Ideal parameters???

[beginnerreefer2003]

Hey guys!
I’m on day 2 of my cycling after adding 2ppm of ammonia chloride followed by Dr Tim’s one and only, and also have used RO/DI water plus blue bucket red sea salt to make my water. I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

salinity: 1.025-1.026
temp: 25°C
ammonia: 2ppm (dosed to this)
nitrites: 0ppm at the moment, expecting a spike
nitrates: 0ppm same as above
pH: 8.0
calcium: 440ppm
magnesium: 1600ppm
KH: 7.3dKH

Is it weird that my magnesium is that high when it’s supposed to be at a certain level from the salt? Not sure if these are good levels or not (ignoring the ammonia, nitrite, nitrates of course)

Using API saltwater master kit to test pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and the red sea foundation pro kit to test Mg, Ca, KH

 

[Sam7]

Hey guys!
I’m on day 2 of my cycling after adding 2ppm of ammonia chloride followed by Dr Tim’s one and only, and also have used RO/DI water plus blue bucket red sea salt to make my water. I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

salinity: 1.025-1.026
temp: 25°C
ammonia: 2ppm (dosed to this)
nitrites: 0ppm at the moment, expecting a spike
nitrates: 0ppm same as above
pH: 8.0
calcium: 440ppm
magnesium: 1600ppm
KH: 7.3dKH

Is it weird that my magnesium is that high when it’s supposed to be at a certain level from the salt? Not sure if these are good levels or not (ignoring the ammonia, nitrite, nitrates of course)

Using API saltwater master kit to test pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and the red sea foundation pro kit to test Mg, Ca, KH

probably just a testing error...tests not very accurate....it will be fine either way. No worries

 

[ReeferMo]

Ammonia is still high
The ammonia still needs to convert to nitrite and the nitrite will convert to nitrate and the nitrate will lower,

About Magnesium and Alk imo
You don’t need to test yet if you won’t have coral in the beginning (best not to ) untill the tank matures a bit

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

While cycling I would stick to testing only ammonia and nitrate. No need to test others, they will all change as the tank matures and you get the tank stocked. To be honest I've never tested magnesium before, alklinity is the most important of all, but again not important until after the tank is stocked with corals.

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

Ammonia is still high
The ammonia still needs to convert to nitrite and the nitrite will convert to nitrate and the nitrate will lower
Magnesium and Alk imo
You don’t need to test yet if you won’t have coral in the beginning (best not to ) untill the tank matures a bit

yea no all good I know all about the nitrogen cycle (been in freshwater keeping for 10+ years)! Thought i’d try out my other tests as I haven’t done titrations since high school chemistry and was just wondering why things weren’t reading as they should from what I added in with the salt
Will things even out to where they should be as the tank matures or will I have to actually use things to change levels? You would think that my alkalinity would be higher because of the aragonite I have in there too, worried that my pH will be able to swing if it stays that low

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

While cycling I would stick to testing only ammonia and nitrate. No need to test others, they will all change as the tank matures and you get the tank stocked. To be honest I've never tested magnesium before, alklinity is the most important of all, but again not important until after the tank is stocked with corals.

oh cool good to know, just wanted to play around with the new tests as I haven’t done titrations since highschool chemistry haha! I am concerned about my pH swinging in the future with how low my alkalinity is reading as you’d assume with the salt and aragonite I have in there it would definitely have it at at least 8 but I guess time will tell

 

[BonnieB]

Let your cycle go do its thing and be patient…the toughest part of this hobby! API tests are very inaccurate so I’d ditch them for Salifert or Hanna. Right now as said above ammonia and nitrate (nitrite only relevant in freshwater and not toxic to our marine critters) are what you’ll want to test but give it a bit before doing it again. Not sure if you are but if you’re using dry rock the cycle takes much longer.

 

[mcarroll]

I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

Get one or two good books (Martin Moe is a great author to start with) or at least read @Randy Holmes-Farley 's relevant articles vs consulting AI.....so unreliable just not a good use of time when it's something that matters.

Ammonia dosing isn't even required (see Dr Tim's FAQ), and causes lots of people issues and confusion.

Seems like nobody gets told that the cycle will happen even if you do nothing to help it....and that Dr Tims is for instant cycling.

 

[BonnieB]

To what @mcarroll said about AI, I just learned from a Language Arts professor that AI will literally make things up when ask specific questions (like in LA case it made up quotes in a novel that didn’t exist!). Not the guide we want for our reefs to thrive!

 

[ReeferMo]

Hey guys!
I’m on day 2 of my cycling after adding 2ppm of ammonia chloride followed by Dr Tim’s one and only, and also have used RO/DI water plus blue bucket red sea salt to make my water. I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

salinity: 1.025-1.026
temp: 25°C
ammonia: 2ppm (dosed to this)
nitrites: 0ppm at the moment, expecting a spike
nitrates: 0ppm same as above
pH: 8.0
calcium: 440ppm
magnesium: 1600ppm
KH: 7.3dKH

Is it weird that my magnesium is that high when it’s supposed to be at a certain level from the salt? Not sure if these are good levels or not (ignoring the ammonia, nitrite, nitrates of course)

Using API saltwater master kit to test pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and the red sea foundation pro kit to test Mg, Ca, KH

you can raise your temp with a few degrees to speed up the cycle duration
and or also lower the salinity. it will speed it up a bit
also did you take any new readings?

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

Get one or two good books (Martin Moe is a great author to start with) or at least read @Randy Holmes-Farley 's relevant articles vs consulting AI.....so unreliable just not a good use of time when it's something that matters.

Ammonia dosing isn't even required (see Dr Tim's FAQ), and causes lots of people issues and confusion.

Seems like nobody gets told that the cycle will happen even if you do nothing to help it....and that Dr Tims is for instant cycling.

… I wasn’t using AI, I was googling for other people’s opinions on google for forums on here and reddit threads as it’s easier than searching on here haha! I am using Dr Tim’s ammonia chloride and their one and only and following their fishless cycle guide which takes place over two weeks

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

To what @mcarroll said about AI, I just learned from a Language Arts professor that AI will literally make things up when ask specific questions (like in LA case it made up quotes in a novel that didn’t exist!). Not the guide we want for our reefs to thrive!

haha yea no i’m a uni student too- no AI being used here! I’m not sure where that part came from, as from googling I didn’t mean using the automatic AI response, I was searching for forums on here and reddit threads for people’s opinions

 

[BonnieB]

To what @mcarroll said about AI, I just learned from a Language Arts professor that AI will literally make things up when ask specific questions (like in LA case it made up quotes in a novel that didn’t exist!). Not the guide we want for our reefs to thrive!

haha yea no i’m a uni student too- no AI being used here! I’m not sure where that part came from, as from googling I didn’t mean using the automatic AI response, I was searching for forums on here and reddit threads for people’s opinions

You’re in the right place for expert help!

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

Hey guys!
I’m on day 2 of my cycling after adding 2ppm of ammonia chloride followed by Dr Tim’s one and only, and also have used RO/DI water plus blue bucket red sea salt to make my water. I’ve began testing everything now to track how my cycle is going and have been getting mixed messages from google about what’s okay and what isn’t about my parameters

salinity: 1.025-1.026
temp: 25°C
ammonia: 2ppm (dosed to this)
nitrites: 0ppm at the moment, expecting a spike
nitrates: 0ppm same as above
pH: 8.0
calcium: 440ppm
magnesium: 1600ppm
KH: 7.3dKH

Is it weird that my magnesium is that high when it’s supposed to be at a certain level from the salt? Not sure if these are good levels or not (ignoring the ammonia, nitrite, nitrates of course)

Using API saltwater master kit to test pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and the red sea foundation pro kit to test Mg, Ca, KH

you can raise your temp with a few degrees to speed up the cycle duration
and or also lower the salinity. it will speed it up a bit
also did you take any new readings?

I retook everything tonight and everything is still the same, odd that my cycle still hasn’t began- not even a dent in the ammonia (still at 2ppm)

 

[ReeferMo]

I retook everything tonight and everything is still the same, odd that my cycle still hasn’t began- not even a dent in the ammonia (still at 2ppm)

what did you add first ammonium chloride or dr tims one and only?

 

[Fish Fan]

what did you add first ammonium chloride or dr tims one and only?

You add them at the same time.

I retook everything tonight and everything is still the same, odd that my cycle still hasn’t began- not even a dent in the ammonia (still at 2ppm)

It's working, just be patient

A fish-less cycle using Dr. Tim's products typically takes about three weeks, give or take. I wouldn't expect to see your ammonia come down until a week or two into the cycle.

 

[ReeferMo]

You add them at the same time.


It's working, just be patient

A fish-less cycle using Dr. Tim's products typically takes about three weeks, give or take. I wouldn't expect to see your ammonia come down until a week or two into the cycle.

correct
but I'm not sure if she added the one and only after a few days of dosing with ammonium chloride

in that case it wouldn't be butt effective

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

I retook everything tonight and everything is still the same, odd that my cycle still hasn’t began- not even a dent in the ammonia (still at 2ppm)

what did you add first ammonium chloride or dr tims one and only?

yea at the same time as per their instructions

 

[beginnerreefer2003]

what did you add first ammonium chloride or dr tims one and only?

You add them at the same time.

I retook everything tonight and everything is still the same, odd that my cycle still hasn’t began- not even a dent in the ammonia (still at 2ppm)

It's working, just be patient

A fish-less cycle using Dr. Tim's products typically takes about three weeks, give or take. I wouldn't expect to see your ammonia come down until a week or two into the cycle.

patience is a virtue- I’m just so excited to get everything started hahaha