Hi everyone
After having multiple fresh water tank over years and dreaming about setting up reef tank I finally stepping into salt water Loads of unknowns but at the same time exciting.
My tank is 50cmx50cmx60cm (h) + sump, total of around 150l of water, Aquaforest dry rock and Aquaforest live sand
I have two totally different question but for starters will drop them here and hope that some clever people will give their opinions.
So finally I filled my tank and trying to cycle it. Added some ammonia and bacteria from the bottle as instructed. It has been over two weeks now but I am worried but something it is just not right. I started seeing nitrites and nitrates after few days of dosing Ammonia but now they stuck at same level and not moving for over a week. Ammonia around 3, Nitrites are around 1, Nitrates 5-6.
I know I have to be patient but knowing that nitrites and nitrates were started to produce means that cycle was started but for some reason it stalled. At the beginning I thought that I overdosed ammonia as it was reading 5-6, so i did 50% water change and now it is sitting at 3. I am dosing bacteria in the bottle too.
My question really is wether I should really be waiting for longer or do something I've been in fresh water scene for quite some time and all my tanks would have cycled by this time or at least i would expect seeing some sort of progress.
Second question is about stocking of tank. I know it is long term journey but want to have plan in mind:
I am thinking about: 2 x Clowns - whats the difference between Perculla vs Ocellaris? I know visual differences s i googled but from personal experience which ones would suite my tank
1 x Royal Gramma
1 x Hi Fin red banded goby with pistol shrimp
1 x cleaner shrimp
I know i might be pushing but if you think any other fish might fit into tank I would like to know maybe Bleny or some other fish
Thank you all for your responses
After having multiple fresh water tank over years and dreaming about setting up reef tank I finally stepping into salt water Loads of unknowns but at the same time exciting.
My tank is 50cmx50cmx60cm (h) + sump, total of around 150l of water, Aquaforest dry rock and Aquaforest live sand
I have two totally different question but for starters will drop them here and hope that some clever people will give their opinions.
So finally I filled my tank and trying to cycle it. Added some ammonia and bacteria from the bottle as instructed. It has been over two weeks now but I am worried but something it is just not right. I started seeing nitrites and nitrates after few days of dosing Ammonia but now they stuck at same level and not moving for over a week. Ammonia around 3, Nitrites are around 1, Nitrates 5-6.
I know I have to be patient but knowing that nitrites and nitrates were started to produce means that cycle was started but for some reason it stalled. At the beginning I thought that I overdosed ammonia as it was reading 5-6, so i did 50% water change and now it is sitting at 3. I am dosing bacteria in the bottle too.
My question really is wether I should really be waiting for longer or do something I've been in fresh water scene for quite some time and all my tanks would have cycled by this time or at least i would expect seeing some sort of progress.
Second question is about stocking of tank. I know it is long term journey but want to have plan in mind:
I am thinking about: 2 x Clowns - whats the difference between Perculla vs Ocellaris? I know visual differences s i googled but from personal experience which ones would suite my tank
1 x Royal Gramma
1 x Hi Fin red banded goby with pistol shrimp
1 x cleaner shrimp
I know i might be pushing but if you think any other fish might fit into tank I would like to know maybe Bleny or some other fish
Thank you all for your responses