what to do next for cycling

[Bayareareefer18]

I just power washed the dry rock and it was pure white when I put it in. i'll post a pic on what they look like now. they have some brown to them. I still am deciding if I should get a some fish this weekend or just wait. If I knew if the nitrites and nitrates would go down here soon then I would pull the trigger on 2 clowns and a puffer. my local Petco has a puffer 8 inches long and 800 for it. crazy. then puffer will only get 5 inches long.

Mine got real ugly then suddenly started going away

Make sure it's a puffer that won't eat tour coral lol

 

[sergifed91]

I just power washed the dry rock and it was pure white when I put it in. i'll post a pic on what they look like now. they have some brown to them. I still am deciding if I should get a some fish this weekend or just wait. If I knew if the nitrites and nitrates would go down here soon then I would pull the trigger on 2 clowns and a puffer. my local Petco has a puffer 8 inches long and 800 for it. crazy. then puffer will only get 5 inches long.

mine aren't like that but I'll post it shortly

 

[sergifed91]

Mine got real ugly then suddenly started going away

Make sure it's a puffer that won't eat tour coral lol

 

[sergifed91]

i'm getting a little impatient on this whole process. I might try marineland total care aquarium bacteria. it might speed up the process from what I'm reading on line. but Not sure if I should and just wait it out naturally. which is probably what I'm gonna do.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

i'm getting a little impatient on this whole process. I might try marineland total care aquarium bacteria. it might speed up the process from what I'm reading on line. but Not sure if I should and just wait it out naturally. which is probably what I'm gonna do.

I think the mb7 helped in processing the ammonia quickly but now it's just a waiting game for the nitrite

 

[sergifed91]

I think the mb7 helped in processing the ammonia quickly but now it's just a waiting game for the nitrite

what day are you on? i'm on day 23 of my cycle.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

what day are you on? i'm on day 23 of my cycle.

32. Saw nitrite about day 9

 

[sergifed91]

32. Saw nitrite about day 9

i'm gonna increase my oxygen and see if that speeds it up a little along with raising the temp to 80 or 82 degrees. it should speed up the bacteria growth...

 

[Bayareareefer18]

i'm gonna increase my oxygen and see if that speeds it up a little along with raising the temp to 80 or 82 degrees. it should speed up the bacteria growth...

I also had added a couple bottle of purple helix. I do see specks of coraline on my rock as well

 

[sergifed91]

I also had added a couple bottle of purple helix. I do see specks of coraline on my rock as well

tested my tank this morning.
PH - 8.0 ppm
ammonia 0
NO2 still at 5
NO3- had 2 false reading at 160 ppm. then retested a 3rd time and at 5 ppm. so think im getting there. just have to figure out why my NO2 is not dropping yet.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

tested my tank this morning.
PH - 8.0 ppm
ammonia 0
NO2 still at 5
NO3- had 2 false reading at 160 ppm. then retested a 3rd time and at 5 ppm. so think im getting there. just have to figure out why my NO2 is not dropping yet.

Takes time. Mine has been sitting there for weeks

 

[Idoc]

tested my tank this morning.
PH - 8.0 ppm
ammonia 0
NO2 still at 5
NO3- had 2 false reading at 160 ppm. then retested a 3rd time and at 5 ppm. so think im getting there. just have to figure out why my NO2 is not dropping yet.

If you're still ghost feeding the tank, then that's where the nitrite is coming from... your bacterial population to reduce ammonia to nitrite seems adequate, but the bacteria to drop nitrite to nitrate is just taking a little longer. Patience... the system is progressing as it should.

 

[sergifed91]

If you're still ghost feeding the tank, then that's where the nitrite is coming from... your bacterial population to reduce ammonia to nitrite seems adequate, but the bacteria to drop nitrite to nitrate is just taking a little longer. Patience... the system is progressing as it should.

should I be ghost feeding or dropping ammonia in at all at this stage or just let Ammonia stay at 0 and let nitrite and nitrates catch up to 0?

 

[Idoc]

should I be ghost feeding or dropping ammonia in at all at this stage or just let Ammonia stay at 0 and let nitrite and nitrates catch up to 0?

It's probably not hurting it to be dosing ammonia or ghost feeding a little bit, but may not be required. When are you planning to add your first fish or two?

Btw... your nitrates aren't going to go to zero unless you do a 100% water change.

 

[sergifed91]

It's probably not hurting it to be dosing ammonia or ghost feeding a little bit, but may not be required. When are you planning to add your first fish or two?

Btw... your nitrates aren't going to go to zero unless you do a 100% water change.

not sure. I'm still deciding on what to start out with. I have made a list on what could work. i'll post that here.I realize I can't and don't want all of these. but right now I'm doing my research.

Green Chromis - Small
Bicolor Blenny
Green Mandarin Goby - Small
Red Scooter Blenny - Small
Catalina Goby
Lawnmower Blenny - Small
Diamond Goby
Six-line Wrasse
Spotted Mandarin Goby - Small
Citrus Goby
Longfin Fairy Wrasse
Dispar Anthias - Female
Midas Blenny - Small
Rainford Goby
Carpenters Flasher Wrasse
Matted Filefish - Small
Sleeper Goldenhead Goby
Ignitus Anthias (Female) - Small
Klein's Butterfly - Large
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Dispar Anthias - Male
Ignitus Anthias (Male) - Small
Female Bluejaw Trigger - Small
Yellowtail Blue Damsel
Talbot's Damsel
Bicolor Angel - Medium
Eibli Angel
Bicolor Dottyback
Dwarf Zebra Lionfish - Small
Valentini Puffer - Small
Strawberry Dottyback
Coral Beauty Angel - Small
Female Blue Damsel
Antennata Lionfish - Small
Longnose Hawkfish
Randall's Goby
Singapore Angel
Squareback Anthias (Male)
Male Bluejaw Trigger - Small

Name tank size length in inches temp
Green Chromis - Small 30 4 Community

Yellow Eye Kole Tang - Large
50 7 Community

Bicolor Blenny
30 4 IN Community

Green Mandarin Goby - Small
30 4 IN Community

Raccoon Butterfly - Medium
ng 8 IN Community

Red Scooter Blenny - Small
30 4 IN Community

Catalina Goby
10 2 IN Community

Lawnmower Blenny - Small
ng 5 in Community

Diamond Goby
30 6 IN Community

Six-line Wrasse
3 IN Community

Spotted Mandarin Goby - Small
4 IN Community

Citrus Goby
ng 2 IN Community

Longfin Fairy Wrasse
50 3 IN Community

Dispar Anthias - Female
50 g 4 IN Community

Midas Blenny - Small
6 IN Community

Powder Brown Tang - Small
8 IN Community

Rainford Goby
3 IN Community

Carpenters Flasher Wrasse
55 3 IN Community

Matted Filefish - Small
3.5 IN Community

Sleeper Goldenhead Goby
30 5.5 IN Community

Ignitus Anthias (Female) - Small
50 4.5 IN Community

Klein's Butterfly - Large
6 IN Community

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
5 IN Community

Dispar Anthias - Male
50 4 IN Community

Ignitus Anthias (Male) - Small
50 4.5 IN Community

Female Bluejaw Trigger - Small
2.5 IN Semi-Aggressive

Yellowtail Blue Damsel
30 3 Semi-aggressive

Talbot's Damsel
30 3 IN Semi-aggressive

Bicolor Angel - Medium
50 6 IN Semi-Aggressive
Eibli Angel 50 6 IN Semi-aggressive
Bicolor Dottyback ng 3 IN Semi-aggressive

Dwarf Zebra Lionfish - Small
50 g 7 IN Semi-aggressive

Valentini Puffer - Small
30 Semi-aggressive

Strawberry Dottyback
30 3 IN Semi-aggressive

Coral Beauty Angel - Small
50 g 4 IN Semi-Aggressive

Female Blue Damsel
30 2 IN Semi-aggressive

Antennata Lionfish - Small
50 7 IN Semi-Aggressive

Longnose Hawkfish
5 IN Semi-aggressive

Randall's Goby
4.5 IN Semi-aggressive

Singapore Angel
7 IN Semi-aggressive

Squareback Anthias (Male)
50 4 IN Semi-aggressive

Male Bluejaw Trigger - Small
9 Semi-Aggressive

 

[sergifed91]

It's probably not hurting it to be dosing ammonia or ghost feeding a little bit, but may not be required. When are you planning to add your first fish or two?

Btw... your nitrates aren't going to go to zero unless you do a 100% water change.

should I go ahead and do a water change. not a whole 100% but a 15 to 20 % tomorrow. If so I will need to get water ready for it tonight.

 

[sergifed91]

If you're still ghost feeding the tank, then that's where the nitrite is coming from... your bacterial population to reduce ammonia to nitrite seems adequate, but the bacteria to drop nitrite to nitrate is just taking a little longer. Patience... the system is progressing as it should.

I can't figure out what is wrong with my nitrate levels. I tested this morning and it was at 5.0 took me 3 tests to get that. I thought faulty readings. tonight its up to 80 PPm. I did 4 tests tonight and all the same. all fish stores are closed for the night. I did take out all my filters and cleaned them and recleaned the tank to see what I have in the morning readings. I might have to do a 50 % water change tomorrow night. to get those nitrates down to acceptable levels. I am however going to build a DYI refugium this week. I'm just going to turn a HOB filter into a refugium. lava rock and plants.

 

[Idoc]

I can't figure out what is wrong with my nitrate levels. I tested this morning and it was at 5.0 took me 3 tests to get that. I thought faulty readings. tonight its up to 80 PPm. I did 4 tests tonight and all the same. all fish stores are closed for the night. I did take out all my filters and cleaned them and recleaned the tank to see what I have in the morning readings. I might have to do a 50 % water change tomorrow night. to get those nitrates down to acceptable levels. I am however going to build a DYI refugium this week. I'm just going to turn a HOB filter into a refugium. lava rock and plants.

I would suspect your 80ppm readings are mite accurate than the previous 5ppm readings you've been posting. If your done ghost feeding and dosing ammonia, then you could do a 50-75% water change, otherwise I'd wait. I use the salifert nitrate treat kit and my reasons seem to always ne consistent.

 

[sergifed91]

I'm going to order some new tests. I'm torn between salifert and red sea for now. I'm gonna order tomorrow. and I did order some macro algea for a DYI refuge. so I'm doing that this week before Friday. the plants will be here by Friday. also not sure yet. but thinking using lava rock and then plants on it. I thought aqua clear bio max filter insert. but more than likely going to use a planters box then use some poly fil to catch the debries and then lava rock and some macro algea to use a little nitrates. but as the macro algea grows the more nitrates it will use. but never will take all of it. also I have a HOB running which is putting oxygen into the tank and 2 oxygen machines. I might need to take 1 out since I have a lot of oxygen bubbles.

 

[Nickcdll]

Does purple helix even work, i just googled it to see what it is. Doesn't it take awhile to get your rocks and whatnot to go purple?