New 65 gallon cycle help.

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Hi All

So I'm new to reefing, and have setup a 65 gallon tank with Carib 'live' sand, dry rock and one 2 lb piece of live rock from LFS. Started the cycle with Fritz 900 on May 13th. Salinity 1.025

Currently seeing 0ppm ammonia and about 0.25ppm Nitrites, Nitrates are present. All Salifert tests.

My question is; do i need to do any water change? I've seen some conflicting information over the interwebz. Also, should i bump the ammonia up to 1-2ppm and look for a 24-36 hour zero out?

Thanks!

 

[Nano_Man]

Hi All

So I'm new to reefing, and have setup a 65 gallon tank with Carib 'live' sand, dry rock and one 2 lb piece of live rock from LFS. Started the cycle with Fritz 900 on May 13th. Salinity 1.025

Currently seeing 0ppm ammonia and about 0.25ppm Nitrites, Nitrates are present. All Salifert tests.

My question is; do i need to do any water change? I've seen some conflicting information over the interwebz. Also, should i bump the ammonia up to 1-2ppm and look for a 24-36 hour zero out?

Thanks!

I would say yes bump up your ammonia and see if it's gone back to zero after 24 hrs . I wouldn't do a water change yet just see what you're ammonia does first .

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Thanks :) Will bump up the ammonia and see what happens tomorrow -
What are the 'rules' around water changes?

 

[Dan_P]

Thanks :) Will bump up the ammonia and see what happens tomorrow -
What are the 'rules' around water changes?

The thinking behind water changes is to reduce the concentration of nitrate generated during the cycling process. Up to you to decide if that is warranted. By the way, if nitrite is present, the nitrate test will read higher than the true value, with some tests very much higher.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Did you ever add ammonia previously?

There’s no reason to do a water change.

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Did you ever add ammonia previously?

There’s no reason to do a water change.

I only added ammonia initially at the beginning of the cycle

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I only added ammonia initially at the beginning of the cycle

If you added 2+ ppm ammonia and it is no longer there, you are good to go. Adding ammonia again may give piece of mind, but is not needed.

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Now it looks like i have to rely on my API tests as it seems my Salifert is not reacting, I dosed Ammonia to 2ppm and API is registering the dose - but Salifert is floating about 0.25-.5 ppm

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well, use the api. As long as there is a big drop you are good to go. It need not hit zero.

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

Heres an update 3 weeks in to cycle (ish)
Visible Diatoms (I think)
Temp 79.2
Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 0 - 0.25
Alk 7.7
Nitrites 1-1.5
Nitrate 25 (may be lower) hard to tell the color difference - Hanna checker coming tomorrow
PH 8.1
Phos between 0.25 0.5

 

[Fish Fan]

This system seems cycled to me

Did you ever let us know how high the ammonia was when you initially first dosed it?

If you want to be sure, you can "test" your system by adding enough ammonium chloride to bring the conentraion of ammonia to ~2.0 ppm. Then, check again in 24 hours. If the ammonia os about 0.25 on your API test kit, you're good to start slowly stocking with some hardy livestock

Good luck!

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

I did that 24 hours test the other day, took a little over 24 hours (more like 28/30 hours) to clear down from 2ppm to 0.25 on the API

 

[Fish Fan]

I did that 24 hours test the other day, took a little over 24 hours (more like 28/30 hours) to clear down from 2ppm to 0.25 on the API

A few days ago, then you're fine today. I'd move forward if you're ready to do so

 

[ReefingInTheDesert]

I've not done any water changes yet, do you think I should do one before I add any fish/corals?

 

[Fish Fan]

I've not done any water changes yet, do you think I should do one before I add any fish/corals?

No

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Agreed. You are cycled, nitrate is lower than test result shows due to nitrite interference, no water change needed, and you are good to go. :)