Good morning!
I'm into the cycling phase of my tank and wanted to confirm if I'm seeing what I should be. Realize all tanks are different, but hoping I'm not butchering this process too bad.
I'm currently on Day 4 of the Fishless Cycle according to Dr. Tim. Here's some readings over time
Total Tank Volume: 90g
Salinity: 1.026 (maintained with ATO)
Live Rock: 140 lbs (some in Sump)
Live Sand: 50lbs (Special Grade Arag-Alive! Reef Sand - CaribSea)
Sump is running with some Chaeto in it, and it's growing nicely. Running a AI Fuge about 16 hours a day in there.
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 152-S. Running 24/7 except the 48 hours after dosing Dr. Tim's O&O
Lights: DT Lights are off until I actually need to run em.
Is this about what you should be seeing? I was thinking the second dose of Ammonia would go away faster than the first, but Nitrites have spiked pretty high and wondering if that's affecting it?
Also, am I going for the right dKh target here? Is 8.2 good? I know pH is gonna remain low while the cycle works itself out, but it still feels low. I'm not trying to rush or adjust anything here if I don't have to, just want to make sure I'm not doing anything obviously stupid.
Finally, yeah the tank temp is on the rise as I'm trying to help those little bacteria multiple. The plan is that once I'm cycled, I'll drop it back down to 78 over the course of a week or so.
Thanks in advance!
I'm into the cycling phase of my tank and wanted to confirm if I'm seeing what I should be. Realize all tanks are different, but hoping I'm not butchering this process too bad.
I'm currently on Day 4 of the Fishless Cycle according to Dr. Tim. Here's some readings over time
Day | pH | Temp | dKH | Ammonia | Nitrite | Nitrate | Actions |
-2 (4/16) | 7.74 | 80 | 8 | 1.2 | 0.35 | 20 | |
-1 (4/17) | 7.79 | 81 | 7.9 | .2 | 0.35 | 20 | |
1 (4/18) | 7.83 | 82 | 7.9 | 0 | 0 | 10 | Dr. Tim's O&O / Ammonia Chloride |
2 (4/19) | 7.74 | 82 | 7.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 25 | |
3 (4/20) | 7.71 | 82 | 7.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 20 | Dose KH to 8.2 Ammonia Chloride |
4 (4/21) | 7.76 | 82 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 1 | 25 | Dose KH to 8.2 |
5 (4/22) | 7.71 | 82 | 7.9 | 0 | 0.7 | 25 | Dose KH to 8.4 |
6 (4/23) | 7.71 | 82 | 8.35 | 0 | 0 | 25 | Ammonia Chloride |
7 (4/24) | 7.70 | 82 | 7.8 | .8 | .75 | NA | Dose KH to 8.4 |
8 (4/25) | 7.77 | 81.5 | 8.0 | 0 | 0.2 | NA | Dose KH to 8.4 |
9 (4/26) | 7.81 | 81 | 8.6 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
10 (4/27) | 7.82 | 80.5 | 8.5 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
11 (4/28) | 7.74 | 80 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
Total Tank Volume: 90g
Salinity: 1.026 (maintained with ATO)
Live Rock: 140 lbs (some in Sump)
Live Sand: 50lbs (Special Grade Arag-Alive! Reef Sand - CaribSea)
Sump is running with some Chaeto in it, and it's growing nicely. Running a AI Fuge about 16 hours a day in there.
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 152-S. Running 24/7 except the 48 hours after dosing Dr. Tim's O&O
Lights: DT Lights are off until I actually need to run em.
Is this about what you should be seeing? I was thinking the second dose of Ammonia would go away faster than the first, but Nitrites have spiked pretty high and wondering if that's affecting it?
Also, am I going for the right dKh target here? Is 8.2 good? I know pH is gonna remain low while the cycle works itself out, but it still feels low. I'm not trying to rush or adjust anything here if I don't have to, just want to make sure I'm not doing anything obviously stupid.
Finally, yeah the tank temp is on the rise as I'm trying to help those little bacteria multiple. The plan is that once I'm cycled, I'll drop it back down to 78 over the course of a week or so.
Thanks in advance!
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