The Cycle

[MarineDan]

Hi guys,

Just a bit of advice needed if possible.. My tank has basically nearly finished cycling, I had my LPS do a water check for me yesterday as I wanted to buy a couple of clown fish and he said everything was fine apart from the nitrate being slightly too high.. He reckons if I do a 10% water change that will bring the nitrate level down and I will then be able to start adding fish.. Does that seem right to you?
Thanks in advance.

 

[cpschult]

Nitrates don't affect fish to much. I had a fish only with 100+ nitrates. If ammonia and nitrite levels are low fish ahead!

I'd recommend getting at least an api kit to check your own levels though. At least an ammonia alert badge if you are concerned.

 

[MarineDan]

Nitrates don't affect fish to much. I had a fish only with 100+ nitrates. If ammonia and nitrite levels are low fish ahead!

I'd recommend getting at least an api kit to check your own levels though. At least an ammonia alert badge if you are concerned.

I actually brought an API test kit yesterday.. If I do a test and post a picture on here could you confirm for me?

 

[MarineDan]

Ok well it seems he was incorrect... I have just done a water test using my API kit and it shows that there is 0.25 nitrite in the water and 0 nitrate... My LFS is a joke!! Ammonia level is at 0 also.. I guess its time for a water change then..

 

[FishOfHex]

Once your nitrites are gone and you start to see nitrates you can start to add fish. Doing a 10% weekly or 20% bi weekly is a basic water change % and schedule for a healthy saltwater aquarium. I would add fish slowly to allow the tank to adjust to the extra bio load and continue to do your scheduled water changes. Best of luck

 

[FishOfHex]

Ok well it seems he was incorrect... I have just done a water test using my API kit and it shows that there is 0.25 nitrite in the water and 0 nitrate... My LFS is a joke!! Ammonia level is at 0 also.. I guess its time for a water change then..

I would personally wait to add fish until nitrites are gone and you are only seeing nitrates.

 

[cpschult]

Wait until nitrites are gone to do a water change. You want your bacteria in tank to be able to handle ammonia AND nitrite!

 

[brandon429]

Dan since the web always has fifty different responses to pick from here's no 49

http://reef2reef.com/threads/new-ta...d-cocktail-shrimp-live-rock-no-shrimp.214618/


That says put away test kits and post pics of your rock. If the rock has coralline=ready

and if it's bone white with no living verifiers then you only need to test, then verify, one single param and it's not nitrate or nitrite.

 

[MarineDan]

I've done a 20% water change!! Wish I looked at this first! The guy at my LFS told me to do this change and it will remove the remaining nitrite then I will start getting readings for nitrate!! ***

 

[cpschult]

Not end of the world! Just might slow down cycle a little. Just keep testing. Seems like you are close now

 

[brandon429]

What's the verdict on coralline

it was kind of a deal breaker in that reference thread

 

[Mandrew]

I've had my tank running with a few corals and fish for like 9 months and still have no noticeable coralline so I think that's unnecessary.

 

[MarineDan]

@cpschult Just finished a test. 0 Ammonia - 0.25 Nitrite & between 10-20 Nitrate.. Please tell me that is alright and I'm on my way lol..

Maybe a silly question too but does a tank need to be fully cycled before adding coral?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mandrew]

Yes you need to fully cycle before adding any living thing. Once nitrite is 0 you can add fish or coral. Nitrates aren't a huge deal for fish or some beginner corals but any corals that are picky need to have low nitrates. As close to 0 as possible. Mine has 10ppm nitrate and I have softies and some LPS corals but my LPS corals could look happier than they do. So I'm trying to lower my nitrates as well.

 

[MarineDan]

Thank you for the reply, that has helped a lot

 

[Mandrew]

No problem!

 

[brandon429]

Per the thread the coralline only guarantees bacteria, it doesn't mean there can't be any due to growth conditions that was covered....it was a fast easy clue only if avail



Is there a pic of this tank/rock

To know which kind of cycle to do it's fun to look for coralline...the nitrate being high indicated either live rock used or bottle bac additives generating it via nitrification in the water column.