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Post by BriMc on Mar 1, 2014 11:37:27 GMT -5
Can I give you a piece of advise and I know everybody is going to jump in with their own opinion. Leave the tank alone, Stop doing tests, stop doing water changes, stop adding things to your tank. Let your tank go through its natural cycle process usually 10 to 14 days. On a brand new tank your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels will spike to crazy levels, this is normal, let it go. After a week or so start doing tests again, your levels will come down and the good bacteria will start naturally bringing the ammonia levels down.
I have a buddy setting up a 40 gallon system and he is on a 3 month cycle because he can't keep his hands off the tank. Every time I talk to him he is doing water changes or adding some sort of snake oil to his tank. I cannot tell you how many fish and corals this guy has lost because he rushed and his cycle never completed properly and every time he adds a fish his tank starts to cycle again.
Fuzzy stuff on your rock and sand is part of the process, every time you take the rock out and clean it you start the process all over.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 1, 2014 11:45:55 GMT -5
In a way I agree with you. But you cannot let your ammonia or nitrate levels get to high or you will be killing every single bit of bacteria in your tank. I'm not sure exactly what those levels are but I know you can't let them get to high.
If I was you I'd do some more research on how high your ammonia levels can get and then you'll know.
Besides that stop worrying and keep your hands out of the tank. And soot back and enjoy the natural cycle of your tank. It really can be very fun just to watch the life that will start growing.
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Post by Frank on Mar 1, 2014 13:49:30 GMT -5
The only thing I've done is a partial water change. Ammonia levels stayed high, well over what my kit could read. I've done a lot of reading since and of them say something along the lines of what you are saying. So I think I'm going to let everything sit just keep topping it off. I'll probably just keep testing anyways cause I'm curious like that.
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Post by BriMc on Mar 1, 2014 14:09:40 GMT -5
I have set up and have helped set up well over 75 tanks doing the hands off method with nothing but positive results. Usually we would go in set up the tank and let the tank sit for three to four weeks then start testing and when the readings became acceptable we would start slowly adding livestock. Your bacteria live and thrive off ammonia converting it to nitrite and then into nitrate, that is the natural cycle. Years ago we used to use damsels to do the cycle, we would keep a school just for cycling tanks, then saving money the company went to using raw shrimp, that grossed customers out so we started using fritz Zyme 9. The original formula Fritz was basically the scum water from the bottom of their holding tanks. It was ammonia with rotting proteins, it was brown, gross, with things floating in it, and it stunk like a rotted egg which was Hydrogen sulphide gas. But again never did we have a problem with ammonia overpowering bacteria.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 1, 2014 16:04:41 GMT -5
Found link below. It's got some good info and is very close to what I did. I had my tank fully cycled and live rock cycled in 2 weeks using pure ammonia and keeping my ammonia levels at 4.0-5.0 I also used biozyme for salt water(red one). What's your ph at? I can't remember if you listed it? If your ph is to high or low your tank also won't cycle. Like I said before I do agree with Brimc about leaving it alone and letting it cycle but first you have to get your water chemistry right. Just like anything else if there's ideal conditions then the bacteria will grow and multiply but if the water isn't what they want/need they will not thrive. You want the bacteria to thrive www.aquariumadvice.com/tips-and-tricks-for-your-fastest-fishless-cycle/ |
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Post by BriMc on Mar 1, 2014 17:34:36 GMT -5
Like I said everybody has their opinion. I'll pass on adding a man made cleaning agent to my tank. I've been in manufacturing, things get mislabeled, tanks, and lines don't get flushed properly, I'd rather not guess what I am putting into my tank. Though a natural cycle I know what is in my tank and I am not adding anything that could possibly cause an issue.
Using live rock ( real live rock) your tank should cycle in two weeks or less anyways, Live rock contains large amounts of bacteria that would move the cycle along to start with. The last tank I set up I used Tampa bay live rock and sand my cycle was done in a week and fish were added on the tenth day. Starting fresh with new sand and dead rock your cycle is going to be longer.
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Post by jess on Mar 1, 2014 18:52:54 GMT -5
+1 with brimc I never did a water change until after my cycle was complete.
Sent from my HTC ONE
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Post by Frank on Mar 2, 2014 4:24:50 GMT -5
Got home later last night, but tested a couple things quick anyways.
Temp 78*
pH 8.0
Nitrite 0.25
Ammonia 8.0+
I did a lot of reading yesterday on ammonia levels and how it affects the nitrogen cycle. Pretty much everyone agrees that at some point it inhibits it, but the only hard data came from some thesis papers based on lab work. They are looking at numbers around 12-14 ppm inhibiting about 80%. The majority of reefers seem to believe that the number is around 8.0. I'll keep reading but I'm headed out of the country for a week soon so it's all gonna be on hold anyways.
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Post by moulton712 on Mar 2, 2014 4:34:10 GMT -5
I remember my first tank. I tested and tested cause I was curious and impatient. Looking back it was a waste of money. I don't even test anymore.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 2, 2014 9:00:52 GMT -5
You got nitrite! On your way the next step May take a little longer, getting nitrate to show up.
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Post by BriMc on Mar 2, 2014 12:22:41 GMT -5
Your cycle is well on its way and when you get back and do a test you may find that your ammonia has tapered off nitrites are low, some tanks depending on what you have in it you may see low or no Nitrate readings at all. I have seen many tanks show no nitrates at the end of a cycle.
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Post by Frank on Mar 2, 2014 18:29:15 GMT -5
Tested when I got home from work today. Nitrates already showing.
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Post by Pokahpolice on Mar 2, 2014 18:54:04 GMT -5
Just leave it alone. I agree fully with BriMc. Don't even test it for 10-12 days. I just set up a new tank as well. I haven't even tested my water parameters yet. It's been a week and I'll probably start testing in the next few days but I did a few things to cheat the cycle. I'll get a cycle but it should happen a lot quicker than normal.
The best thing you can do is just leave it alone. Top it off with RO and thats it
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Post by Frank on Mar 18, 2014 16:57:24 GMT -5
Back from vacation. Ammonia is down to 0. Nitrites are at 1.0 ppm, Nitrates are at 20. When should I add chaeto to the sump?
Speaking of vacation, I saw a really cool lion fish up close and personal while diving. Too bad my camera case crushed at 15m.
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Post by speedyron on Mar 18, 2014 18:28:09 GMT -5
chaeto fine to ad now id say and water change to drop nitrates
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