I'm on Day 11 of a fishless cycle using Dr. Tim's.
I've watched my nitrates go up over the days here, and now it's up between 50 and 100, probably right around 75 but could be higher (using Salifert test kits).
Technically the tank still isn't cycled, but it's close. Later today or tomorrow I plan to does ammonia again (waiting for nitrites to get .2 or below, per the Dr. Tim's recipe). I may also have to keep the tank going with a little ammonia dosing for 1/2 - 1 week, because next weekend we go out of town for 4 days so I've pretty much decided not to add fish before we get back. I'm starting with just two baby clowns, it's a 33 gallon DT. But I suspect the tank will not finishing cycling until around the time we come back, so timing will work out.
But the nitrates... is this level of nitrates normal during new tank cycling? I've also tested for phosphates several days again, was .2, which I consider fine.
But wondering about the nitrates... they say water changes won't do much for those, though I've seen that asserted in the context of a fish laden tank, no in the context of a new tank with no livestock.
I have pukani (a lot of it) and used Caribsea live reef sand.
I haven't been trying to keep ammonia at 2 or anything stupid like that. Following the recipe and even got support from Dr. Tim's to make sure I'm likely where I think I am in cycling, which it seems clear my tank is close but not done cycling. Probably cycled enough for two baby clowns, however. So one option is to stop putting in ammonia (or reduce the doses) and instead put in fish. I'd rather not do that though.
Just "worried" about the nitrates...
I've watched my nitrates go up over the days here, and now it's up between 50 and 100, probably right around 75 but could be higher (using Salifert test kits).
Technically the tank still isn't cycled, but it's close. Later today or tomorrow I plan to does ammonia again (waiting for nitrites to get .2 or below, per the Dr. Tim's recipe). I may also have to keep the tank going with a little ammonia dosing for 1/2 - 1 week, because next weekend we go out of town for 4 days so I've pretty much decided not to add fish before we get back. I'm starting with just two baby clowns, it's a 33 gallon DT. But I suspect the tank will not finishing cycling until around the time we come back, so timing will work out.
But the nitrates... is this level of nitrates normal during new tank cycling? I've also tested for phosphates several days again, was .2, which I consider fine.
But wondering about the nitrates... they say water changes won't do much for those, though I've seen that asserted in the context of a fish laden tank, no in the context of a new tank with no livestock.
I have pukani (a lot of it) and used Caribsea live reef sand.
I haven't been trying to keep ammonia at 2 or anything stupid like that. Following the recipe and even got support from Dr. Tim's to make sure I'm likely where I think I am in cycling, which it seems clear my tank is close but not done cycling. Probably cycled enough for two baby clowns, however. So one option is to stop putting in ammonia (or reduce the doses) and instead put in fish. I'd rather not do that though.
Just "worried" about the nitrates...
