I seem to be through my tank cycle. Ammonia is zero, nitrite is ? ( I don’t know how to read this purple color on API Kit, it’s been stuck at this color before and after 90% water change), Nitrate was maxed on API kit. Tank is on day 14 after being dosed with Microbacter Start and Dr. Tim’s ammonia.
I did a 90% water change, afterwards Nitrate is still 40 ppm so I’m planning another large one. This makes me think it was REALLY high at the end of the cycle.
My next question is about the lights on or off. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a reef tank and there seems to be two schools of thought now. Keep the lights off and wait out 4 months or turn them on short cycle/low intensity and let the uglies begin to work themselves out. What to do? I personally think, it needs to happen and work itself out, but I also trust the BRS folks so I’m torn.
I dosed the tank with Purple Helix and Pink fusion the other day—I’m a sucker for Purple). I’d also like to dose some copepods at some point.
I’m perfectly fine waiting to put fish and coral in, but I’d really like to start seeing some life in the tank. My last tank I used live rock from petco and while messy, it was definitely full of organisms (good and bad). This dry rock is just so darn…. White.
appreciate your opinions.
I did a 90% water change, afterwards Nitrate is still 40 ppm so I’m planning another large one. This makes me think it was REALLY high at the end of the cycle.
My next question is about the lights on or off. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a reef tank and there seems to be two schools of thought now. Keep the lights off and wait out 4 months or turn them on short cycle/low intensity and let the uglies begin to work themselves out. What to do? I personally think, it needs to happen and work itself out, but I also trust the BRS folks so I’m torn.
I dosed the tank with Purple Helix and Pink fusion the other day—I’m a sucker for Purple). I’d also like to dose some copepods at some point.
I’m perfectly fine waiting to put fish and coral in, but I’d really like to start seeing some life in the tank. My last tank I used live rock from petco and while messy, it was definitely full of organisms (good and bad). This dry rock is just so darn…. White.
appreciate your opinions.