Beginner questions?

Jg2691 · 04/29/2018, 05:37 PM

So I have a tank set up with live sand and live rock in it. What is the best way to spike the ammonia so that the tank can gain the beneficial bacteria it needs. This is my first tank btw. Also I read online that the decomposing material from live rock can be enough to cycle, is that true?

I took some readings and found that my nitrate levels are high, around 8 ppm, and my ph level is low, around 7.8. How do I lower the nitrate and raise the ph.

Last thing how do I know if my tank has finished cycling. My ammonia reading is around 1 ppm currently. The rock has been in the water for a week.

The tank is 65 gallons.

windlasher · 04/29/2018, 06:15 PM

Pee in it..... lol - People used to actually do this, maybe still do. But seriously, Your tank needs to spike and then settle. You have a while to go. 6 to 8 weeks at the minimum. You could always grab a gallon of tank water from your LFS or a trusted friend, but it will still take a while.

top shelf · 04/29/2018, 06:24 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1031074
Good place to start, will answer many questions you will inevitably have.

As for pH don't worry about it, chasing pH will cause more harm then good. Personally I don't even own a pH test kit.

Onto your cycle, you will know it has finished when ammonia spikes then drops to zero followed by a spike in nitrite then a drop to zero which will lead to a raise in nitrate. After all that your cycle is complete and you can follow up with a water change to drop nitrates. If you already have a reading of 1ppm ammonia just sit back and wait.

flooddc · 04/29/2018, 06:26 PM

Throw in a raw shrimp and wait!

mcgyvr · 04/30/2018, 05:28 AM

"live" means its populated with bacteria already..
So if you got your "live rock" from a local source and didn't let it dry out or even purchased that live rock online and it came to you damp there is nothing you need to add..

If it was locally sourced there is a good chance you will have little to no cycle at all as the rock already contains all the bacteria on it already..

Thats why local fish stores keep rocks in vats of water just ready to go.. So you can make your screaming daughter happy when she says "I want Nemo daddy" and you can buy a tank, rock, water and that crazy Nemo fish and take it home and set it up all the same day..

You only need to do something when starting with dry rock/sand..

Nick30G · 04/30/2018, 05:36 AM

I used Dr Tim's Bottled Ammonia to spike mine to 2ppm then added a whole bottle of bio-spira. I managed to cycle the entire tank within 2 weeks doing this.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

lapin · 04/30/2018, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jg2691

So I have a tank set up with live sand and live rock in it. What is the best way to spike the ammonia so that the tank can gain the beneficial bacteria it needs. You can add a table shrimp, if you think you need more than 1PPM ammonia. But you really dont
I took some readings and found that my nitrate levels are high, around 8 ppm, and my ph level is low, around 7.8. How do I lower the nitrate and raise the ph. 8 PPM is not high for a new tank that is cycling. Once the ammonia and nitrite is gone, do a 50% water change to bring down the nitrate.
Last thing how do I know if my tank has finished cycling. My ammonia reading is around 1 ppm currently. Once your ammonia is 0 and your nitrite is 0 your tank is cycled.

Add fish slowly over time. Allow the bacteria to build over time.
If normal water changes do not get you to the alk and cal levels you desire then read this; http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Jg2691 · 04/30/2018, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapin

Add fish slowly over time. Allow the bacteria to build over time.
If normal water changes do not get you to the alk and cal levels you desire then read this; http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Will nitrate lower naturally? Also should I run the lights during the day. Currently they have been off.

Jg2691 · 04/30/2018, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

"live" means its populated with bacteria already..
So if you got your "live rock" from a local source and didn't let it dry out or even purchased that live rock online and it came to you damp there is nothing you need to add..

If it was locally sourced there is a good chance you will have little to no cycle at all as the rock already contains all the bacteria on it already..

Thats why local fish stores keep rocks in vats of water just ready to go.. So you can make your screaming daughter happy when she says "I want Nemo daddy" and you can buy a tank, rock, water and that crazy Nemo fish and take it home and set it up all the same day..

You only need to do something when starting with dry rock/sand..

How would it work if I plan on getting more live rock. Currently I only have about ~17 lbs.

lapin · 04/30/2018, 07:38 PM

If its live rock and still wet, just put it in the tank.

Uncle99 · 04/30/2018, 07:44 PM

Nitrate at 8 ppm is fine, when I started it took 6 months to get it to a consistent 2-4ppm.
Your ammonia is what must spike, and then zero, then a large water change, and add 1 fish and he will save you from peeing in the water.

Then get nitrate to 2-4 ppm and phosphate to .02-.04 so GHA does not take over. You can dose carbon like NoPox to help keep bacteria population high and thus nutrients low.

04/29/2018, 05:37 PM	#1
Jg2691 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 9	Beginner questions? So I have a tank set up with live sand and live rock in it. What is the best way to spike the ammonia so that the tank can gain the beneficial bacteria it needs. This is my first tank btw. Also I read online that the decomposing material from live rock can be enough to cycle, is that true? I took some readings and found that my nitrate levels are high, around 8 ppm, and my ph level is low, around 7.8. How do I lower the nitrate and raise the ph. Last thing how do I know if my tank has finished cycling. My ammonia reading is around 1 ppm currently. The rock has been in the water for a week. The tank is 65 gallons.

04/29/2018, 06:15 PM	#2
windlasher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 504	Pee in it..... lol - People used to actually do this, maybe still do. But seriously, Your tank needs to spike and then settle. You have a while to go. 6 to 8 weeks at the minimum. You could always grab a gallon of tank water from your LFS or a trusted friend, but it will still take a while. __________________ --- PLEASE HELP SAVE THE DOLPHINS In case we run out of chicken. ---

04/29/2018, 06:24 PM	#3
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1031074 Good place to start, will answer many questions you will inevitably have. As for pH don't worry about it, chasing pH will cause more harm then good. Personally I don't even own a pH test kit. Onto your cycle, you will know it has finished when ammonia spikes then drops to zero followed by a spike in nitrite then a drop to zero which will lead to a raise in nitrate. After all that your cycle is complete and you can follow up with a water change to drop nitrates. If you already have a reading of 1ppm ammonia just sit back and wait. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

04/30/2018, 05:28 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	"live" means its populated with bacteria already.. So if you got your "live rock" from a local source and didn't let it dry out or even purchased that live rock online and it came to you damp there is nothing you need to add.. If it was locally sourced there is a good chance you will have little to no cycle at all as the rock already contains all the bacteria on it already.. Thats why local fish stores keep rocks in vats of water just ready to go.. So you can make your screaming daughter happy when she says "I want Nemo daddy" and you can buy a tank, rock, water and that crazy Nemo fish and take it home and set it up all the same day.. You only need to do something when starting with dry rock/sand.. __________________ Who me?

04/30/2018, 07:38 PM	#10
lapin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Austin Posts: 801	If its live rock and still wet, just put it in the tank. __________________ Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening

04/29/2018, 06:26 PM	#4
flooddc Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 304	Throw in a raw shrimp and wait!

04/30/2018, 05:36 AM	#6
Nick30G Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 265	I used Dr Tim's Bottled Ammonia to spike mine to 2ppm then added a whole bottle of bio-spira. I managed to cycle the entire tank within 2 weeks doing this. Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

04/30/2018, 07:44 PM	#11
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Nitrate at 8 ppm is fine, when I started it took 6 months to get it to a consistent 2-4ppm. Your ammonia is what must spike, and then zero, then a large water change, and add 1 fish and he will save you from peeing in the water. Then get nitrate to 2-4 ppm and phosphate to .02-.04 so GHA does not take over. You can dose carbon like NoPox to help keep bacteria population high and thus nutrients low.