Water parameters

[Shimis]

I'm am currently cycling my biocube 32 with a clownfish and a snail. I used dr Timms starter about 8 days ago to jump start the bacteria. My ph is 8.0, Ammonia is .25 ppm, nitrites are .5 ppm, and nitrates are 10 ppm. Where does that place me in the cycle and do I need to do anything different? I bought the In Tank Media filter and put the 1.5 inch ceramic marinepure biomedia to add more surface area for bacteria.

 

[BadFish619]

When ammonia and nitrite drop to 0 and a small nitrate reading, you're probably cycled. But not yet

 

[Treytwey224]

So this means you are currently going through the cycle, I would test your water every day and once ammonia and nitrites are at 0, your good. Also nitrates should be less than 5ppm

 

[FishyFish]

Sounds like you're close but ammonia and nitrite have to be at 0 before you can add fish, they're both very toxic. Which test kits are you using?

 

[Shimis]

I'm using API test kits.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I'm using API test kits.

API for ammonia has been known to show .25, even with it at 0. Red Sea or Salifert is a little easier to read and a bit more accurate. Nitrites should be 0 as well, and the API kit for that is not bad, at least form what I have seen.

You can also mix it up a bit with bottled bac and use some bio-spira on top of the Tims. Both use a little different cultures and doing this will help with the diversity of bac in the tank.

And one last thing, you may want to throw some Prime in there since you have a fish. This way if the ammonia is actually at .25 it will not be harmful to the fish.

 

[Shimis]

API for ammonia has been known to show .25, even with it at 0. Red Sea or Salifert is a little easier to read and a bit more accurate. Nitrites should be 0 as well, and the API kit for that is not bad, at least form what I have seen.

You can also mix it up a bit with bottled bac and use some bio-spira on top of the Tims. Both use a little different cultures and doing this will help with the diversity of bac in the tank.

And one last thing, you may want to throw some Prime in there since you have a fish. This way if the ammonia is actually at .25 it will not be harmful to the fish.

Thanks, I have chemipure Elite, some cheato, and some bio balls in the filter chamber and refugium in the back of the tank. I did put some bio spira in after those readings. I will get some dr Tim's. Thanks for the advice.

 

[CALI2949]

YOUR ALMOST THERE GIVE IT A WEEK.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Thanks, I have chemipure Elite, some cheato, and some bio balls in the filter chamber and refugium in the back of the tank. I did put some bio spira in after those readings. I will get some dr Tim's. Thanks for the advice.

If you started with Dr Tims and now have bio-spira in there you should be good. Give it some more time and you should be good to go. Very close for sure.