LFS said ready for fish?

[acroholicanonymous]

Hi all!

Been many years since I’ve kept a reef tank and decided to jump back in recently.

My LFS asked me to send some pictures of what my tests look like and after they saw it they said it was ready for fish. Although I don’t think anything malicious is going on, it doesn’t seem right to me and need another set of eyes (as maybe mine are just getting too old to see the colors correct).

First image is Ammonia, second is Nitrite, and third/4th is Nitrate from both testing ways.

Thoughts? And thanks for everyone’s assistance!

 

[KrisReef]

So happy to see Salifert test kits.

How long has this tank been wet?
Did you start with any live rock?
or
Dry rock with ammonia and bacteria?

It looks like the tests might towards the end of a cycle but that just might be me wanting to see that result. I myself would look for higher nitrate with a dry rock start, but with live rock it might not ever get higher/pinker than what you are showing now?

Post a picture of the tank, and let us know how long you have been cycling and what all you put in the tank.

Just to be sure, and give the fishes a happier place to start out.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Looks like you’re pretty much there!

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Salifert is all I know :)

Tank was dry rock and sand. Used Brightwell ammonia and bacteria.

Here’s a picture of the tank, unsure if I like the rock set up or not. But it’s that way for now . I’m working on the wires tonight so forgive the mess.

Water looks a little cloudy as well.

 

[KrisReef]

Salifert is all I know :)

Tank was dry rock and sand. Used Brightwell ammonia and bacteria.

Here’s a picture of the tank, unsure if I like the rock set up or not. But it’s that way for now . I’m working on the wires tonight so forgive the mess.

Water looks a little cloudy as well.

Cloudy water may be either dust from the sand or bacteria bloom?

It's likely good to go for fishes.

looks nice!

 

[Spare time]

I'd consider adding some live ocean sand in there like these two bellow as well as some copepods (NOT tigrio). You can feed them phytoplankton or something like reef enhance. until the lights get some algae growing

https://tbsaltwater.com/shop/gulf-of-mexico-live-sand/
https://pacificeastaquaculture.com/products/live-sand


This would also be a good option to add (rubble or similar). You can add the live rubble to the sump and swap out some of the dry rubble down there. https://bommiereef.com/shop/products/seed-material/

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Thanks! I’ll take a look :)

 

[FindingNem0]

Very nice rock scape is that the RS 425 G2 ?

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Very nice rock scape is that the RS 425 G2 ?

Thanks! Yes, it is!

 

[acroholicanonymous]

I'd consider adding some live ocean sand in there like these two bellow as well as some copepods (NOT tigrio). You can feed them phytoplankton or something like reef enhance. until the lights get some algae growing

https://tbsaltwater.com/shop/gulf-of-mexico-live-sand/
https://pacificeastaquaculture.com/products/live-sand


This would also be a good option to add (rubble or similar). You can add the live rubble to the sump and swap out some of the dry rubble down there. https://bommiereef.com/shop/products/seed-material/

If I did this, would I have to wait again for another cycle?

 

[BristleWormHater]

If I did this, would I have to wait again for another cycle?

No

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Okay, thanks! I’m guessing I can go ahead and put in my filter socks too to see if that helps out the water?

 

[Spare time]

If I did this, would I have to wait again for another cycle?

Not at all. The benefits would be great since it would add tons of microfauna (from the sand) and microbes + coralline (from the bommie reef rock)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Your tank is ready! I agree, adding live rock to a rank is never a bad idea if you want to boost the micro biome in your tank.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Well I had a feeling that maybe my eyes couldn’t see the colors too well on the salifert test kit, so I bought an API kit and there is still ammonia present.

Glad I did as I was going to buy fish today!

Side note: the line isn’t 5 ml, luckily I have a ton of syringes to fill it up to correct height!

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Just an update, still seeing ammonia.

I followed the fishless cycle instruction from Brightwell but guess one week isn’t true for everyone.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Additional pictures.

I guess my question is if my tank is even cycling? Lol interesting how different the test results are from before. It’s almost as if I went through another cycle…

 

[jamesb07]

Additional pictures.

I guess my question is if my tank is even cycling? Lol interesting how different the test results are from before. It’s almost as if I went through another cycle…

If there is an ammonia source, it is cycling. Just not done yet. Ammonia will drop nitrites will drop, nitrates will rise then tank is cycled.
Now as for the test kit, I have heard Salifert is supposed to be more accurate than api, and api can cause false positives, but again everyone has a different opinion on both sides.

 

[acroholicanonymous]

If there is an ammonia source, it is cycling. Just not done yet. Ammonia will drop nitrites will drop, nitrates will rise then tank is cycled.
Now as for the test kit, I have heard Salifert is supposed to be more accurate than api, and api can cause false positives, but again everyone has a different opinion on both sides.

Thanks!

 

[acroholicanonymous]

Just an update

Salifert is all I know :)

Tank was dry rock and sand. Used Brightwell ammonia and bacteria.

Here’s a picture of the tank, unsure if I like the rock set up or not. But it’s that way for now . I’m working on the wires tonight so forgive the mess.

Water looks a little cloudy as well.

Just another update.

Water is starting to look clearer. Not sure that means anything but figured I’d document it :).

As far as testing today, same as yesterday.