Week 3 of cycling

[TerryG]

Hello fellow reefers! I just past the 2 week mark of cycling my tank using dr tims one and only and dr tims ammonia. I used live sand and some rock from my existing tank as well. My current parameters are Nitrate 20, Nitrite 0.5, Ammonia 0. I got the same results from API and Red Sea test kits. What do you think am I ready to do a water change and add fish or not yet? Any advice appreciated

 

[Goodersgold]

Yes, get the fish in asap, that's when the true cycling will begin, hence ammonia being at 0. Have you had a diatom bloom yet?

 

[TerryG]

Yes, get the fish in asap, that's when the true cycling will begin, hence ammonia being at 0. Have you had a diatom bloom yet?

No diatom bloom yet. Should I do a water change or just put them in? I started with 8ppm ammonia it finally dropped

 

[Goodersgold]

No diatom bloom yet. Should I do a water change or just put them in? I started with 8ppm ammonia it finally dropped

Have you been ghost feeding? that ammonia reading is odd considering you have zero bio load in your tank

 

[TerryG]

Have you been ghost feeding? that ammonia reading is odd considering you have zero bio load in your tank

No ghost feeding. I had used the whole bottle of dr tims ammonia and my ammonia was through the roof

 

[Goodersgold]

No ghost feeding. I had used the whole bottle of dr tims ammonia and my ammonia was through the roof

Did you use the Dr Tims Ammonia as part of the original build and fresh waster? There are others on the forum that would better explain than me, but it appears very odd to have those levels of ammonia with a low to zero bio load, is anything decaying on the rock transferred from your other tank? How are you testing for ammonia?

 

[TerryG]

Did you use the Dr Tims Ammonia as part of the original build and fresh waster? There are others on the forum that would better explain than me, but it appears very odd to have those levels of ammonia with a low to zero bio load, is anything decaying on the rock transferred from your other tank? How are you testing for ammonia?

I don’t think anything transferred over. I’m using the api and Red Sea test kit. I haven’t dosed ammonia since the first day because dr Tim’s says not to add anymore if it’s exceeds 5ppm which mine did

 

[melbournedan]

Did you use the Dr Tims Ammonia as part of the original build and fresh waster? There are others on the forum that would better explain than me, but it appears very odd to have those levels of ammonia with a low to zero bio load, is anything decaying on the rock transferred from your other tank? How are you testing for ammonia?

i believe he used ammonia drops to get the reading to 8ppm and hasn’t added any since, correct me if i’m wrong ?

 

[Goodersgold]

I don’t think anything transferred over. I’m using the api and Red Sea test kit. I haven’t dosed ammonia since the first day because dr Tim’s says not to add anymore if it’s exceeds 5ppm which mine did

Why did you dose ammonia during initial setup? Adding live rock to the system provides you with all the good stuff you need to begin cycling, I would not have thought you needed to add anything extra, just monitor your levels from that point on and get the fish in.

 

[TerryG]

i believe he used ammonia drops to get the reading to 8ppm and hasn’t added any since, correct me if i’m wrong ?

Correct fellow melbournian

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello fellow reefers! I just past the 2 week mark of cycling my tank using dr tims one and only and dr tims ammonia. I used live sand and some rock from my existing tank as well. My current parameters are Nitrate 20, Nitrite 0.5, Ammonia 0. I got the same results from API and Red Sea test kits. What do you think am I ready to do a water change and add fish or not yet? Any advice appreciated

Ignore the test kits.

If you have a tank running for two weeks it is cycled. Just add a fish.

 

[TerryG]

Ignore the test kits.

If you have a tank running for two weeks it is cycled. Just add a fish.

Would I still do a water change? I don’t want my fish to die as I had them for a year now I’m scared

 

[TerryG]

I

Why did you dose ammonia during initial setup? Adding live rock to the system provides you with all the good stuff you need to begin cycling, I would not have thought you needed to add anything extra, just monitor your levels from that point on and get the fish in.

was given really bad advice

 

[melbournedan]

Correct fellow melbournian

this is great to see !

 

[melbournedan]

Would I still do a water change? I don’t want my fish to die as I had them for a year now I’m scared

what tanks are you upgrading ?

 

[TerryG]

what tanks are you upgrading ?

I went from the aqua one mini reef 215 to the Cade pro reef 1500 s2.. both are still running I just wanna get my fish moved into their new home.. I’m not sure about my nitrites being 0.5

 

[melbournedan]

Correct fellow melbournian

what’s your go to aquarium in melbourne ?

 

[TerryG]

what’s your go to aquarium in melbourne ?

I go between Mentone, fish world and new life. You?

 

[melbournedan]

I go between Mentone, fish world and new life. You?

either aquamarine aquaristic in doncaster , lifestyle in bundoora, deer park and williamstown.

 

[TerryG]

I

either aquamarine aquaristic in doncaster , lifestyle in bundoora, deer park and williamstown.

either aquamarine aquaristic in doncaster , lifestyle in bundoora, deer park and williamstown.

I got my clowns from aquaristic and been do bundoora and Williamstown. No deer park yet hopefully soon.