Cycle Tank - What should I do next?

[Luisruiz326907]

I have a 40 gallon long tank with approximately 15 gallon sump.

Just began filling this thing up last week with CaribSea live sand and rock.

Mixed my own RODI water etc to get 35 PPT on my salinity.

Used Fritzyme Turbo Start 900 3 days ago.

My parameters are as follows.

4/12 started tank - All Parameters 0

4/13 Ammonia 2.0 - Nitrite 0 - Nitrate 0

4/14 (ADDED FRITZYME) ammonia 2.0 - Nitrite 0 - Nitrate 0

4/15 Ammonia 3.5 - Nitrite 1 - Nitrate 50

4/16 (Concerned with elevated Ammonia did a 50% water change) Ammonia 2.5 - Nitrite 1 - Nitrate 35

During all this I used Red Sea testing kits and maintained my pH between 7.9-8.1 and my salinity 35 PPT +/- 1 PPT and temp around 79F

I do not have any filters currently running or lights on. Solely wave maker and return pump.

My question is do I do another 50% water change to lower ammonia levels? Or just let it take its course?

If so at what moment do I step in and do a water change?

 

[Tahoe61]

No water changes, as long as this is a fishless cycle.

 

[Luisruiz326907]

No water changes, as long as this is a fishless cycle.

Got it I’ll hold off for now and just wait til my ammonia is at 0

 

[brclark82]

What is your ammonia source and is there any livestock in the tank?

 

[Luisruiz326907]

What is your ammonia source and is there any livestock in the tank?

A full bag of Carib Sea live Sand / few mL of pure ammonia by Dr Tims. Only dosed it on 4/13.

No livestock

 

[mimi117]

Hi @Josephrandle,

It took me 3 weeks to do my fishless cycle, after my ammonia tapered off for a few days, I bought a fish, and some inverts.

I'd give it some time to do its thing, doesn't hurt to add some "Stability" to the tank, I think it helped me out big time, its pretty cheap like 10-15 bucks, its from SeaChem, essentially it's just bacteria to help stabilize the tank, recommended to be added when doing water changes, but you can add a capful to your tank 2-3 times a week and it will help by giving the tank colonizing bacteria.

Main thing is watching Ammonia levels, that's what kills the fish.

 

[Luisruiz326907]

Hi @Josephrandle,

It took me 3 weeks to do my fishless cycle, after my ammonia tapered off for a few days, I bought a fish, and some inverts.

I'd give it some time to do its thing, doesn't hurt to add some "Stability" to the tank, I think it helped me out big time, its pretty cheap like 10-15 bucks, its from SeaChem, essentially it's just bacteria to help stabilize the tank, recommended to be added when doing water changes, but you can add a capful to your tank 2-3 times a week and it will help by giving the tank colonizing bacteria.

Main thing is watching Ammonia levels, that's what kills the fish.

Thanks! I think I will dose with stability. See how that helps.

 

[mimi117]

Yea, check it out on Amazon, read reviews and watch youtube vids on it, see if you would like to use it before you purchase :)

 

[brclark82]

A couple things, there’s no reason I can think of that your ammonia should have increased from 2.0 to 3.5 from the 14th to the 15th unless you added more at the same time as the turbo start.

Also your nitrate reading won’t be accurate while you’re still testing positive for nitrite (it throws the results off). There’s no way 2 or 3 ammonia will equate to 50 nitrate.

Usually once you see nitrite and nitrate readings above zero you are generally good to start adding livestock shortly after that.

Turbo Start is very good starter bacteria and will usually cycle a tank in a couple days. It does need to stay refrigerated to be effective though, is it possible the place you bought it from didn’t handle it correctly (keep it refrigerated) and therefore possible increased your ammonia and didn’t cycle properly?

Are you using 0 TDS water to make your water for your water changes and for your initial fill up?

 

[Luisruiz326907]

A couple things, there’s no reason I can think of that your ammonia should have increased from 2.0 to 3.5 from the 14th to the 15th unless you added more at the same time as the turbo start.

Also your nitrate reading won’t be accurate while you’re still testing positive for nitrite (it throws the results off). There’s no way 2 or 3 ammonia will equate to 50 nitrate.

Usually once you see nitrite and nitrate readings above zero you are generally good to start adding livestock shortly after that.

Turbo Start is very good starter bacteria and will usually cycle a tank in a couple days. It does need to stay refrigerated to be effective though, is it possible the place you bought it from didn’t handle it correctly (keep it refrigerated) and therefore possible increased your ammonia and didn’t cycle properly?

Are you using 0 TDS water to make your water for your water changes and for your initial fill up?

I don’t understand it either.

The place I bought turbostart had it refrigerated and ready to go. I drove home and put it in directly to my tank while still cold.

I bought my own RODI water filter system and it does generate 0 TDS water.

Once it hits my tank it’s around 5-8 TDS because it goes through my storage bin / pump / hose to get to my tank.

My Red Sea ammonia test kit indicates I have high levels of Total Ammonia but my test strips are indicating I have 0 Free Ammonia.

Who do I rely on?

 

[mimi117]

You can try another test kit, or take it to your LFS, and they can test it for you.