First saltwater tank, 40 breeder

[KleineVampir]

There are many different ways to cycle the tank. I feed my tank like there are fish in there 2-3 times a week. When ammonia is at 2ppm. Stop feeding. The bacteria you added is just a kick start. It needs to be fed with a source of ammonia. It is more humane to do a fish less cycle. We used to use damsels... then return them after the cycle

Ok I dumped some food in there. Probably too much but it's a big ol' can and it's a little too easy to dump. Anyways I'm hesitant to put any more in there since that should be quite a bit of nutrients and ammonia. But yeah, thanks for giving me the push I needed to do that. I think after I let that stew in there for a few days the tank should be ready for the fish. They may not love it at first but it should be ok.

 

[KleineVampir]

Anybody have any bright ideas about how I can get the chlorine out of these rocks? I dumped in a ton of dechlorinator but I still smell the chlorine on the rocks.

 

[KleineVampir]

Somebody said let it dry and the chlorine bonds will break. I'm gonna try that!

 

[sstanley223]

Ok I dumped some food in there. Probably too much but it's a big ol' can and it's a little too easy to dump. Anyways I'm hesitant to put any more in there since that should be quite a bit of nutrients and ammonia. But yeah, thanks for giving me the push I needed to do that. I think after I let that stew in there for a few days the tank should be ready for the fish. They may not love it at first but it should be ok.

Test for ammonia tomorrow

 

[KleineVampir]

Test for ammonia tomorrow

Right on, will do!

D'oh moment...I shoulda put the food in the fuge, not the tank! I guess that goes for basically everything I don't want to see but that should be in the water!

 

[sstanley223]

Right on, will do!

D'oh moment...I shoulda put the food in the fuge, not the tank! I guess that goes for basically everything I don't want to see but that should be in the water!

It doesnt matter... please post the results? You will also need to test for nitrite

 

[KleineVampir]

It doesnt matter... please post the results? You will also need to test for nitrite

Ok...what results do I want to see and what don't I want to see?

 

[sstanley223]

It's not a matter of good or bad, it's just a process and you will learn by monitoring it. You will see a spike in ammonia for a while until the bacteria population starts to grow. Then it will seem to disappear. At that time you will see a spike in nitrite. When that goes back to zero do a water change and you are ready for fish. You can test once a day to watch or once a week. Up to you.

 

[KleineVampir]

It's not a matter of good or bad, it's just a process and you will learn by monitoring it. You will see a spike in ammonia for a while until the bacteria population starts to grow. Then it will seem to disappear. At that time you will see a spike in nitrite. When that goes back to zero do a water change and you are ready for fish. You can test once a day to watch or once a week. Up to you.

Yeah, but this is a very specific time! The day after I put food in there.

BTW, the rocks situation is looking good! I put them out in the open air with a fan on them to dry them off faster...I already can't smell the chlorine! I think I'm gonna let them dry completely though, give them a good last sniff, and then finally I can put them in my tank! 5 days it's taken me to do this!

 

[sstanley223]

0 is the only acceptable number for ammonia

 

[KleineVampir]

0 is the only acceptable number for ammonia

Yeah, fair enough. I wish my chaeto would show up! That would help with the ammonia.

 

[KleineVampir]

It's slowwwwwww chaeto from ebay! xD

 

[KleineVampir]

Alright I did the tests. Ammonia, nitrite, and even nitrate, were all 0. Especially the last two. I'd say if I have anything in the tank at all it's a bit of ammonia. But boy is it ever the smallest amount there ever was!

That means it's ready for fish, right? xD

 

[sstanley223]

Alright I did the tests. Ammonia, nitrite, and even nitrate, were all 0. Especially the last two. I'd say if I have anything in the tank at all it's a bit of ammonia. But boy is it ever the smallest amount there ever was!

That means it's ready for fish, right? xD

Hey! That's what you want to see! However I am reserved because I haven't seen evidence of a full cycle. I do not have experience with dry rock and bottled bacteria. From what I have read you should be good to go. In your situation I think I would add the fish and test daily being prepared to add more bacteria if ammonia spikes. Your call!

 

[KleineVampir]

Hey! That's what you want to see! However I am reserved because I haven't seen evidence of a full cycle. I do not have experience with dry rock and bottled bacteria. From what I have read you should be good to go. In your situation I think I would add the fish and test daily being prepared to add more bacteria if ammonia spikes. Your call!

Awesome! Finally I can go get my fish! I will be going to the old fish store shortly! I think I'll just get 2 clownfish and that's it, maybe a firefish later.

 

[sstanley223]

Awesome! Finally I can go get my fish! I will be going to the old fish store shortly! I think I'll just get 2 clownfish and that's it, maybe a firefish later.

My girlfriend's fish!

 

[KleineVampir]

My girlfriend's fish!

Very nice fishies! Not to mention the coral. Anyways, yeah...I got the clowns! They are little guys. I'll get a picture of them up soon.

 

[KleineVampir]

A valid message.

 

[KleineVampir]

Once I get my chaeto, how should I do the lighting? Day, night, all the time?

 

[KleineVampir]

So, with this system: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sumpless-ato-auto-top-off-system-xp-aqua.html

What kind of container goes along with it? I saw people in the comments talking about making a tight air seal....so not everything would work then. They should just sell the reservoir with it if it's that sensitive. Isn't it just a line that goes into a big thing of water...then it pumps it up into the tank when it needs to? Seems like that's all it needs to be.