What now?

domination2580 · Dec 9, 2017

But I might have to start amino acids since my trates have dropped to barely detectable using red sea....

GoVols · Dec 9, 2017

domination2580 said:
I have not been using it since I'm not home everyday to add it and I'm to broke to afford even a jebao doser...

Dang Domination,
You just broke my heart

GoVols · Dec 9, 2017

domination2580 said:
But I might have to start amino acids since my trates have dropped to barely detectable using red sea....

Sending PM

Reef-junky · Dec 9, 2017

GoVols said:
Donination,

I just was answering a question in full on a cycling thread.
Not sure where @Reef-junky was coming from?

A lot of reefer's bash others for cycling a tank with damsels and I have no problem with that method.

Just sounded like you were offering OP a pair of clown fish. I was just wondering if you were breeding them is all.

GoVols · Dec 9, 2017

Reef-junky said:
Just sounded like you were offering OP a pair of clown fish. I was just wondering if you were breeding them is all.

I took it the wrong way.
I'm sorry.

Laurie K · Dec 11, 2017

KJ said:
Welcome to R2R!!!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

Thanks for the link! This is the most thorough explanation of this whole process we have ever seen, and we're finding it super helpful. Cheers!

KJ · Dec 11, 2017

Laurie K said:
Thanks for the link! This is the most thorough explanation of this whole process we have ever seen, and we're finding it super helpful. Cheers!

YW

Oldreefer44 · Dec 11, 2017

What's next: Patience. After that: More patience. And finally: Even more patience.

Laurie K · Dec 14, 2017

GBRsouth said:
All those things that have been suggested for adding, are either to add a source of ammonia (either ammonia itself or food products that will break down into ammonia) or sources of bacteria to begin processing the ammonia and nitrite. It's all about having bacteria present to breakdown ammonia into nitrite, and another type of bacteria to breakdown nitrite into nitrate. As the numbers of bacteria grow, the ability of the system to support life grows.

Keep testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels during this time to know when this cycle is completed. (Ammonia and nitrite levels will rise and later fall to zero before the cycle is complete.) Usually this will take six weeks to two months but can vary. Introducing one of the sources of bacteria in a bottle or not will be one of the time variables.

Hi!

We had 1ppm of ammonia 6 days ago and it started dropping 3 days ago. We just tested and it's now at .25ppm...but the nitrites and nitrates are still reading at 0. Is that normal? We understood that as ammonia goes down, nitrites, then nitrates rise...hmmm

GBRsouth · Dec 14, 2017

Keep testing and be patient. It's happening for you naturally and the bacteria population is growing slowly. If you're not a patient personality you can speed it up with the bacteria in a bottle added to your system. Otherwise you can be patient and it will happen naturally and you can save the money for something else.

The natural way could take as long as two months but can be as short as four weeks. This depends on the initial numbers of bacteria present to impact how fast their population grows.