Important Question new tank

[NJHC]

Hello everyone, I have a quick question. I’ve been out a Reefing game for quite some time. I used a quick start in my tank & cycled for about a week. I did use live sand a little live rock. I bought some macroalgae today and I purchased two sexy shrimp the little guys…

here’s my question. I have 0 ammonia, pH is 7.8 however my nitrites are a little high. They’re about 1 based on these aquarium test strips, not a zero.

Would any of you have concerns with adding two new sexy shrimp as your first members of the tank or would you strongly suggest against it?

Thank you

 

[kevgib67]

Nitrite is not a factor in saltwater like it is in freshwater. You can ignore it and stop testing for it.

 

[Tahoe61]

I wouldn't add any livestock yet unless you used a larger amounts of LR even with quick start.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hello everyone, I have a quick question. I’ve been out a Reefing game for quite some time. I used a quick start in my tank & cycled for about a week. I did use live sand a little live rock. I bought some macroalgae today and I purchased two sexy shrimp the little guys…

here’s my question. I have 0 ammonia, pH is 7.8 however my nitrites are a little high. They’re about 1 based on these aquarium test strips, not a zero.

Would any of you have concerns with adding two new sexy shrimp as your first members of the tank or would you strongly suggest against it?

Thank you

I'm re-reading your top post, and now I think that you did not use an ammonia source in addition to the Quick Start. To get your tank cycled, you need not only the bacteria but also a source of ammonia to get the bacteria growing.

If you have zero ammonia now and about 1 ppm nitrite, that tells me that the ammonia wasn't high enough for your cycle initially. We know that about 1 ppm ammonia yields 2.7 ppm nitrite, so if you're nitrite is just 1 ppm now, that means the ammonia only reached about 0.37 ppm (1.0/2.7=0.37).

To get your cycle started, you usually want to add enough ammonia to reach about 2.0 ppm. Sources of ammonia to cycle your tank include bottled ammonium chloride such as Fritz Fishless Fuel, 'baker's ammonia', which is ammonium bicarbonate and found at some grocery stores and craft stores like Michael's, or even a piece of shrimp from the seafood market.

It doesn't sound like your tank is cycled and ready for livestock, but I also don't think a couple of sexy shrimp would create a lot of ammonia. I would still see if your fish store can take back the sexy shrimp until you for sure know that your tank is cycled.

The other option is to add a significant amount of live rock, that would basically instantly cycle your tank.

I hope this helps and good luck!