I started cycling my Nuvo 15 on 12/14 using Fritz Turbo Start 900 and AlgaeBarn Nitrocycle (ammonia) plus established/seeded Matrix and 1 tiny coraline covered rock from established tank. I just checked ammonia today and it's zero so its cycled but I do not have any fish to add to it and really don't want to add any for awhile (1-2 months). However, I do have a coral order coming in 1 week and would like to add them in. So, how do I keep the bacteria alive until the coral come and can I just add coral and inverts (CBS shrimp, snails, hermits) now without fish? Can I throw in macroalgae (mermaid fan, gracilaria, pencil cap) from established tank right away? Can I add copepods (have a few bottles of Tigs and Tisbe on standby)? Do I do a water change before adding anything and how large for a 15 gallon (11 gal actual volume)?
Cycle Readings:
12/14
Amm: 8 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm (probably from using a few gallons of WC water and dirty Matrix media from my established tank)
12/15
Amm: 4 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
12/16
Amm: 4 ppm
Nitrite: 1.0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
12/17
Amm: 1-2 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0-5 ppm (too hard to read the colors on these dang tests, API and Salifert)
12/18
Amm: 0.25-0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
12/19
Amm: 0-0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
12/20
Amm: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0.50 ppm
Nitrate: 10-20 ppm
PH: 7.8 (lights off all week)
TIA!!!
Cycle Readings:
12/14
Amm: 8 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm (probably from using a few gallons of WC water and dirty Matrix media from my established tank)
12/15
Amm: 4 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
12/16
Amm: 4 ppm
Nitrite: 1.0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm
12/17
Amm: 1-2 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0-5 ppm (too hard to read the colors on these dang tests, API and Salifert)
12/18
Amm: 0.25-0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
12/19
Amm: 0-0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
12/20
Amm: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0.50 ppm
Nitrate: 10-20 ppm
PH: 7.8 (lights off all week)
TIA!!!
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