Hello everyone! Long time reader, first time post-er.
My question is: Is there a way to make sure my tank is actually cycling right now so I don't wait 4-6 weeks (like I've read) before adding any corals just to find out that the tank has been doing nothing this entire time. I don't have any livestock and don't plan to add any. I didn't use any chemical to start the cycle such as Dr. Tim's One and Only. Is the live rock from the LFS and the live sand enough to start the cycle on its own?
After a very long break from having a fish tank, (7 years?), my wife finally caved and let me back into the hobby. Currently, I'm 1 week in the cycling process and I just tested the water so see if anything is happening. It's hard to tell with this API Saltwater Test Kit, but from the looks of the chart and colors, it seems like it could be:
8.0-8.2 pH~
0 ppm Nitrite
Ammonia looks like it could be anywhere from 0.25ppm to 0.50ppm based on the color of the test
The color of the Nitrate liquid looks like it could be anywhere from 0ppm to 10ppm.
The setup is a 10 gallon tank with a Aquaclear 70 filled with Fluval media, heater and waiting on a surface skimmer attachment. Lights have been off. 5 pounds of live sand by CaribSea. 10 pounds of live rock from LFS. Don't know what kind it was, but it was priced at $7.99 a pound.
The filter media is Fluval biomax, Fluval clearmax phosphate remover, Fluval biofoam, and Fluval ultragrade carbon.
From various things that I've read, I'm planning to change the filter media on the next change out to Chemi-pure Blue, Matrix Seachem, and add Kalk+2.
My plans are to just have corals and little to no fish, however, if there's corals and/or fish you'd recommend keeping in a nano tank, I'd love to hear it!
Any help, advice, recommendations/suggestions are all incredibly appreciated. Links to great resources are always welcome also!
Thanks in advance everyone!
My question is: Is there a way to make sure my tank is actually cycling right now so I don't wait 4-6 weeks (like I've read) before adding any corals just to find out that the tank has been doing nothing this entire time. I don't have any livestock and don't plan to add any. I didn't use any chemical to start the cycle such as Dr. Tim's One and Only. Is the live rock from the LFS and the live sand enough to start the cycle on its own?
After a very long break from having a fish tank, (7 years?), my wife finally caved and let me back into the hobby. Currently, I'm 1 week in the cycling process and I just tested the water so see if anything is happening. It's hard to tell with this API Saltwater Test Kit, but from the looks of the chart and colors, it seems like it could be:
8.0-8.2 pH~
0 ppm Nitrite
Ammonia looks like it could be anywhere from 0.25ppm to 0.50ppm based on the color of the test
The color of the Nitrate liquid looks like it could be anywhere from 0ppm to 10ppm.
The setup is a 10 gallon tank with a Aquaclear 70 filled with Fluval media, heater and waiting on a surface skimmer attachment. Lights have been off. 5 pounds of live sand by CaribSea. 10 pounds of live rock from LFS. Don't know what kind it was, but it was priced at $7.99 a pound.
The filter media is Fluval biomax, Fluval clearmax phosphate remover, Fluval biofoam, and Fluval ultragrade carbon.
From various things that I've read, I'm planning to change the filter media on the next change out to Chemi-pure Blue, Matrix Seachem, and add Kalk+2.
My plans are to just have corals and little to no fish, however, if there's corals and/or fish you'd recommend keeping in a nano tank, I'd love to hear it!
Any help, advice, recommendations/suggestions are all incredibly appreciated. Links to great resources are always welcome also!
Thanks in advance everyone!