cycle almost over, and nothing.

NCreefwannabe · 03/07/2006, 01:02 AM

Well my cycle is almsot complete. i test about every 3 days during my cycle. my numbers are

ammonia droped to .25
nitrite droped to .1-.2
nitrate droped from as high as it could read on my kit, to 0....

So why havent I gottin any diatoms or anything? I was almost waiting for them to appear, but never did. My LR is from a 5-7 year old tank... Would this cause it, or will I still be getting a diatom bloom?

Id like to start adding my cleanup crew soon, but w/o anything for them to eat, its kinda pointless.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2006, 01:04 AM

Diatoms will come, th amount of them also depends on the lighting you have and how long it is on for. Wihtout light during a cycle it will greatlt reduce diatoms and other algae outbreaks.

kau_cinta_ku · 03/07/2006, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NCreefwannabe
nitrate droped from as high as it could read on my kit, to 0....

i'm confused unless you did a good water change i would like to know how your nitrate's dropped form as high as you could read to 0? just wondering

NCreefwannabe · 03/07/2006, 01:55 PM

Yeah I did about a 30-40% change during my cycle. I only have flourescents until maybe today or tomorrow. I only turn them on to look at the tank for like an hour a day at most. Since I have no coral or fish I didnt see the need to use my lights anyways.

Sk8r · 03/07/2006, 07:21 PM

Oh, there will always be algae for as long as you have an aquarium---most every time you add any speciman to your tank or feed or whatever, there will be just a little tick toward the algae side of the scale: just as your tank gets more complex life and the ecosystem gets broader it's harder and harder to tip it over into a fullblown attack. You can probably risk a few snails now, and turn those lights and warmth on, and go toward hermits and such as needed, I'm pretty sure. That old lr is pretty good at pushing things along faster. Watch your critters' behavior as your warning of things not in parameters.

03/07/2006, 01:02 AM	#1
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	cycle almost over, and nothing. Well my cycle is almsot complete. i test about every 3 days during my cycle. my numbers are ammonia droped to .25 nitrite droped to .1-.2 nitrate droped from as high as it could read on my kit, to 0.... So why havent I gottin any diatoms or anything? I was almost waiting for them to appear, but never did. My LR is from a 5-7 year old tank... Would this cause it, or will I still be getting a diatom bloom? Id like to start adding my cleanup crew soon, but w/o anything for them to eat, its kinda pointless.

03/07/2006, 07:21 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Oh, there will always be algae for as long as you have an aquarium---most every time you add any speciman to your tank or feed or whatever, there will be just a little tick toward the algae side of the scale: just as your tank gets more complex life and the ecosystem gets broader it's harder and harder to tip it over into a fullblown attack. You can probably risk a few snails now, and turn those lights and warmth on, and go toward hermits and such as needed, I'm pretty sure. That old lr is pretty good at pushing things along faster. Watch your critters' behavior as your warning of things not in parameters. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/07/2006, 01:04 AM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Diatoms will come, th amount of them also depends on the lighting you have and how long it is on for. Wihtout light during a cycle it will greatlt reduce diatoms and other algae outbreaks.

03/07/2006, 01:55 PM	#4
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	Yeah I did about a 30-40% change during my cycle. I only have flourescents until maybe today or tomorrow. I only turn them on to look at the tank for like an hour a day at most. Since I have no coral or fish I didnt see the need to use my lights anyways.