Aio 20g waterbox cycling progress

[Sharky559]

Hi.. so far my cycling is was no fun.


I've been doing dr.tims and ammonia cycling..
Days 1-7 did see numbers changing.
Days 8-12 numbers stayed the same..
PH-7.8
Ammonia-2.50
Nitrite-0.65

Days 13-16 I didn't test.. was out of town..

On day 17..some numbers started dropping
Ph-7.9
Ammonia-0.77
Nitrite-0.65

DAY 18 .Today..ummm my numbers are dropping that's good right... the only thing that hasn't moved is the Nitrite..its stuck on 0.65

PH-7.8
Ammonia-0.22
Nitrite-0.65
Nitrate-29.0

Should I add more Ammonia or should I do a 25% water change.. or should I just ride it out and see what happens

 

[bryanfuel1]

Do you have a picture of the tank? How much rock do you have? And is the rock dry or live? What’s the temperature?

Seems to be going a tad slow, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would keep being patient and either ghost feed or dose small amounts of ammonia.

 

[fishyjoes]

I have never used dr tims, but I would not add more ammonia. At this point I would wait for the ammonia to clear and then add my first fish.

What I have done (several times) in the past is use turbo start or biospira and add one or two fish the same day or the next day. This is how I set up QT for a new fish (then when QT is over I dismantle the system and store it dry for the next time).

Dr Tims is one of the slower products. There's a detailed testing thread if you're interested
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...-equal-whos-who-and-what-do-they-need.989780/

 

[Sharky559]

Do you have a picture of the tank? How much rock do you have? And is the rock dry or live? What’s the temperature?

Seems to be going a tad slow, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would keep being patient and either ghost feed or dose small amounts of ammonia.

Sorry forgot to add .. as for the rock and sand.. it is live sand and live rock.

Temperature is at 81F

 

[bryanfuel1]

Ah, that would explain why the cycle is going so slowly. You need way more rock.

 

[brandon429]

Tracking nitrite is old cycling science

It's neutral in reefing, applies only in brackish and freshwater

In marine, ammonia control and disease preps matter and once ammonia drops that portion of the requirement is done

Missing: only disease preps. This cycle is done. It was done about a week sooner but only if you owned costly digital seneye. On cheap kits this above is a common lag observed.

 

[Sharky559]

I have never used dr tims, but I would not add more ammonia. At this point I would wait for the ammonia to clear and then add my first fish.

What I have done (several times) in the past is use turbo start or biospira and add one or two fish the same day or the next day. This is how I set up QT for a new fish (then when QT is over I dismantle the system and store it dry for the next time).

Dr Tims is one of the slower products. There's a detailed testing thread if you're interested
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...-equal-whos-who-and-what-do-they-need.989780/

Ah, that would explain why the cycle is going so slowly. You need way more rock.

ahhh don't tell me that.. that stuff is expensive.. just those two pieces where 160.. can I still add more.

 

[brandon429]

The reason nobody knows about old cycling science is due to information gatekeepers

They don't want the new ways stickied as formal training, even though these rules run all the effective cycling threads for ten years :)

It's OK if they lag, our results threads sure are not lagging. We rack up the proofs daily for sure. One tank at a time

 

[bryanfuel1]

You can supplement with dry rock which will be a lot cheaper. Aim for about 1lb per gallon.

 

[brandon429]

There's nothing left for you to do

The cycle is done

All prior assessments are rendered. The reason no further support is needed is because the cycle has been done a while now. Only disease planning is left: skip that and they'll have ich by June.

 

[Sharky559]

Tracking nitrite is old cycling science

It's neutral in reefing, applies only in brackish and freshwater

In marine, ammonia control and disease preps matter and once ammonia drops that portion of the requirement is done

Missing: only disease preps. This cycle is done. It was done about a week sooner but only if you owned costly digital seneye. On cheap kits this above is a common lag observed.

I've been using hanna testers.. and for giggles some test strips that my buddy gave me.. but all 100% tests were done with hanna testers

 

[brandon429]

We don't expect zero ammonia in running reefs, only the drop. = met

Old cycling science requires the full drop and never discussed disease
That's why it's bad/ dated/ we've replaced


The cycle is done meaning you can't make the tank safer for fish by cycling further.

Hanna digital is good agreed. 2nd behind seneye for accuracy, still good.

 

[Sharky559]

You can supplement with dry rock which will be a lot cheaper. Aim for about 1lb per gallon.

Can I still add live rock tho

 

[Sharky559]

We don't expect zero ammonia in running reefs, only the drop. = met

Old cycling science requires the full drop and never discussed disease
That's why it's bad/ dated/ we've replaced


The cycle is done meaning you can't make the tank safer for fish by cycling further.

Hanna digital is good agreed. 2nd behind seneye for accuracy, still good.

We don't expect zero ammonia in running reefs, only the drop. = met

Old cycling science requires the full drop and never discussed disease
That's why it's bad/ dated/ we've replaced


The cycle is done meaning you can't make the tank safer for fish by cycling further.

Hanna digital is good agreed. 2nd behind seneye for accuracy, still good.

Does that mean that I should add some fish and clean up crew

 

[bryanfuel1]

Can I still add live rock tho

Of course. It’s just going to be a lot more expensive to hit that 1lb/gal

 

[brandon429]

If you add fish you've instantly chosen no disease plan. Must base that decision from disease forum reading on % fails from skips

Hint

It's so high we formed new cycling science to address it. Everyone thinks they can skip :) that's what keeps Jay busy.

The reason you can add live rock is because any running reef tank can have some rock added harmlessly. Since you aren't cycling you're reefing and can choose that.

 

[brandon429]

For sure the tank will carry new fish though.

 

[Sharky559]

Thanks guys.. quick update.. numbers are going down.. even nitrite... maybe one more day..
Ph- 7.7
NITRATE-18.5
Nitrite-0.37
Ammonia-0.09

Also I'll be adding about 15 more pounds of live rock from caribsea inc....

Thanks for the help.. now how do I prepare for a disease free tank.. do I add something before adding fish?

 

[brandon429]

That w take study in the disease forum. It involves qt and fallow and ordered steps for each wet thing added from a pet store. Not an additive, a timed permitted stocking order and rate.

 

[brandon429]

The feed you use also matters greatly. Has to be weeks of self directed study there.