I'm stumped

[Doug 7727]

So I finally got my tank stocked not the way I wanted because the wife tried to surprise me with some fish and corals but none the less mostly all the fish I want. Went to the lfs in Waco TX with a problematic plecustomus and a chocolate chip Sea Star after I was sold them from a large chain store that said the star was reef safe bad me I didn't do my research on the star. Back to the problem I'm having is the lfs wouldn't sell me any shrimp because they said my nitrites we're at the 3-5 ppm level the ammonia and nitrates we're at 0 and my tank was still cycling[emoji53]. I told them my API liquid test kit said 0.50 and after the wife looked at it said 1ppm. The tank was cycled fishless and the ammonia and nitrites were zero before I added any fish.

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

Howdy Doug!

Did you add ammonia / ghost feed in your fishless cycle?

Adding livestock increases the bioload and can cause another cycle / mini cycle as your bacteria work to deal with the increased load. Can you expand a bit on what you added, over how much time and tank size, filtration etc?

 

[redfishbluefish]

The presence of nitrate doesn't necessarily mean the tank cycled. It could simply be leaching from the rock.

Agree with above query on how to initiated the cycle, and also, how old is the tank?

 

[Doug 7727]

I have a 65 gallon tall tank with a finnex hob 1 gallon refugium with cheato in it also have KollerCraft TOM Rapids Pro RP3 wet dry with built-in protein skimmer current USA marine LED lights. I ghost fed 2 or3 times a week till it was cycled. The lfs used a dip stick to read the nitrites which I have also but use them only to give me an idea and go with the API saltwater testing kit I have . I'll show pics of tank.

 

[Doug 7727]

Howdy Doug!

Did you add ammonia / ghost feed in your fishless cycle?

Adding livestock increases the bioload and can cause another cycle / mini cycle as your bacteria work to deal with the increased load. Can you expand a bit on what you added, over how much time and tank size, filtration etc?

And a cleaner shrimp

 

[Doug 7727]

And a cleaner shrimp

The confusing part is that everybody is happy and healthy and eating and expanding the corals are doing great they're growing that's the problem I have if there was too many nitrates in the water I shouldn't be having that

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

That is confusing -- thanks for the updates and information. Can you confirm your timeline -- Set-Up, Cycled, Added Fish 1, 2, etc, up to today? Sounds like things are going ok and that's what is strange. Any very recent additions?

Just to confirm, because I wasn't sure... LFS read nitrites 3-4 and 0 nitrates and ammonia? Your readings are similar or different?

 

[Doug 7727]

The confusing part is that everybody is happy and healthy and eating and expanding the corals are doing great they're growing that's the problem I have if there was too many nitrates in the water I shouldn't be having that

I ment nitrites

 

[Doug 7727]

Started the tank in the beginning of November cycled the tank with dry rock not the Purple stuff I added bio-spera twice and was testing every few days it was cycled about the the 5th of December and then added a yellow Tang and 2 clown's I then added a neon dottyback and a chocolate chip Sea Star I was surprised with a coral beauty and a cleaner shrimp a Sailfin Tang and an urchin were added while I was at work and added all at the same time. stupid starfish which I got rid of when I found out it wasn't reef safe. Forgot to mention the gsp and mushrooms coral added with the clowns right after it cycled. And she surprised me with another coral I don't know what it is. She liked it and it was pretty

 

[Doug 7727]

My reading was 1-2 on nitrites

 

[DeepBlueSomething]

That’s a lot pretty quick - I would suggest giving things a bit to settle down.

Seems like there may be a bit of cycling still going on (or mini cycle from adds) since there is nitrites - but it might be catch-up? I would keep a close eye on things in case ammonia starts to build up.

I keep learning how much slower SW happpens compared to FW.

How are fish today?

 

[Doug 7727]

I ment nitrites

My tests as of 24Dec17

 

[Doug 7727]

The fish are all fat and happy and swimming around and eating and looks like they're enjoying life

 

[Doug 7727]

 

[NewbieReefer11]

Eventually you will have to upgrade to a bigger tank or give the sailfkn away they need at least 180G or 6ft tank