One week in - Is everything going as it should?

KeMiKiLL

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
160
Reaction score
135
Location
Ontario
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My Biocube 32 has been cycling for a week now. Fritz Turbostart 900 was used to get it going.

Here are today's test results:

Salinity 1.024 - MA887
pH 7.8 - AquaChek agreed with API
Alk 240 (13.5 dKH?) - AquaChek
Calcium 440 - Salifert
Ammonia .50 PPM - API
Nitrite 5 PPM - API
Nitrate 0 - API

If I'm understanding this correctly, bacteria is doing it's job if Nitrites are present. Also, API tests are trash, so who knows...

I can't seem to raise the pH. I've been seeing that running my skimmer (the Biocube one is what I have installed) will raise the pH while bringing down the Alk but I've also read that the skimmer shouldn't be ran during the beginning of the cycle.

I threw a frozen mysis cube in the tank last night to, umm, broadcast feed.. Not sure why but I read that it was something that should, maybe, be done?

Am I doing it right? Anything I should or shouldn't do? What can I expect next?

Thanks!
 

Jekyl

GSP is the devil and clowns are bad pets
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2019
Messages
11,258
Reaction score
15,478
Location
Michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Mysis will provide a source of ammonia to keep the process rolling. I'd keep the skimmer off for now. Give it a few days and test again. Once nitrates are showing up the biological filtration is starting to do its job. After ammonia and nitrates zero out do a large water change to get the nitrates down. Turn skimmer on at that point and add your first fish. Continue testing the next few days to ensure there are no issues needing another water change. Happy reefing!
 

Rmckoy

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
8,369
Reaction score
11,239
Location
Ontario Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ph is not necessarily important in this stage as even later it will fluctuate from day to night.

As mentioned above , when ammonia and nitrite are 0
Nitrates should be high .
Do a large water change to lower nitrates and you can start adding fish. But slow .
test and keep a eye on ammonia for the first while

skimmer isn’t needed at the beginning as there will be no organics to remove .
but it’s a good time to run with the lid off to break in .
let it spill over into the sump as it will take time to settle
Down
 
OP
OP
KeMiKiLL

KeMiKiLL

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
160
Reaction score
135
Location
Ontario
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thank you so much! Should a CUC be put in before the first fish? If so, would that be after the first big water change, or before?
 

Jekyl

GSP is the devil and clowns are bad pets
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2019
Messages
11,258
Reaction score
15,478
Location
Michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Add CuC same time as fish
 

davidcalgary29

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 24, 2020
Messages
2,722
Reaction score
3,381
Location
Peace River, Alberta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My Biocube 32 has been cycling for a week now. Fritz Turbostart 900 was used to get it going.

Here are today's test results:

Salinity 1.024 - MA887
pH 7.8 - AquaChek agreed with API
Alk 240 (13.5 dKH?) - AquaChek
Calcium 440 - Salifert
Ammonia .50 PPM - API
Nitrite 5 PPM - API
Nitrate 0 - API



I can't seem to raise the pH.

Don't worry about pH until your tank is cycled. Mine hovered at around 7.6 during cycling, and I worried...and fretted...and then saw it rise and stabilize at around 8.1 once cycling was complete.

I wouldn't add anything except macroalgae until your tank has cycled. Inverts are sensitive to high levels of ammonia, and you certainly don't want to add to your levels by having dead snails in your build. One cerith snail that hitchhiked on some live rock did survive one of mys tank cycles, but I certainly wouldn't recommend experimenting with one.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 72 38.1%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 63 33.3%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.2%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.8%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 0.5%
Back
Top