So, as the title suggests.
New tank - 10 gallon waterbox cube.
Fishless cycle using with Dr. Tims. Also "live rock" the LFS has rock which they called live and was sitting in a tank at the end,.
Dr Tims
Live Rock
Live Sand
Test kids: Red Sea Kit (ammonia, Nitrate, nitrate, PH, Alk; Apex also monitoring PH, ORP, Temp, Salinity)
Ammonia Spiked to 5 ppm, during the first week did a 25% water change, dropped to 3 ppm then it tapered off (assuming the sand is feeding ammonia a bit too).
Nitrates spiked as this was happening, slow rise. Finally settled at 4 ppm. Been there for 3 days so far.
Note: Red sea tests stop at 1 ppm. Been mixing RO/DI water 1 to 8 (14 ml RO/DI and 2 ml tank water) or 1 to 4 (12 ml to 4 ml tank water) in the test kits to measure the higher numbers.
Last night Nitrate was getting out of control, about 55 ppm. Did another 25% water change, so that when it is ready for fish, I don't need do to several 30% water changes.
Current Levels:
Ammonia 0.2 ppm
Nitrite 4 ppm
Nitrate ~45-50 (slightly up 2- 5 ppm if you take last nights water change 0.75(55ppm) = 41.25.
Two questions:
1. Should I dose ammonia today to keep the ammonia bacteria colony expanding? I haven't added any since Day 1 on the Dr Tims, this is now 11 Days later.
2. Should I do anything about the nitrite or just keep monitor and expect it to come down? Nitrate has been steadily increasing (albeit a little slower yesterday to today than before).
PH has been been rising and falling but right now steady at 7.81. The lowest it dropped was 7.62 (right after first ammonia dose) and has been falling during the day and rising at night, steadily increasing to 7.81.
If there is any other relevant information, let me know and I'll provide it.
New tank - 10 gallon waterbox cube.
Fishless cycle using with Dr. Tims. Also "live rock" the LFS has rock which they called live and was sitting in a tank at the end,.
Dr Tims
Live Rock
Live Sand
Test kids: Red Sea Kit (ammonia, Nitrate, nitrate, PH, Alk; Apex also monitoring PH, ORP, Temp, Salinity)
Ammonia Spiked to 5 ppm, during the first week did a 25% water change, dropped to 3 ppm then it tapered off (assuming the sand is feeding ammonia a bit too).
Nitrates spiked as this was happening, slow rise. Finally settled at 4 ppm. Been there for 3 days so far.
Note: Red sea tests stop at 1 ppm. Been mixing RO/DI water 1 to 8 (14 ml RO/DI and 2 ml tank water) or 1 to 4 (12 ml to 4 ml tank water) in the test kits to measure the higher numbers.
Last night Nitrate was getting out of control, about 55 ppm. Did another 25% water change, so that when it is ready for fish, I don't need do to several 30% water changes.
Current Levels:
Ammonia 0.2 ppm
Nitrite 4 ppm
Nitrate ~45-50 (slightly up 2- 5 ppm if you take last nights water change 0.75(55ppm) = 41.25.
Two questions:
1. Should I dose ammonia today to keep the ammonia bacteria colony expanding? I haven't added any since Day 1 on the Dr Tims, this is now 11 Days later.
2. Should I do anything about the nitrite or just keep monitor and expect it to come down? Nitrate has been steadily increasing (albeit a little slower yesterday to today than before).
PH has been been rising and falling but right now steady at 7.81. The lowest it dropped was 7.62 (right after first ammonia dose) and has been falling during the day and rising at night, steadily increasing to 7.81.
If there is any other relevant information, let me know and I'll provide it.