So let me start by saying this is my first post here ever, that I've been reading on the forum for a few months, and I'm brand new to the hobby. Also, I'm sorry for the long winded post. A little unsure what to do here and wanting to get some other opinions than just my lfs.
I've had my tank set up for a little over 4 weeks. I used live sand (Caribsea), and Caribsea life rock. I poured in a bottle of Dr. Tim's and added the water. With all the water displacement from the rock and sand it's got about 60 gallons of water between the tank and the sump.
I let that go for a couple of days to let the water clear up and get to temperature. My husband and I did the live cycle method because we had read everywhere that it would be safe to use real fish with if we used a bacteria that said it could handle it. So we added 2 clowns, a few hermits and snails, and a skunk shrimp. Over the last 4 weeks we added a peppermint and a fire shrimp as well. One of the clowns didn't make it, would not eat no matter what we tried to feed her (We tried everything).
Over the last four weeks we we're a little worried about our tank not having enough bacteria and wacky parameters at one point, we read that the Dr. Tim's wasn't the best. So we added 2 16oz bottles of Fritzyme 9. As well as 2 4oz bottles of Turbostart 900.
I also started to feel like I was going crazy and couldn't trust my test kits, at one point I had 3 ammonia kits. (Salifert, Redsea, and API). (I don't trust API brand as much though but was using it for a 3rd result).
Right now I'm not sure if my cycle is stalled, or if it's looking good and I should just keep doing what I've been doing?
I'm about to setup the refugium because it's been 4 weeks I ordered thinking by now it would be safe. Plus I've read on the forums here that if you have fish in the tank it's a good idea to add it. I have read that you should be careful because if you add it before it's cycled and the fuge dies your tank may not be able to handle the load of ammonia in it.
I also want to mention we accidentally were overfeeding for a couple days, but the last 2 or 3 I've been feeding lighter in hopes it will right itself. So I'm also not sure if that's part of the problem and as long as I don't overfeed again... if I should be good?
My Parameters Are As Follows:
Ammonia: 0.2 (RedSea), <0.15 (Salifert)
Temp: It's been holding steady at 77.5 F
Salinity: 1.026
Nitrite: 0.1 ppm
Nitrate: (I don't have this reading, I've heard that when the tank is cycling the Nitrate readings can be off because it's reading the nitrite and the nitrate in one. But I can get this reading if you'd like.)
Ph: 8.2
I also have a couple coral, my lfs told me it would be okay to add some of the heartier corals. I have a pipe organ, toadstool, hairy mushroom, Kenya tree, and some xenia. Other than suspecting that my kenya tree may have a bacterial problem and may need an iodine bath, everything's doing great. I'm seeing growth on the corals. When the ammonia was up at 0.8 I had some xenia shrink and my pipe organ got mad and wouldn't open up. I did a 5 gallon water change at that point and moved the pipe organ up higher to an area with more light and flow (upon recommendation from my lfs). Since then it's been open almost all the time and the color is coming back steadily as well.
At this point I have the stuff for my fuge so I'm just going to set it up. I don't plan to add anything else to the tank for a bit, except for a second clown fish. Wanting to make sure it's finished cycling though. Unless you think it would be fine to add it at this point. It's been a while since I've seen ammonia above 0.2 and nitrite above 2. So I'm wondering if I would be okay to add the 2nd clown, or if I should just wait till it's completely finished cycling. I'm considering it at this point because the clown fish that was stressed out and didn't make it was my sons and he's heart broken over it. Plus, other than the shrimp, my little clown fish is the only fish in the tank.
Also, I've heard you shouldn't run carbon in the sump until after it's cycled. Should I wait to add this? The water isn't exactly as crystal clear as when I first put it it in the tank. But I've heard this is normal and part of that nasty new tank syndrome. So I'm not sure if I should run carbon in the sump at this point or just wait till I can confirm it's cycled.
So my questions are:
1. Is my cycle stalled, or am I just over worried and impatient?
2. If it is stalled, what do I do?
3. Is it safe at this point to add a second clown fish, (If my cycle isn't stalled)?
4. I know that when you set up your fuge, with the Alge barn starter kit, they have you add in a bottle of bacteria. Should I add one when I set this up? Or have I added so much already that I shouldn't add any more?
5. Should I run carbon in my sump at this point or wait until it's cycled?
I've had my tank set up for a little over 4 weeks. I used live sand (Caribsea), and Caribsea life rock. I poured in a bottle of Dr. Tim's and added the water. With all the water displacement from the rock and sand it's got about 60 gallons of water between the tank and the sump.
I let that go for a couple of days to let the water clear up and get to temperature. My husband and I did the live cycle method because we had read everywhere that it would be safe to use real fish with if we used a bacteria that said it could handle it. So we added 2 clowns, a few hermits and snails, and a skunk shrimp. Over the last 4 weeks we added a peppermint and a fire shrimp as well. One of the clowns didn't make it, would not eat no matter what we tried to feed her (We tried everything).
Over the last four weeks we we're a little worried about our tank not having enough bacteria and wacky parameters at one point, we read that the Dr. Tim's wasn't the best. So we added 2 16oz bottles of Fritzyme 9. As well as 2 4oz bottles of Turbostart 900.
I also started to feel like I was going crazy and couldn't trust my test kits, at one point I had 3 ammonia kits. (Salifert, Redsea, and API). (I don't trust API brand as much though but was using it for a 3rd result).
Right now I'm not sure if my cycle is stalled, or if it's looking good and I should just keep doing what I've been doing?
I'm about to setup the refugium because it's been 4 weeks I ordered thinking by now it would be safe. Plus I've read on the forums here that if you have fish in the tank it's a good idea to add it. I have read that you should be careful because if you add it before it's cycled and the fuge dies your tank may not be able to handle the load of ammonia in it.
I also want to mention we accidentally were overfeeding for a couple days, but the last 2 or 3 I've been feeding lighter in hopes it will right itself. So I'm also not sure if that's part of the problem and as long as I don't overfeed again... if I should be good?
My Parameters Are As Follows:
Ammonia: 0.2 (RedSea), <0.15 (Salifert)
Temp: It's been holding steady at 77.5 F
Salinity: 1.026
Nitrite: 0.1 ppm
Nitrate: (I don't have this reading, I've heard that when the tank is cycling the Nitrate readings can be off because it's reading the nitrite and the nitrate in one. But I can get this reading if you'd like.)
Ph: 8.2
I also have a couple coral, my lfs told me it would be okay to add some of the heartier corals. I have a pipe organ, toadstool, hairy mushroom, Kenya tree, and some xenia. Other than suspecting that my kenya tree may have a bacterial problem and may need an iodine bath, everything's doing great. I'm seeing growth on the corals. When the ammonia was up at 0.8 I had some xenia shrink and my pipe organ got mad and wouldn't open up. I did a 5 gallon water change at that point and moved the pipe organ up higher to an area with more light and flow (upon recommendation from my lfs). Since then it's been open almost all the time and the color is coming back steadily as well.
At this point I have the stuff for my fuge so I'm just going to set it up. I don't plan to add anything else to the tank for a bit, except for a second clown fish. Wanting to make sure it's finished cycling though. Unless you think it would be fine to add it at this point. It's been a while since I've seen ammonia above 0.2 and nitrite above 2. So I'm wondering if I would be okay to add the 2nd clown, or if I should just wait till it's completely finished cycling. I'm considering it at this point because the clown fish that was stressed out and didn't make it was my sons and he's heart broken over it. Plus, other than the shrimp, my little clown fish is the only fish in the tank.
Also, I've heard you shouldn't run carbon in the sump until after it's cycled. Should I wait to add this? The water isn't exactly as crystal clear as when I first put it it in the tank. But I've heard this is normal and part of that nasty new tank syndrome. So I'm not sure if I should run carbon in the sump at this point or just wait till I can confirm it's cycled.
So my questions are:
1. Is my cycle stalled, or am I just over worried and impatient?
2. If it is stalled, what do I do?
3. Is it safe at this point to add a second clown fish, (If my cycle isn't stalled)?
4. I know that when you set up your fuge, with the Alge barn starter kit, they have you add in a bottle of bacteria. Should I add one when I set this up? Or have I added so much already that I shouldn't add any more?
5. Should I run carbon in my sump at this point or wait until it's cycled?