Cycling an Aquarium

[Rahul1129]

I had added live sand but no algae visible

 

[Brew12]

I had added live sand but no algae visible

What did you use as an ammonia source?

 

[Rahul1129]

What did you use as an ammonia source?

Had put a shrimp for 3 weeks and changed it after every 3 days

 

[Brew12]

Had put a shrimp for 3 weeks and changed it after every 3 days

Was the shrimp raw and not the cooked and frozen variety? Did the shrimp look very decayed when you pulled them out?

I wish I could tell you more, but without seeing some nitrates and with no visible algae I can't say that I would consider the tank cycled. It could be, only that I can't call it based on that information.

 

[Rahul1129]

Was the shrimp raw and not the cooked and frozen variety? Did the shrimp look very decayed when you pulled them out?

I wish I could tell you more, but without seeing some nitrates and with no visible algae I can't say that I would consider the tank cycled. It could be, only that I can't call it based on that information.

Actually i m trying to upload image of test but it says upload fail

 

[wsoldier]

I feel like I'm stalled, nitrite hasnt dropped for some time. Should I do a water change?

Slightly off topic but what app is this? Thanks!

 

[ViciousDlishus]

Slightly off topic but what app is this? Thanks!

Aquarium note

 

[chrisfa95]

What do you have that connects to your app

 

[Geebs19]

Wondering if I am ready to add fish.

Phosphate .074 ppm
Ammonia 0
Nitrite .5
Nitrate 20

Do I need to do a big water change to get the nitrates down?

 

[Brew12]

Wondering if I am ready to add fish.

Phosphate .074 ppm
Ammonia 0
Nitrite .5
Nitrate 20

Do I need to do a big water change to get the nitrates down?

I would give it another day or two. The nitrates will indicate lower once your nitrites drop so I wouldn't plan a water change yet.

 

[Geebs19]

Should I wait until nitrites are 0? I dosed about 1ppm or maybe a bit more on Saturday.

Thanks for the advice Brew. I have a clown that’s being a bit aggressive towards his partner and the flame so wanted to get them out of qt soon.

 

[Brew12]

Should I wait until nitrites are 0? I dosed about 1ppm or maybe a bit more on Saturday.

Thanks for the advice Brew. I have a clown that’s being a bit aggressive towards his partner and the flame so wanted to get them out of qt soon.

I wouldn't add any more ammonia. I don't think you need to wait until you get to 0ppm, but I would get to the 0.1 to 0.2 range.

If aggression does force you to move them over early, just make sure you have something like Prime on hand in case you do see an ammonia spike.

 

[Geebs19]

I wouldn't add any more ammonia. I don't think you need to wait until you get to 0ppm, but I would get to the 0.1 to 0.2 range.

If aggression does force you to move them over early, just make sure you have something like Prime on hand in case you do see an ammonia spike.

Awesome, thanks! I do have prime in hand just in case. I wouldn’t suspect an ammonia spike from those 3 small guys in a 120 total tank?

 

[Brew12]

Awesome, thanks! I do have prime in hand just in case. I wouldn’t suspect an ammonia spike from those 3 small guys in a 120 total tank?

I'd agree that it is unlikely.

With a tank that size, you could move them now. Just keep testing daily until nitrites get to near zero.

 

[Geebs19]

Thanks Brew! I haven’t done a water change since the cycle began, would you suggest that I do one? Also going to turn on the skimmer as it’s been off for the cycle.

 

[Brew12]

Thanks Brew! I haven’t done a water change since the cycle began, would you suggest that I do one? Also going to turn on the skimmer as it’s been off for the cycle.

I wouldn't do one. Your nitrates are still low. Odds are they are only around 5ppm.

Turning on the skimmer would be an excellent idea.

 

[ChadmRoman]

I’m finally showing ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 ppm! At the same time the ugly stage is kicking in with diatoms, cyano showing up the past three days, and showing signs of my first algae outbreak.

I plan to add my cuc in the next week or when the tank shows no ammonia and nitrites.

Can I I add my first couple fish as that time or should I wait for the ugly stage to clear up and then add? And no I don’t plan to qt, accepting this risk.

 

[Geebs19]

Common for water to be cloudy with diatom bloom? Cloudiness showed up as soon as the diatoms showed up and haven’t been able to get it to go away. Have to change filter sock every 3 days.

 

[Brew12]

Common for water to be cloudy with diatom bloom? Cloudiness showed up as soon as the diatoms showed up and haven’t been able to get it to go away. Have to change filter sock every 3 days.

I don't feel that cloudy water is ever a normal thing. Normally that is either an algae bloom or bacteria bloom.

 

[grimreaper]

Hi Guys
totally new to the hobby, first time ever having an aquarium at my place. Using the following setup in a reefer 450 and 11 days into my cycle, using the RedSea reef mature kit. Set this up myself without any help so feel free to point out anything you guys can think of, better to fix it as early as possible.

1. Neptune Apex (Yes I am using the EB832 outside the US without a step-down transformer on international voltage and no I can't answer any questions regarding it as a thread related to it was deleted by the admin here and same on Neptune Support Forums).
2. Neptune Wav x2
3. Cor-20
4. Nyos Quantum 160 skimmer
5. 94 lbs of Dry rock
6. CaribSea Hawaiian Black live sand (100lbs)
7. Neptune AFS (not yet installed, too lazy)
8. Water RODI mixed with Red Sea Coral Pro Salt
9. 2x KeloRay AE-200 (We get this here the US equivalent is the cobalt aquatics C-Ray-200)
10. Two Nyos Torq are shipping out sometime this week (However don't plan on using them till the cycle is complete)
11. Deltec UV sterilizer 20W (Again not using it, waiting for the cycle to complete).
12. Schego Titanium 600W heater.
13. API Saltwater Test kit.

The tank is being cycled according to the Red Sea Reef Mature kit down to the letter, except for the water testing part which I'd love to do everyday but unfortunately can't due to work keeping me away from home more often than not. I've also not been dosing the KH Coraline Gro as the alkalinity is constant at 11-12 dkh, called Red Sea regarding this and they said it was fine as long as the alkalinity stayed above 8.4 dkh(Using Nyos Alkalinity test kit).
I'm now at the stage where the manual recommends adding the clean up crew however when I tested the water today there was a huge Nitrite Spike. So decided against introducing the cleanup crew for now. Don't wanna poison the poor guys. I am attaching a couple of pics from the log that I try to maintain within the Apex for the gurus and @Brew12 to look over. Love to have an opinion from you guys as my total knowledge and experience is reading up on forums here and my good friend google.

1. My LFS says that the cycle has stalled (Day 10 into the Cycle)and I need some other products, they were trying to sell me the Nyos Bacterial Kit today?
2. Should I add the cleanup crew, Cant see any algae, except for a few brown patches here and there.