New to saltwater tank

clowns · Sep 6, 2023

Cycling my 20 gal...I have done dr tims with ammonia chloride. On day 11 with live sand and rock I have 0 ammonia, <.5 nitrites and I think about 10-20 nitrates.
I have not cycled like this before. Am I cycled and if not, what now.
I want to get a crab to start with...

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2023

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2023

clowns said:
Cycling my 20 gal...I have done dr tims with ammonia chloride. On day 11 with live sand and rock I have 0 ammonia, <.5 nitrites and I think about 10-20 nitrates.
I have not cycled like this before. Am I cycled and if not, what now.
I want to get a crab to start with...

With these numbers especially if they have been steady at least 5 days - You are cycled. When adding fish, your ammonia and nitrate will climb and fall again which is normal and why you want to add dish slowly to allow denitrifying bacteria to keep up with new bioload as tank matures

shadow_k · Sep 6, 2023

Welcome to R2R ! And as vette said you should be cycled just go slow with adding

clowns · Sep 6, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
With these numbers especially if they have been steady at least 5 days - You are cycled. When adding fish, your ammonia and nitrate will climb and fall again which is normal and why you want to add dish slowly to allow denitrifying bacteria to keep up with new bioload as tank matures

No, had these numbers for 2 days...I last added ammonia yesterday..tank is 13 days old..so, if I don't add fish yet, will I lose cycle or will nitrates climb with rock, sand and seachem matrix bio in filter

Buckster · Sep 6, 2023

Hello and Welcome to R2R!

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2023

clowns said:
No, had these numbers for 2 days...I last added ammonia yesterday..tank is 13 days old..so, if I don't add fish yet, will I lose cycle or will nitrates climb with rock, sand and seachem matrix bio in filter

No you wont lose cycle. With live rock present- you can safely add your clowns

clowns · Sep 6, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
No you wont lose cycle. With live rock present- you can safely add your clowns

Awesome,
I will add starter..my goal is a clown and anemone
I have freshwater tank and raised angels from eggs without parents. Now they are laying eggs

SPS2020 · Sep 6, 2023

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

1112-425XL · Sep 6, 2023

clowns · Sep 6, 2023

shadow_k said:
Welcome to R2R ! And as vette said you should be cycled just go slow with adding

Thanks, will do

paragrouper · Sep 6, 2023

vetteguy53081 · Sep 6, 2023

clowns said:
Awesome,
I will add starter..my goal is a clown and anemone
I have freshwater tank and raised angels from eggs without parents. Now they are laying eggs

One thing to keep in mind- You dont want condylactus anemone with clowns as they are ornamental and rarely if ever bond with them and I would wait until week 12 - 16 to add anemone assuring tank is developed and stable. Anemones rarely accept change in chemistry and bubble tip is likely best choice

clowns · Sep 6, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
One thing to keep in mind- You dont want condylactus anemone with clowns as they are ornamental and rarely if ever bond with them and I would wait until week 12 - 16 to add anemone assuring tank is developed and stable. Anemones rarely accept change in chemistry and bubble tip is likely best choice

Thank you so much..I am looking for bubble tip down the road..I know I have to stabilize tank..Lol, I'm again learning patience