Help new cycle

Pucci37 · 02/06/2016, 07:35 AM

Hi guys
I'm very new to this hobby. I've always loved my marine fish for as long as I can remember, though have never owned a marine tank, only freshwater.

I came home from holidays and was greeted by a 75gallon salt water tank from my hubby.

Just wanted to see if my cycles are going ok.
I have added a heap of live rock and sand and have let nature take its course.
I had really high ammonia levels and now 3 weeks on they are now 0. However my nitrite has spiked up to 5 (purple colour) and nitrates are about 89 - 160 (red). Is this normal?

Just after any info as its all strange to me as it is my first tank.

No live stock atm other than the live rock, brittle stars and the other creatures that have hitched a ride ie. Worms/slugs that were on the rock that haven't died as of yet.

Any info would be awesome.

thegrun · 02/06/2016, 08:46 AM

Yes, your cycle is progressing normally. When you say you had high ammonia, please specify exactly what "high" was, being more specific helps us help you. So as things stand now you have established the bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites and are now waiting to increase the bacteria that convert nitrites to nitrate in your tank. You most likely have some of those bacteria now, but not in sufficient numbers to reduce the nitrites to zero. The presence of nitrites in the water changes the nitrate test results so you can't get a true nitrate reading until the nitrites drop back to zero. Waiting is the most difficult part of this hobby, but your cycle should be done soon.

Pucci37 · 02/07/2016, 03:39 AM

Thanks for your response.
Our "high" ammonia was at 8.0 but now at zero.
Hopefully we can add coral and some turbo snails soon

Dkuhlmann · 02/07/2016, 04:07 AM

Yes your cycle is moving along, now you just have to wait for the nitrites to go to 0. It could take a while due to how high your ammonia and nitrites got, but it will all of a sudden be 0. When this happens do a large water change in your case I'd do 50% then let it run for a few days and retest. Ideally you need to get the nitrates at that point down to 20 or less before adding your cuc. Don't rush it as nothing good happens fast in this hobby. So for now just don't do anything and wait on those nitrites to hit 0. Only do RODI water top off for evaporation.

That's cool that your Hubby gave you the tank. I really wish my other half would be interested in my tank, but nope nada.

While you're waiting on the nitrites to 0 out there is a sticky with a big red arrow in this forum called "Setting UP" and you can start reading. It's a huge file of everything you need to know about your tank and setting it up.

Welcome To Reef Central!

Pucci37 · 02/07/2016, 04:19 AM

Thanks heaps mate for that info.

Will have a read of that shortly.

Yes it's awesome he bought me the tank, but I think it was a pressie for him to as he also is a bigger lover of marine fish.

02/06/2016, 07:35 AM	#1
Pucci37 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 6	Help new cycle Hi guys I'm very new to this hobby. I've always loved my marine fish for as long as I can remember, though have never owned a marine tank, only freshwater. I came home from holidays and was greeted by a 75gallon salt water tank from my hubby. Just wanted to see if my cycles are going ok. I have added a heap of live rock and sand and have let nature take its course. I had really high ammonia levels and now 3 weeks on they are now 0. However my nitrite has spiked up to 5 (purple colour) and nitrates are about 89 - 160 (red). Is this normal? Just after any info as its all strange to me as it is my first tank. No live stock atm other than the live rock, brittle stars and the other creatures that have hitched a ride ie. Worms/slugs that were on the rock that haven't died as of yet. Any info would be awesome.

02/07/2016, 03:39 AM	#3
Pucci37 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 6	Thanks for your response. Our "high" ammonia was at 8.0 but now at zero. Hopefully we can add coral and some turbo snails soon Last edited by Pucci37; 02/07/2016 at 04:04 AM.

02/07/2016, 04:07 AM	#4
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Yes your cycle is moving along, now you just have to wait for the nitrites to go to 0. It could take a while due to how high your ammonia and nitrites got, but it will all of a sudden be 0. When this happens do a large water change in your case I'd do 50% then let it run for a few days and retest. Ideally you need to get the nitrates at that point down to 20 or less before adding your cuc. Don't rush it as nothing good happens fast in this hobby. So for now just don't do anything and wait on those nitrites to hit 0. Only do RODI water top off for evaporation. That's cool that your Hubby gave you the tank. I really wish my other half would be interested in my tank, but nope nada. While you're waiting on the nitrites to 0 out there is a sticky with a big red arrow in this forum called "Setting UP" and you can start reading. It's a huge file of everything you need to know about your tank and setting it up. Welcome To Reef Central! __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/06/2016, 08:46 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, your cycle is progressing normally. When you say you had high ammonia, please specify exactly what "high" was, being more specific helps us help you. So as things stand now you have established the bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites and are now waiting to increase the bacteria that convert nitrites to nitrate in your tank. You most likely have some of those bacteria now, but not in sufficient numbers to reduce the nitrites to zero. The presence of nitrites in the water changes the nitrate test results so you can't get a true nitrate reading until the nitrites drop back to zero. Waiting is the most difficult part of this hobby, but your cycle should be done soon.

02/07/2016, 04:19 AM	#5
Pucci37 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 6	Thanks heaps mate for that info. Will have a read of that shortly. Yes it's awesome he bought me the tank, but I think it was a pressie for him to as he also is a bigger lover of marine fish.