Please help a confused noobie.

[SARA00]

Hi! I've researched A LOT of cycling a new tank and there is just so many ways I'm kinda confused on what do to.

I'm 10 days in with a brand new 29 gallon tank. I've added 25lbs of LIVE rock with purple coralline algae and LIVE sand into my tank. Couple snails and a baby pink starfish were hiding on my rocks.

My question is how should I cycle my tank. My test results from API master kit are:
Ammonia: 0? 0.25? Hard to read
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0? 5.0?
PH: 8.2
Salinity is 1.025 and temp is 78°
*I will attach pictures

I also bought Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride because that's what I read to use to start a new tank cycle. But read a lot of other people saying NOT to use it. I do have what looks like white pods? Swimming at top of water. My snail is very active. I have HOB filter and 2 power heads on each side. My tank is going to be a FOWLR tank.

Can someone please guide me in the right direction on what I should do. I know it takes alot of patience but I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Do I add the ammonia? Or do I get a bottle of bac? Or will take start cycle on it's own?

 

[Doctorgori]

I might have held off the live animals but now that you have them; skip the ammonia....
I would hold up there, use the bacteria as directed ...test, monitor, be patient and good luck

 

[Mhart032]

first welcome to Reef2Reef, Did you use anything to help cycle like Dr ims one and only or fritz turbo start or any products like that? it looks like you rock was from another cycled tank either local fish store or another person with a tank.

 

[Mhart032]

there will be some die off on the live rock, prob why you are seeing an ammonia spike, with the live sand and rock should be pretty instant cycle for the most part. I would keep testing until the ammonia is gone and you have detectable nitrates before adding anything else shouldnt take very long with what you have. I would wait it out. I wouldnt dose te Dr Tims ammonia at all, you already have some.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

If you added established live rock then you likely skip cycled. API ammonia tests are inaccurate and always appear to show non-zero when its not always the case. I would just let it settle for another few days and skip adding ammonia. Bottled bacteria won't hurt

 

[SARA00]

first welcome to Reef2Reef, Did you use anything to help cycle like Dr ims one and only or fritz turbo start or any products like that? it looks like you rock was from another cycled tank either local fish store or another person with a tank.

Sorry yes rock was from LFS. and no I didn't use any other products because I thought have live rock and sand would have enough bacteria that i wouldn't need anything.

 

[SARA00]

If you added established live rock then you likely skip cycled. API ammonia tests are inaccurate and always appear to show non-zero when its not always the case. I would just let it settle for another few days and skip adding ammonia. Bottled bacteria won't hurt

Yes that's what I am seeing with the API ammonia test

If you added established live rock then you likely skip cycled. API ammonia tests are inaccurate and always appear to show non-zero when its not always the case. I would just let it settle for another few days and skip adding ammonia. Bottled bacteria won't hurt

Yes that's what I am seeing with the API ammonia test (after I bought it already). I will keep waiting. thank you!

 

[Mhart032]

Sorry yes rock was from LFS. and no I didn't use any other products because I thought have live rock and sand would have enough bacteria that i wouldn't need anything.

You dont need the reeflink to setup ecosmart live. you can setup the live via the usb cable and set parameters ifi remember correctly. Its not ideal, but it works.

you dont need anything else, like the post above a bottle of bacteria wouldnt hurt things, only help seed the beneficial bacteria a little faster. but its really a waiting game. give it 3 or 4 days and when you see nitrates you can start to add a fish or 2. thats really the tell all would be the nitrates detectable.

Edit*I would definitely get a set of better test kits though. at least the redsea or salifert.

 

[W1ngz]

Sorry yes rock was from LFS. and no I didn't use any other products because I thought have live rock and sand would have enough bacteria that i wouldn't need anything.

Sounds to me like your research is paying off!

I'd feed lightly, just a couple of flakes or 3-4 brine or mysis shrimp every few days, and watch the snails go for it. Keep testing every few days. At the end of 30 days (probably over cautious, but what's the rush?) you should have a clear reading on nitrAte, with no ammonia or nitrite.

 

[SARA00]

you dont need anything else, like the post above a bottle of bacteria would hurt things, only help seed the beneficial bacteria a little faster. but its really a waiting game. give it 3 or 4 days and when you see nitrates you can start to add a fish or 2. thats really the tell all would be the nitrates detectable.

Edit*I would definitely get a set of better test kits though. at least the redsea or salifert.

Thank you so much for responding and helping me out! I will take your advice and wait it out and while im waiting buy a new test kit! :)

 

[Webslinger]

Black freshwater mollies are a good starter. They are cheap. eat algae like a beast and easy to catch once you want a "real fish". They really do help keep the uglies stage less ugly

 

[SARA00]

Sounds to me like your research is paying off!

I'd feed lightly, just a couple of flakes or 3-4 brine or mysis shrimp every few days, and watch the snails go for it. Keep testing every few days. At the end of 30 days (probably over cautious, but what's the rush?) you should have a clear reading on nitrAte, with no ammonia or nitrite.

Thanks! :) Okay I will give that a try!

 

[Lasse]

NH3/NH4 is difficult too analyze or read with these total ammonia tests.However - I will emphasize what @W1ngz state. If you read 0 (or very, very low) nitrite and some nitrates - the nitrification cycle is completed. If you read nitrites - your nitrate readings will be wrong (this because of the test method these tests use). If you add fish - feed like W1ngz suggested - very, very sparsely.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Mhart032]

How are things looking?

 

[SARA00]

How are things looking?

Hi, thank you for checking back in! :)
I ordered a new ammonia test, received Salifert Ammonia test kit today. Checked it and is at <0.15. I also have been "ghost feeding" a small amount every other day. Just patiently waiting for my ammonia to test higher so this cycle can get started. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow.

 

[Mhart032]

That's good news, coming along nicely.

 

[Malifry97]

@brandon429 with confirm. Your tank IS cycled. You used live rock and live sand. You can add fish now. No need for magic bacteria in a bottle potions. You can add fish now. 0.25 ammonia on API is often false anyway.

 

[brandon429]

from the day this was set up, it was as cycled as can be cycled. M has called it exactly right. it feels strange in the hobby to simply be ready on day one, but our hobby teaches nonspecific cycling to new readers, this is the confusing step. You have used a specific type of substrate(s) that are already prepared, they cost more than dry surfaces, so they're ready because they were wet a long time/proofed by adherents you've described.



cycle teachers have not told us that some cycles can be verified without testing. they cast doubt into every tank if no testing is done, or if readings seem to go against the norm for the substrates at hand. we undo that doubt below for 4 years running.

the hobby is being misled into overpurchasing retail items due to incorrect cycling procedure running rampant, this is addressed below.




In fact, key terms written by OP match first post in the microbiology of reef tank cycling thread

key terms already stated:
-what does the presence of pods indicate about ammonia add yes/no
-what do they indicate regarding filter bacteria on the surfaces they hitched on
-what does wet live sand bring to the tank regarding cycling bac
-when we use bottle bac and when its not required

We wrote this thread solely for your type of cycle, since nobody bothered to point out true skip cycle reefs prior (forums are always hesitate, measure, purchase, reverify, buy another kit, reverify, etc)

The microbiology of reef tank cycling.

You can skip your cycle. Ive been reefing online for twenty years and have never waited one second for a tank to cycle, because I buy rocks that are already cycled and move them home. Here's two: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/octo-high-end-sps-skip-cycle-build.713256/...

www.reef2reef.com

the number one takeaway from that thread is your instincts were pinging correctly

in the thread we are using clearly referenced visual cues you easily detected right up front. its pretty rare/neat for you to wonder if combining pods + free ammonia was the right approach

 

[DeniseAndy]

Yep, if all your rock was live rock (truely live) then you should not get a cycle. You are good to go. Just add animals slowly to allow bacteria levels to adjust correctly.
I begin tanks with live rock and never get a cycle. Add life right away. Good Luck and Welcome.