will eventually kill your snails or die due to no shelter as they grow. They eat leftover/fallen food but so will your nassarius snail if you have them.
• astraea snail - they're fine imo. just know some will die because "i've fallen and I can't get up issue"
• shrimp - they're iffy with corals and may take to snacking a few

I would not start putting clean up crew in until you have sufficient algae to support them. introduce a few at a time when needed.

For myself personally, I have been using only Trochus mostly and a few nassrius snails for last 6 months and moved away from cerith snail as I mostly have bare bottom tanks.

cycling a new tank is exciting for sure. as others mentioned for good reasons, take your time...enjoy the ride.

hth

Thank you for the details!