Thought I was cycled... Maybe not? Help!

[jayteerq]

Hi All, my tank is a few months old. I completed my cycle in the beginning.. Seen ammonia spike then drop to 0. Seen Nitrite spike then drop to 0. Nitrate was at 5-10. Did a 30% water change on a 65g and then continued to do weekly water changes at 20%. Fast forward to now, I haven't done a water change in a little over a week. Tested my Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate last night and came up with no Nitrate. Does this mean I'm not fully cycled? Im assuming maybe I went a little too crazy with the water changes and the filter floss replacements? Maybe skimmer and refugium early on didn't help either? I have about 8 fish in the tank, no new additions. What would you guys recommend I do?

My idea was to let the tank run natural with 0 water changes and see if it cycles again, meanwhile dosing SeaChem prime to keep the livestock healthy? My only concern is does SeaChem Prime interfere with cycling since it blocks the beneficial bacteria from consuming the ammonia source? Im STRESSED! Hoping I can resolve this with 0 stress on the fish.

Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrite - 0.25
Nitrate - 0
(Red Sea Test Kit)


Any help is much appreciated thank you so much!

 

[twentyleagues]

Stop using prime. There have been tests showing it does little to nothing for ammonia. You are being to aggressive in your nutrient management back off water changes maybe let your filter floss ride a couple days longer. Just because you have no nitrate doesnt mean you are not cycled.

 

[jayteerq]

Stop using prime. There have been tests showing it does little to nothing for ammonia. You are being to aggressive in your nutrient management back off water changes maybe let your filter floss ride a couple days longer. Just because you have no nitrate doesnt mean you are not cycled.

Gotcha... sorry for being overly worried for the livestock lol. New to reefing. So what should I do if I see ammonia and nitrite levels not transferring to nitrate?

 

[twentyleagues]

How long have the fish been in the tank and how fast did you add them? .25 is probably test error.

 

[jayteerq]

How long have the fish been in the tank and how fast did you add them? .25 is probably test error.

Im using the red sea marine test kit so it's all about matching the color to the test card. Maybe error on my part but it looks more green then yellow. Nitrite 0 is clear, a little pink is .2.

Fish have been in the tank a week after cycle finished. Added 4 1 week, then another 4 the next. Nitrates were still present during both weeks.

 

[twentyleagues]

Im using the red sea marine test kit so it's all about matching the color to the test card. Maybe error on my part but it looks more green then yellow. Nitrite 0 is clear, a little pink is .2.

Fish have been in the tank a week after cycle finished. Added 4 1 week, then another 4 the next. Nitrates were still present during both weeks.

I think you are fine. Cycle shouldnt fail unless you do something to cause it like bleaching the rock. Speaking of rock do you have a picture of the tank? Maybe not enough rock? But still think you are fine. Just keep checking. With water change skimmer and fuge you are being pretty aggressive in your nutrient control. Not a bad thing but you dont want nutrients too low. How is your macro growing?

 

[twentyleagues]

Also test errors come in many flavors, Human error from adding reagents or improper water level, color discrepancy, Test not performed correctly, reagents go bad, test containers not cleaned properly.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Do you have any algae growing? That would deplete your nitrates to zero. Also, are your lights on yet? If the nitrates zero'd out when you turned the lights on then you may have the start of the dreaded ugly phase.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Also, you're adding too many fish too fast IMO. Ya gotta let t he biome catch up with each new addition of one or two fish. Too late now, but you may see a spike in ammonia secondary to that.

 

[jayteerq]

Do you have any algae growing? That would deplete your nitrates to zero. Also, are your lights on yet? If the nitrates zero'd out when you turned the lights on then you may have the start of the dreaded ugly phase.

Yeah i have hair algae or brown algae on the rocks. Not too bad but its there

 

[jayteerq]

I think you are fine. Cycle shouldnt fail unless you do something to cause it like bleaching the rock. Speaking of rock do you have a picture of the tank? Maybe not enough rock? But still think you are fine. Just keep checking. With water change skimmer and fuge you are being pretty aggressive in your nutrient control. Not a bad thing but you dont want nutrients too low. How is your macro growing?

Here's a pic of my tank from a month ago.

 

[MnFish1]

Hi All, my tank is a few months old. I completed my cycle in the beginning.. Seen ammonia spike then drop to 0. Seen Nitrite spike then drop to 0. Nitrate was at 5-10. Did a 30% water change on a 65g and then continued to do weekly water changes at 20%. Fast forward to now, I haven't done a water change in a little over a week. Tested my Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate last night and came up with no Nitrate. Does this mean I'm not fully cycled? Im assuming maybe I went a little too crazy with the water changes and the filter floss replacements? Maybe skimmer and refugium early on didn't help either? I have about 8 fish in the tank, no new additions. What would you guys recommend I do?

My idea was to let the tank run natural with 0 water changes and see if it cycles again, meanwhile dosing SeaChem prime to keep the livestock healthy? My only concern is does SeaChem Prime interfere with cycling since it blocks the beneficial bacteria from consuming the ammonia source? Im STRESSED! Hoping I can resolve this with 0 stress on the fish.

Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrite - 0.25
Nitrate - 0
(Red Sea Test Kit)


Any help is much appreciated thank you so much!

I think you're cycled. Nitrite is a non-issue. One issue - how did you complete your cycle in the beginning. The fact that your nitrate is 0 - could mean that you have bacteria etc in your tank using it.

I would not keep dosing Seachem prime. And - no it shouldn't inhibit cycling. BUT - prime DOES affect the tests.. Curious do you have fish now?

 

[MnFish1]

I think you're cycled. Nitrite is a non-issue. One issue - how did you complete your cycle in the beginning. The fact that your nitrate is 0 - could mean that you have bacteria etc in your tank using it.

I would not keep dosing Seachem prime. And - no it shouldn't inhibit cycling. BUT - prime DOES affect the tests.. Curious do you have fish now?

Could you post a picture of your tank?

 

[jayteerq]

I think you're cycled. Nitrite is a non-issue. One issue - how did you complete your cycle in the beginning. The fact that your nitrate is 0 - could mean that you have bacteria etc in your tank using it.

I would not keep dosing Seachem prime. And - no it shouldn't inhibit cycling. BUT - prime DOES affect the tests.. Curious do you have fish now?

Hi thanks for your advice! I did just post a picture of my tank in the comments. Here's an updated tank pic as of 3 days ago. But in the beginning I used Dr Tims Ammonia Source and a sh#t load of TurboStart 900 every week. Im just worried about seeing Ammonia spike and it not turning over to Nitrate. im worried for the fish sake. I have 8 fish currently. Don't plan on adding anymore anytime soon especially with this issue ongoing.

 

[MnFish1]

Hi thanks for your advice! I did just post a picture of my tank in the comments. Here's an updated tank pic as of 3 days ago. But in the beginning I used Dr Tims Ammonia Source and a sh#t load of TurboStart 900 every week. Im just worried about seeing Ammonia spike and it not turning over to Nitrate. im worried for the fish sake. I have 8 fish currently. Don't plan on adding anymore anytime soon especially with this issue ongoing.

Don't worry about that - you have multiple corals - it's hard to see the fish. Corals will tolerate a low ammonia (in fact they utilize it) and yours is low. Why are you still checking ammonia? Not criticizing - just curious. In fact - I would say - many people here would be surprised that you have so many corals so soon - that at least look like they are doing well. (EDIT - nice tank)

 

[twentyleagues]

Here's a pic of my tank from a month ago.

Oh yeah you had another thread I saw it in. Nice scape! I think you are fine just test errors most likely for ammonia and nitrite.

 

[jayteerq]

Don't worry about that - you have multiple corals - it's hard to see the fish. Corals will tolerate a low ammonia (in fact they utilize it) and yours is low. Why are you still checking ammonia? Not criticizing - just curious. In fact - I would say - many people here would be surprised that you have so many corals so soon - that at least look like they are doing well. (EDIT - nice tank)

Thanks! Well I only tested ammonia and nitrite because I tested nitrate and phosphates and got 0. So I got worried and checked ammonia. Usually do a water change weekly but am now trying to stretch maintenance out for ease of life lol.

 

[Naekuh]

You cant do much at this point but just let time play out as you have livestock in your tank.
Just keep an eye on your chemistry, and be through with water changes.
Even small ones each week will help, so like 10gal per week, until you see your ammonia bottom out.

But you having 0 nitrate sort of worries me unless your running chaeto / ATS / or have a lot of macro algae in your fuge.

 

[jayteerq]

You cant do much at this point but just let time play out as you have livestock in your tank.
Just keep an eye on your chemistry, and be through with water changes.
Even small ones each week will help, so like 10gal per week, until you see your ammonia bottom out.

But you having 0 nitrate sort of worries me unless your running chaeto / ATS / or have a lot of macro algae in your fuge.

Yes I have chaeto in my fuge. So I should still continue water changes???

 

[Naekuh]

Yes I have chaeto in my fuge. So I should still continue water changes???

no... your already bottomed out. If you change something, you can introduce a GHA bloom because again your bottomed out.

Keep a close on the ammonia, .2 isn't too bad.
Its not ideal, but its not enough to crash your livestock and tank, unless you got some super delicate anthias, or dragonettes.

But stop putting prime into your tank.
Your only making the water a bit more foul by adding extra chemicals, and just let the cycle play out.

The cycle is dynamic.. meaning it can grow, or go into what's called hibernation.
Typically on a new reef tank, its not uncommon for you to go though a double cycle if you added too much fish at once, or your a heavy feeder and want all your fish to look like Cartman from south park.