Want to add a pair of clowns

[Richards Aquarium]

My tank has been up and cycling for 15 days I used tetra quick start and microbacter quick cycle. I have live sand and live rock. I've been monitoring levels. Levels went up and Ammonia is at 0 now nitrite is at 5 and nitrite is at 40 this is current just now reading. On day eight my nitrates where 160 now at 40 nitrites are staying steady at 5 not budging. I want to add clowns to keep cycle going. I don't want to kill them or stress them out either. And more important I don't want to disturb the cycle but id like to keep it going without chemicals. I'm thinking of doing a 25% water change. Check level and make the decision to add clowns. Any comments are appreciated
Thank you in advance Richard Happy fish keeping.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

nitrates at 160 means, to me anyways, the tank is cycled. Nitrite doesn't matter to saltwater fish. I would do a very large (or perhaps several) water changes to bring the nitrate down to about 10-20, then good to add fish.

 

[Richards Aquarium]

Thank you

 

[Cell]

Live rock = skip cycle

Was your live rock from an established system and stayed wet?

 

[Cell]

Repeat thread....

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

looks good. The tank could use more rock though. More rock means a stronger biofilter and more places for fish to hide and for micro organisms to hide and thrive. Could use another powerhead too, pointed at the water surface to create agitation and help put oxygen into the water. The tank looks stagnant.

 

[kevgib67]

Instead of buying two same size juveniles that will battle it out for dominance and the coveted female position, get a couple small ones but with one half an inch or more larger.

 

[Richards Aquarium]

looks good. The tank could use more rock though. More rock means a stronger biofilter and more places for fish to hide and for micro organisms to hide and thrive. Could use another powerhead too, pointed at the water surface to create agitation and help put oxygen into the water. The tank looks stagnant.

No, rock was tranported from was LFS put in Styrofoam with wet paper towel. Who knows how old it was from them and was added to my tank only a week ago and it had a 15 min ride home. I also added two more pieces of live rock and two big pieces of lava rock I also added some regular rock "see picture" I added second power head. I have a question ? My Ammonia has been 0 now for 6 days. Tank was started on 10- 24 -23 nitrite is 5 and I'm not sure what nitrate is guessing 80 hard for me to read test "see picture" I used tetra quick start and microbacter quick cycle couple days after tank was up. So I did a 25 gallon water change last night and it didn't change nitrate level still high. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Do I add anything a piece of uncooked shrimp or more bacteria. Tanks been up for 15 days. Plants are plastic should I take out ? And the rock that is not marine rock is it ok to keep in ?

Thanks for your help

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

No, rock was tranported from was LFS put in Styrofoam with wet paper towel. Who knows how old it was from them and was added to my tank only a week ago and it had a 15 min ride home. I also added two more pieces of live rock and two big pieces of lava rock I also added some regular rock "see picture" I added second power head. I have a question ? My Ammonia has been 0 now for 6 days. Tank was started on 10- 24 -23 nitrite is 5 and I'm not sure what nitrate is guessing 80 hard for me to read test "see picture" I used tetra quick start and microbacter quick cycle couple days after tank was up. So I did a 25 gallon water change last night and it didn't change nitrate level still high. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Do I add anything a piece of uncooked shrimp or more bacteria. Tanks been up for 15 days. Plants are plastic should I take out ? And the rock that is not marine rock is it ok to keep in ?

Thanks for your help

The tank is starting to look much better.

Think about removing the plastic decorations, salt water is a corrosive, it can eventually eat away at the plastic and leach chemicals into the water.

the rock that is not marine rock is ok to leave, if you know where it came from. For example, if it was sitting in an area where chemicals have gotten to it, then you might be adding stuff to your tank that you are not aware of. Also keep in mind, we use marine rock because of all the little tunnels and holes, which increases the surface area, and also provides hiding spaces for micro organsisms. A solid rock does not provide the same benefit as real marine rock.

The nitrate still looks high to me, I would do another large water change, try go bring it down to 10-20 before adding any fish. Nitrate around 80-100 or higher can hurt fish.