tank cycle

salty dog · 01/25/2010, 10:49 AM

my tank has been cycling for 4 weeks now and my ph 8.2 alk 10 nitrit 0mg nitrat <1mg/1 and ammonia was at 0 i have already had my alage bloom and all that my question is it safe for me to get livestock now ie. shrimp crabs, and stuff like that maybe a small gobie thanks for the help.

Chiefsurfer · 01/25/2010, 10:54 AM

if your nitrITE is anything but zero, no, it is not done cycling. A lot of people say zero's across the board. I think once you have ammonia and nitrite at zero, and your nitrates are below 40ppm, you can start adding a clean-up crew. No fish or corals until your nitrates are at least 20ppm or less.

thegrun · 01/25/2010, 10:56 AM

Sounds like it has cycled (I assume you have seen the ammonia and nitrite levels spike and then drop). Add your clean-up crew and see how they do. Go slow on the fish additions, tyou don't give the tank size, but in general 1 fish a week is plenty unless the tank is over 120 gallons.

salty dog · 01/25/2010, 10:57 AM

i think it was at 0 it has one of them color deals and it was the lowest one on the chart and the instructions said was in the ok range i really dont no about all the readings lol

salty dog · 01/25/2010, 10:59 AM

for right now i just want to get a shrimp and crabs and a few snails i have a jbj 28 hqi i was going to wait another month or so before i add anything like fish or coarls

thegrun · 01/25/2010, 11:32 AM

Crabs and snails are fine to add now. Shrimp seem to be a little more delicate, I would wait a couple more weeks for things to settle down. It is okay to add some of the easy to care for corals like mushrooms, xenia, zoas etc. now if you want. You should wait 6 months before adding difficult to care for corals like SPS and anemones.

01/25/2010, 10:49 AM	#1
salty dog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 61	tank cycle my tank has been cycling for 4 weeks now and my ph 8.2 alk 10 nitrit 0mg nitrat <1mg/1 and ammonia was at 0 i have already had my alage bloom and all that my question is it safe for me to get livestock now ie. shrimp crabs, and stuff like that maybe a small gobie thanks for the help.

01/25/2010, 10:54 AM	#2
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	if your nitrITE is anything but zero, no, it is not done cycling. A lot of people say zero's across the board. I think once you have ammonia and nitrite at zero, and your nitrates are below 40ppm, you can start adding a clean-up crew. No fish or corals until your nitrates are at least 20ppm or less. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

01/25/2010, 10:56 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Sounds like it has cycled (I assume you have seen the ammonia and nitrite levels spike and then drop). Add your clean-up crew and see how they do. Go slow on the fish additions, tyou don't give the tank size, but in general 1 fish a week is plenty unless the tank is over 120 gallons.

01/25/2010, 10:57 AM	#4
salty dog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 61	i think it was at 0 it has one of them color deals and it was the lowest one on the chart and the instructions said was in the ok range i really dont no about all the readings lol

01/25/2010, 10:59 AM	#5
salty dog Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 61	for right now i just want to get a shrimp and crabs and a few snails i have a jbj 28 hqi i was going to wait another month or so before i add anything like fish or coarls

01/25/2010, 11:32 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Crabs and snails are fine to add now. Shrimp seem to be a little more delicate, I would wait a couple more weeks for things to settle down. It is okay to add some of the easy to care for corals like mushrooms, xenia, zoas etc. now if you want. You should wait 6 months before adding difficult to care for corals like SPS and anemones.