New tank cycle - help needed

[JoubbieReefer]

Hanna Marine Master ammonia won’t drop below 0.54 ppm - anyone else?


I’m cycling a new Red Sea Reefer G2+ 350 Display tank: ~75 gallons + Sump operating volume: ~19 gallons. Tank was setup with live rock and live sand.

Timeline:

• Initial test of tank on 7/11 read 0.35 PPM Ammonia
• Added an ammonia dose: Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride (1ml)
• Tested after an hour 0.46 PPM
• Ammonia: 0.39 (7/12)
• Ammonia: 0.50, Nitrite 3 PPB 7/13)
• Ammonia: 0.45 (7/14)
• Ammonia: 0.48, Nitrite: 5 (7/15)
• Added 1 ml more Ammonia - 0.56
• Ammonia: 0.54, Nitrite: .5 (7/16)
• Tetra ammonia strip: 0 ppm
• No livestock.

Has anyone else found that the Hanna Marine Master ammonia test never reaches zero? Did you determine it was a baseline issue or was your tank actually still cycling? Am I being impatient and expecting too much too soon?

Brand new to saltwater - help talk me off the ledge.

 

[Subsea]

First, I don’t think you added enough ammonia.

Details matter: You are showing minimum ammonia. You should have dosed enough to get to 2ppm.

Nitrite measured in PPB is ZERO.

What is your nitrate concentration?

Also, detail your live sand & live rock: source & volume

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

I agree with Subsea, you're not adding nearly enough ammonia. You need to add enough of the Dr. Tim's Ammonium Chloride to bring the ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm measured on your test kits. 1 mL, is basically one droplet, which is next to zero in a 75 gallon tank

Get the ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm and if the Dr. Tim's stuff is giving you trouble you can find food grade Baker's Ammonia at places like Michael's craft stores in their baking section. Watch as the ammonia declines to about 0.25 ppm or less, and nitrate starts to register. You can safely ignore nitrite, it's non toxic in saltwater.

Please post back with any further questions and I'm sure someone will be able to help you

Good luck!

 

[JoubbieReefer]

So how many mls of ammonia should I add to get it to 2 ppm?

 

[Fish Fan]

So how many mls of ammonia should I add to get it to 2 ppm?

There's instructions on the Dr. Tim's bottle, I'd use that as a starting point, but double check it using your test kits

 

[Fish Fan]

This is from Dr. Tim's Aquatics:

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling | DrTim's Aquatics

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling with One & Only There are many opinions about how to fishless cycle your aquarium. But they normally just confuse readers and generate more questions than answers. Below is an article explaining the process and a couple of ways to fishless cycle, which we...

www.drtimsaquatics.com

From the above link:
"The Process:

• Day 1 – dose ammonia to 2 ppm ammonia-nitrogen [NH3-N] using our ammonium chloride (1 drop per gallon [After Nov 2016 when using DrTim’s ammonium chloride use 4 drops per gallon]) [NOTE: do not expect your test kit to exactly read 2 ppm and it is not critical to get exactly 2 ppm. The key is to not add too much ammonia]. If using DrTim’s Aquatics One & Only Live Nitrifying bacteria add it now (turn skimmer, UV and ozone off and remove filter socks for 48 hours)."

Do this to get your ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm, and the just wait until it comes down to about 0.25 ppm

 

[JoubbieReefer]

I have about

First, I don’t think you added enough ammonia.

Details matter: You are showing minimum ammonia. You should have dosed enough to get to 2ppm.

Nitrite measured in PPB is ZERO.

What is your nitrate concentration?

Also, detail your live sand & live rock: source & volume

80 lbs of live rock and added about 27 lbs of live sand - Nature’ ocean. Rock was fully cycled from a large aquarium shop in PA.

 

[Subsea]

I have about

80 lbs of live rock and added about 27 lbs of live sand - Nature’ ocean. Rock was fully cycled from a large aquarium shop in PA.

Glad you like your vendors.

What is your present ammonia, nitrate & phosphate concentrations?

 

[Subsea]

I have about

80 lbs of live rock and added about 27 lbs of live sand - Nature’ ocean. Rock was fully cycled from a large aquarium shop in PA.

In my 30 year mature 75G tank, I dose 20 ml of ammonia every day. And still show zero inorganic nitrate.

 

[JoubbieReefer]

In my 30 year mature 75G tank, I dose 20 ml of ammonia every day. And still show zero inorganic nitrate.

Wow. Why do you dose ammonia - don’t the fish provide that? I was thinking of adding 12 ml and then testing an hour later. I don’t want to over do it and get the ammonia too high either.

 

[JoubbieReefer]

This is from Dr. Tim's Aquatics:

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling | DrTim's Aquatics

Quick Guide to Fishless Cycling with One & Only There are many opinions about how to fishless cycle your aquarium. But they normally just confuse readers and generate more questions than answers. Below is an article explaining the process and a couple of ways to fishless cycle, which we...

www.drtimsaquatics.com

From the above link:
"The Process:

• Day 1 – dose ammonia to 2 ppm ammonia-nitrogen [NH3-N] using our ammonium chloride (1 drop per gallon [After Nov 2016 when using DrTim’s ammonium chloride use 4 drops per gallon]) [NOTE: do not expect your test kit to exactly read 2 ppm and it is not critical to get exactly 2 ppm. The key is to not add too much ammonia]. If using DrTim’s Aquatics One & Only Live Nitrifying bacteria add it now (turn skimmer, UV and ozone off and remove filter socks for 48 hours)."

Do this to get your ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm, and the just wait until it comes down to about 0.25 ppm

Thanks much. So it won’t necessarily got to 0 - 0.25 is ok.

 

[Subsea]

Wow. Why do you dose ammonia - don’t the fish provide that? I was thinking of adding 12 ml and then testing an hour later. I don’t want to over do it and get the ammonia too high either.

I prefer to keep fish density light. Plus, fish don’t need to be feed heavy. Let them graze naturally.

I focus on nutrient recycling and multiple food webs that convert nutrients into live food for hungry mouths.

 

[JoubbieReefer]

I prefer to keep fish density light. Plus, fish don’t need to be feed heavy near as much as grazing.

Thanks for the information. I have a LOT to learn, but excited about the journey. Will dose tomorrow and get to 2 PPM. Wasted almost a week hoping that live sand and rock had kickstarted the process…. Oh well. Live and learn.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks much. So it won’t necessarily got to 0 - 0.25 is ok.

I'm not following your question

There's two things; you want to get the ammonia concentration in your tank to about 2.0 ppm, use Dr. Tim's Ammonium Chloride, Baking Ammonia, or table shrimp from your local seafood market. Then, wait for the ammonia to fall to near-zero; that's it, don't overthink it

Thanks for the information. I have a LOT to learn, but excited about the journey. Will dose tomorrow and get to 2 PPM. Wasted almost a week hoping that live sand and rock had kickstarted the process…. Oh well. Live and learn.

It takes about three weeks to cycle a brand new tank from nothing, even if the bottle of bacteria you added says something different

But you need to get the initial ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm to get the cycle going.

 

[JoubbieReefer]

Perfect thanks. I’m back at dosing and testing tomorrow. Thanks again for the sage advice!!

 

[Fish Fan]

Please post back with further questions!

Good luck!