Testing Water and Cycle help ???

[David J]

Tonight results, Ammonia looks to be 0, nitrite 0 or very close, Nitrates 20

 

[David J]

So nitrates holding at 20, Nitrites 0 but Ammonia is either 0 or .25 not sure if its the lighting or actually trace amounts. Going to do a water change tonight 25%. Then let the tank just keep going till the weekend. Going to turn the lights on starting tomorrow and hopefully Friday/Sat pick up some fish.

question for a 25 gal, I want to get 2 Clowns, but will it be too much right away should I get 1 now and 1 maybe 2 weeks from now ?

 

[David J]

ok so did 25% change Sunday, Looking good tonight Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate 5

 

[jabberwock]

I get that same "milky" looking result from API ammonia test kit. Your Red Sea ammonia test looks good.

Oh the clown fish. I have a 32 gallon tank, and personally, I am not a fan of the clown fish. Mine are quite aggressive, and if I had it to do over again (which I am sure I will at some point), I would not have clown fish...

I would get something different...

 

[jabberwock]

I would also recommend stocking the tank in the order of least aggressive to most aggressive. A pair of clowns should go last unless they are the only fish you want.

 

[David J]

My ideal setup at this point would be, Pair of clowns, Goby, Fireshirmp, emeral crab, and then some hemits, snails. So could I start with the goby first ? Its a small tank and I know the Clowns really become almost an attraction as most people are farmilar with them. I honestly wish I went with a 40 gal. I can see myself transferring over to 1 down the road or getting another. I would love to get a puffer fish but 25 gal is just too small.

 

[GatorScott]

I would also recommend stocking the tank in the order of least aggressive to most aggressive. A pair of clowns should go last unless they are the only fish you want.

You must have got Maroon clowns? Clownfish in general are peaceful fish, but maroons can get aggressive.

 

[jabberwock]

You must have got Maroon clowns? Clownfish in general are peaceful fish, but maroons can get aggressive.

Darwin Ocellaris mis-barred. I got them as a bonded pair. The female is quite a bit bigger than the male. She is aggressive to EVERYONE else in the tank (including her mate). Killed my fire fish in front of my eyes. I think you can find lots of people who consider them to be quite territorial and aggressive. I think in larger system they are calmer, but in smaller systems like mine, they can be pretty brutal.

 

[jabberwock]

My ideal setup at this point would be, Pair of clowns, Goby, Fireshirmp, emeral crab, and then some hemits, snails. So could I start with the goby first ? Its a small tank and I know the Clowns really become almost an attraction as most people are farmilar with them. I honestly wish I went with a 40 gal. I can see myself transferring over to 1 down the road or getting another. I would love to get a puffer fish but 25 gal is just too small.

Skip the hermit crabs too. They will kill your snails for their shells.

 

[jabberwock]

Firefish is a good start! Then a Goby! Look at a Tiger Sand Conch for a sand sifter. Mine is really cool and fun to watch.

 

[Dom]

Don’t care about nitrites.

Ammonia to zero and the presence/increase of nitrates.

Aren't Nitrites supposed to come down with Ammonia while Nitrates go up? If so, I would think the presence of Nitrites would be an indication that the tank hasn't completed it's cycle.

 

[David J]

Nitrites and Ammonia have been at 0 for almost a full week.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Aren't Nitrites supposed to come down with Ammonia while Nitrates go up? If so, I would think the presence of Nitrites would be an indication that the tank hasn't completed it's cycle.

IMO , it’s just an indication that its working , or Underway.
Testing ammona and then nitrate , and having nitrates, mean is has worked.

I’ve not seen a thread nor had personal experience that there was high (or extremely high) nitrites and no nitrates.

 

[GatorScott]

Darwin Ocellaris mis-barred. I got them as a bonded pair. The female is quite a bit bigger than the male. She is aggressive to EVERYONE else in the tank (including her mate). Killed my fire fish in front of my eyes. I think you can find lots of people who consider them to be quite territorial and aggressive. I think in larger system they are calmer, but in smaller systems like mine, they can be pretty brutal.

Wow that’s crazy. I have read about some aggression with Ocellaris clowns, but not to that level lol. I went with a perculq pair and they’ve been great in a 32g.

 

[lapin]

My ideal setup at this point would be, Pair of clowns, Goby, Fireshirmp, Emerald crab, and then some Hermits, Snails. So could I start with the goby first ?

What goby or gobys are you looking to add? Some will hold there own and some will hide.
And yes the hermits will eat your snails esp in a new thank with little algae growth. If you like hermits skip the snails or get some small ones like Florida mini cerths.

 

[David J]

Tank update clowns are doing great. They ate the next day no issues , I tested lvls today before feeding and 0 nitrite and ammonium. Will probably look at a diamond goby this week. No alge growth yet