Aquarium Systems (Dr Tim) - Start Your Tank

[DownUnderAqua]

Hey all,

I’m about to cycle my new tank for the first time using Dr Tims Aquarium Systems - Start Your Tank.

Reading the instructions it says to add fish/coral on day 2…

I’m sure the store will have what we’re after in time.

I’d like to get a jump on the cycle. Ideally we can start getting the tank ready now, and add the correct fish and the correct time.

can anyone suggest/offer experience as to:
1. Is it okay just not to add any fish, will the cycle continue okay?
2. If worst came to worst, would an anemone suffice?

Thank you in advance

 

[pecan2phat]

You can cycle the tank with ammonia rather than with fish.

 

[pecan2phat]

Dr Tims, Fritz Aquatics and Brightwell Aquatics manufacture small bottles of ammonia for fish-less cycling.

 

[DownUnderAqua]

Dr Tims, Fritz Aquatics and Brightwell Aquatics manufacture small bottles of ammonia for fish-less cycling.

Awesome, cheers mate!

I’ll do a little more research on that

 

[KStatefan]

Dr Tims Fishless Cycle recipe

https://www.drtimsaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FishlessCycling_prescription_recipe.pdf

 

[DownUnderAqua]

So day two called to add fish/coral. (As per photo above) and before doing anything I tested my levels.

24hrs (completion day 1 - combined vial photo)
- ammonia 0, nitrite 0.05, nitrate 0

48hrs (completion day 2 - individual photos)
- ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate had a faint trace of pink, but pretty much 0.


I’m not sure what’s going on… either way I’ve continued with day 3s vial… and instead of adding a fish or coral I elected to add ammonia.

Hoping nitrates go up, though not sure if my cycle has just stalled with flat 0’s across the board.

Anyone seen something like this before?

 

[SchrutesReefs]

Do you have rock or sand in the tank? If so, was it live or dry?

 

[glency]

Hold off on the anemone.

 

[DownUnderAqua]

rock and sand is in the tank, not live or anything.

 

[DownUnderAqua]

Hold off on the anemone.

Should I just wait and see what happens? I’m cautious as I don’t want there to be nothing to feed on as I’m not adding fish or coral

 

[pecan2phat]

In a fishless cycle, you need to add ammonia chloride to 2ppm once.
Did you follow the directions from the ammonia chloride?

 

[DownUnderAqua]

I

In a fishless cycle, you need to add ammonia chloride to 2ppm once.
Did you follow the directions from the ammonia chloride?

I was thinking because I’m going against the grain of what the method says to do (add fish/coral) ammonia was the next best thing. Let’s see how it plays out…

I did add 10 drops in (500 lt ish // 135 gallon tank)

im not sure what’s in the Dr Tim’s twist tubes so I didn’t want to add too much.

 

[pecan2phat]

So the USA sold version's instructions are 1 drop per liter of actual water volume. If the Aussie version is the same then your 10 drops affected 10 liters of water and that is why you're not seeing any ammonia readings on your test kit.
So for analysis say your 500 liter tank is actually 400 liters after displacement from rock and sand (unless you know the net volume from filling the tank), then it would take 400 drops or 20ml (5ml = 100 drops). In order to NOT overdose the ammonia chloride, I would dose 1/2 first (200 drops or 10ml) then test for ammonia. If less than 2ppm, dose remaining by quarters (5ml at a time).
Make sense?

 

[DownUnderAqua]

So the USA sold version's instructions are 1 drop per liter of actual water volume. If the Aussie version is the same then your 10 drops affected 10 liters of water and that is why you're not seeing any ammonia readings on your test kit.
So for analysis say your 500 liter tank is actually 400 liters after displacement from rock and sand (unless you know the net volume from filling the tank), then it would take 400 drops or 20ml (5ml = 100 drops). In order to NOT overdose the ammonia chloride, I would dose 1/2 first (200 drops or 10ml) then test for ammonia. If less than 2ppm, dose remaining by quarters (5ml at a time).
Make sense?

Yep, that makes sense…

I was getting confused with the Red Sea testing kit. Whereby I thought I was shooting for a 0.05 on the black with my ppm… which is between 0.4 and 0.8 on the yellow side. didn’t realize I should shoot for that highest one.

I’ll test in the morning and bump her up depending on where she’s sitting.

Thank you, there isn’t much in for out on this dr Tim’s cycle I’m running. Proves particularly difficult if I’m venturing away from the instructions not wanting to put coral or fish in straight away