Cycled or not?

[jacobcoral]

I have zero ammonia, zero nitrite, but I have .3 nitrate.

I just set this tank up about a week ago with a fish in cycle and added fritz turbo start.

I just want to see if you guys think it actually is cycled, I added a zoa frag from my other tank and it seems like it’s fine but I don’t want to start adding the rest of it’s unstable.

 

[mrhammy]

Did the levels ever go up? 1 week is most likely to fast give it time to build then do a wter change and test again

 

[jacobcoral]

Did the levels ever go up? 1 week is most likely to fast give it time to build then do a wter change and test again

I’m in the army and didn’t have time to test, I added a bunch of Fritz bacteria and I’ve used it in the past so I’m assuming they went up.

 

[mrhammy]

Then you should wait IMHO

 

[jacobcoral]

Then you should wait IMHO

Okay sounds good

 

[Fish Fan]

I don't personally like the fish-in cycle method anymore, though some members do report that with the Fritz product specifically they are able to add fish immediately and was fine. The Fritz product does appear to be more fast-acting than some of the other bacterial-in-a-bottle products.

How are you measuring things? Unless you have something like a Hanna Checker, you're unlikely to have a hobby-level test kit that can resolve nitrate out to the tenths of PPM, which would be like one part in ten million.

Did you start this tank with any established rock or sand, or was it all dry?

 

[jacobcoral]

I don't personally like the fish-in cycle method anymore, though some members do report that with the Fritz product specifically they are able to add fish immediately and was fine. The Fritz product does appear to be more fast-acting than some of the other bacterial-in-a-bottle products.

How are you measuring things? Unless you have something like a Hanna Checker, you're unlikely to have a hobby-level test kit that can resolve nitrate out to the tenths of PPM, which would be like one part in ten million.

Did you start this tank with any established rock or sand, or was it all dry?

There was a bacteria brick and live sand. Yes I use the Hanna checkers

 

[Fish Fan]

There was a bacteria brick and live sand. Yes I use the Hanna checkers

Then I would think you’re likely good if you had some cycled bio bricks and live sand.

 

[jacobcoral]

Then I would think you’re likely good if you had some cycled bio bricks and live sand.

I just placed an order for some coral maybe I should add a bit more Fritz to confirm?

 

[Fish Fan]

I just placed an order for some coral maybe I should add a bit more Fritz to confirm?

Adding Frits won't hurt anything.

You can test the system by adding ammonia chloride until the ammonia is at 2.0 ppm, then test again in 24 and if the ammonia is then zero, you should be good.

I think you're coral will be fine, they actually like a little ammonia in the water, and won't add much to the bioload the way adding more fish would.

 

[jacobcoral]

Adding Frits won't hurt anything.

You can test the system by adding ammonia chloride until the ammonia is at 2.0 ppm, then test again in 24 and if the ammonia is then zero, you should be good.

I think you're coral will be fine, they actually like a little ammonia in the water, and won't add much to the bioload the way adding more fish would.

I added the fritz yesterday, no amonia, and no nitrite. Nitrates are still .3 though

 

[Fish Fan]

Did you add any more ammonia? See if you add ammonia, does it result in nitrates.

 

[jacobcoral]

Did you add any more ammonia? See if you add ammonia, does it result in nitrates.

I added ammonia no up in nitrate tho

 

[Fish Fan]

I don't know, but something seems wrong with your test kit or your test process here. Could you kit be expired? Can you have your water double checked at your LFS?

 

[ScottJ]

Is there a fish in there? I wouldn't want to add ammonia with fish

 

[Fish Fan]

Is there a fish in there? I wouldn't want to add ammonia with fish

That's a good point, I'm confusing my threads here :)

 

[jacobcoral]

I don't know, but something seems wrong with your test kit or your test process here. Could you kit be expired? Can you have your water double checked at your LFS?

It’s a Hanna checker

 

[jacobcoral]

That's a good point, I'm confusing my threads here :)

Yes there’s one clown

 

[Fish Fan]

I don’t know, maybe give it another few days to see if anything changes? You should be seeing something for nitrates soon if not already.