Baffled by water test results during tank cycling

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

I setup and began to circulate the water in my tank on 11/07/2019. On that day I had 40lbs of dry rock, and 40lbs of Live CaribSea Aragonite Fiji Pink sand. On 11/09/2019 I added a 3lb live rock to the tank. My measurements have been:

Date	Temperature	Salinity	pH	Ammonia	Nitrite	Nitrate
11/08/19	75.80	1.026	8.00	0.50	0.00	0.00
11/09/19	76.40	1.026	8.00	1.00	0.00	0.00
11/10/19	75.60	1.026	8.00	1.00	0.00	0.00
11/11/19	75.60	1.026	8.00	1.00	0.00	0.00
11/13/19	75.60	1.026	8.00	1.00	0.00	0.00

I do not understand why I have not had an ammonia spike, nor have I had any Nitrate production as of today. I have ghost fed the tank every day with brine shrimp.

My real concern is: Will I have a delayed spike in the by-products? Or will the tank be safe for CC in a couple of days if the parameters are the same?

I use the API Saltwater Test Kit and a refractometer for salinity.

Any help (or comfort) is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

pdxmonkeyboy · Nov 13, 2019

Brine shrimp will take away to produce ammonia. It has to die and decay. Should have seen at least a little nitrite though. How old is the test kit? API is pretty well known for not being the most accurate test out there.

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

I am using dried brine shrimp. The test kit bottles have an expiration date of 08/2024. I have cycled several tanks this way before and have always had some Nitrite by day #5. This is why I am at a loss.

PatW · Nov 13, 2019

Cycling can take time. If you add some bottled bacteria sold to speed it up, it usually will. But often it takes a couple of weeks before you see nitrites and nitrates.

Quietman · Nov 13, 2019

I think you're set up pretty well. If you add more ammonia you'll end up with unnecessarily high nitrates and then you can have a bacteria die off from no food or have to feed the bacteria.

I like the gradual approach to cycling. Just be patient. If you have things decomposing you're going to have ammonia then you're going to get nitrites, etc...

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

Many thanks for the replies. I will tttrrryyy to be patient! BTW, is it worth testing for Phosphates at this time, or wait until I see Nitrates?

EMeyer · Nov 13, 2019

If your live rock is good I expect both NO2 and NO3 to show up within 10-12 days after adding the live rock. Youre still short of that at about 4 days. Give it another week and I bet you'll have both NO2 and NO3.

I do not recommend ghost feeding, youre at 1 ppm NH3 already, I say just wait and do water tests every 2-3 d.

brandon429 · Nov 13, 2019

based on your arrangement, if you literally just let the current tank stew in place one month its all equally cycled, meaning any portion can then be removed and tested for oxidation in another tank and it will pass. easy simple cant fail cycle, no matter what you add, withhold, or measure in the interim. its done before 30 days, the transferring from live to dry surfaces and all around...thats just a handy date all tanks will comply by if we do want to test and verify.

Its amazing to imagine aquarium cycling fully independent from required testing. We've certainly reached that degree of cycle control / prediction nowadays. your vectoring of bacteria from live to inert surfaces is inevitable.
Today's bottle bac is designed to coat surfaces typically within 2 days or less...any use of those boosters changes cycling dates considerably. The systems can be verified by conducting a full water change to export dosed bac, retesting for ammonia oxidation, and the systems pass

Quietman · Nov 13, 2019

Nice habit to get into (one of my 4 always do them 2x a week tests) but likely not much impact and you'll still end up doing a water change at end of cycle for nitrates. Can also help you get in tune with tank during the cycle. Is it critical? - no. Spend a lot of money on high end Phosphate tests? Heck no.

Steve_Skullsplitter0 · Nov 13, 2019

I love the pink sand. Got it in my tank as well. As long as it didnt dry out. Its Pretty good at jump starting nitrogen cycle. Wait until you get a spike before water change. Dont ghost feed every day. Dr Tim's starter really good stuff.

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

Thanks for the encouragement! This is how the tank looks as of 5mins ago...

I turned on the lights temporarily for the picture.

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

Steve_Skullsplitter0 said:
I love the pink sand. Got it in my tank as well. As long as it didnt dry out. Its Pretty good at jump starting nitrogen cycle. Wait until you get a spike before water change. Dont ghost feed every day. Dr Tim's starter really good stuff.

I filled up the tank with pre-mixed water as soon as I spread the sand.

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

Is the Temperature ok at 75.6? Or should I get a heater to increase it?

Urtie · Nov 13, 2019

plopezmd said:
Is the Temperature ok at 75.6? Or should I get a heater to increase it?

Yes, you should get a heater. According to Dr Tim, the bacteria grows best between 25 and 30 C, and the upper end of that range is best for quick cycling / growth.

Source:

Dr. Tim Hovanec: How to harness bacteria to cycle your saltwater tank quickly! | MACNA 2019

plopezmd · Nov 13, 2019

Urtie said:
Yes, you should get a heater. According to Dr Tim, the bacteria grows best between 25 and 30 C, and the upper end of that range is best for quick cycling / growth.

Source:

Dr. Tim Hovanec: How to harness bacteria to cycle your saltwater tank quickly! | MACNA 2019

Thank you for the advice. I will read the info on the link.