cycling a small QT tank. Was my process ok?

Ratbrow · 01/19/2014, 05:35 PM

My QT has been up and running for only two weeks (Aqueon 8). On day two I added Dr. Tims Ammonium Chloride solutioin...tested at .50 ppm. On day three I added a full bottle of Bio-Spira. It said for use up to 75 gallons, so I just dumped the whole thing in. On day 4 Ammonia was gone and Nitrite was spiked with a little Nitrate. On day 5 Nitrite and Ammonia were gone and Nitrate was spiked. On day 6 Nitrate was down to 10. On day 9 I added more Ammonium Chloride...tested at .50ppm. On day 12 it was gone but nitrate still at 10.

Two questions:
1. Shouldn't my Nitrate be 0? There is absolutely nothing in the QT tank but water, a pvc pipe and the filter from which I removed all of the Carbon before starting the process. I did notice that the filter was very, very brown...but I thought this was probably just the good bacteria. Did I add too much of the Bio and the nitrate is getting built up in the filter? Should I put a brand new filter in now?
2. Do you think it's ok to start adding my first fish for QT?

Thanks!

oscarinw · 01/19/2014, 07:44 PM

The nitrate is just a subproduct of your cycle. After Ammonia and Nitrite are 'consumed', Nitrate is produced. So the first answer is logically no. Your Nitrate should not be 0. There are some specialized types of bacteria that do that. They normally live in 'anoxic' areas of the reef or places with low oxygen including the guts of the rock and the deeper layers of sandbeds. However, as explained by you, you don't have that and therefore you don't have a natural way to process your nitrates. What is your alternative? Water changes. No need for a new filter. It won't help the nitrates.

As for the 2nd question, I think you are cycled and therefore could start adding your fish. However, since you don't have a lot of surface for bacteria to live on, you might want to do that really slowly and keep testing. Probably no more than 2 inches of fish at a time for no less than 6-8 weeks at a time. This last is just a 'ballpark' amount. What your system will actually be able to handle will depend on many other factors. You may want to consider adding other structures for the bacteria to colonize such as bio-balls or a thick block of sponge... However, none of that will help the Nitrate issue.
Important to remember in your case, Nitrate is not necessarily toxic but more of an 'impurity' in the water so don't get caught up in trying to remove it as it will probable never happen in your current setup.

Ratbrow · 01/19/2014, 08:39 PM

Makes sense. The filter is probably the only place that the bacteria can colonize at this point...so I'll leave it alone.
It's a small tank...8 gallons, so I thought I'd do a 50% water change. After reading your comments I'm thinking it would be better to just leave the water as is and maybe do some small changes during the fish QT process?

The first fish I was going to QT was going to be a pair of bonded clowns. I'm thinking now I should put them in and montior for a while before considering a water change. Reason being, I don't want to remove any bacteria at this point.

Does that sound like a decent plan? Or would you do a water change before intorducing the fish. If so, how much of the 8 gallons would you do?

Voxboy · 01/19/2014, 10:30 PM

I have an empty ten gallon, heater, hang on filter,thermometer and so on.
I keep the filter pads in my sump. When I buy a fish, I fill the ten gallon from my display and add the filter pads from my sump. Never had a problem

01/19/2014, 05:35 PM	#1
Ratbrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 183	cycling a small QT tank. Was my process ok? My QT has been up and running for only two weeks (Aqueon 8). On day two I added Dr. Tims Ammonium Chloride solutioin...tested at .50 ppm. On day three I added a full bottle of Bio-Spira. It said for use up to 75 gallons, so I just dumped the whole thing in. On day 4 Ammonia was gone and Nitrite was spiked with a little Nitrate. On day 5 Nitrite and Ammonia were gone and Nitrate was spiked. On day 6 Nitrate was down to 10. On day 9 I added more Ammonium Chloride...tested at .50ppm. On day 12 it was gone but nitrate still at 10. Two questions: 1. Shouldn't my Nitrate be 0? There is absolutely nothing in the QT tank but water, a pvc pipe and the filter from which I removed all of the Carbon before starting the process. I did notice that the filter was very, very brown...but I thought this was probably just the good bacteria. Did I add too much of the Bio and the nitrate is getting built up in the filter? Should I put a brand new filter in now? 2. Do you think it's ok to start adding my first fish for QT? Thanks! __________________ 50 gallon Acrylic, AquaLife 6 bulb t5 HO with LED, 2 Tunze 6045 powerheads, Eheim Ecco 2236 Canister, Cobalt Neo-Therm 150 heater, Aquamaxx HOB skimmer, 60 lb live Rock, 70 lbs live sand.

01/19/2014, 08:39 PM	#3
Ratbrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 183	Makes sense. The filter is probably the only place that the bacteria can colonize at this point...so I'll leave it alone. It's a small tank...8 gallons, so I thought I'd do a 50% water change. After reading your comments I'm thinking it would be better to just leave the water as is and maybe do some small changes during the fish QT process? The first fish I was going to QT was going to be a pair of bonded clowns. I'm thinking now I should put them in and montior for a while before considering a water change. Reason being, I don't want to remove any bacteria at this point. Does that sound like a decent plan? Or would you do a water change before intorducing the fish. If so, how much of the 8 gallons would you do? __________________ 50 gallon Acrylic, AquaLife 6 bulb t5 HO with LED, 2 Tunze 6045 powerheads, Eheim Ecco 2236 Canister, Cobalt Neo-Therm 150 heater, Aquamaxx HOB skimmer, 60 lb live Rock, 70 lbs live sand.

01/19/2014, 10:30 PM	#4
Voxboy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sault Ste Marie Posts: 410	I have an empty ten gallon, heater, hang on filter,thermometer and so on. I keep the filter pads in my sump. When I buy a fish, I fill the ten gallon from my display and add the filter pads from my sump. Never had a problem __________________ Like my Grandfather...I wish to die peacefully in my sleep....unlike the screaming passengers in his car Current Tank Info: 130g mixed reef.

01/19/2014, 07:44 PM	#2
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	The nitrate is just a subproduct of your cycle. After Ammonia and Nitrite are 'consumed', Nitrate is produced. So the first answer is logically no. Your Nitrate should not be 0. There are some specialized types of bacteria that do that. They normally live in 'anoxic' areas of the reef or places with low oxygen including the guts of the rock and the deeper layers of sandbeds. However, as explained by you, you don't have that and therefore you don't have a natural way to process your nitrates. What is your alternative? Water changes. No need for a new filter. It won't help the nitrates. As for the 2nd question, I think you are cycled and therefore could start adding your fish. However, since you don't have a lot of surface for bacteria to live on, you might want to do that really slowly and keep testing. Probably no more than 2 inches of fish at a time for no less than 6-8 weeks at a time. This last is just a 'ballpark' amount. What your system will actually be able to handle will depend on many other factors. You may want to consider adding other structures for the bacteria to colonize such as bio-balls or a thick block of sponge... However, none of that will help the Nitrate issue. Important to remember in your case, Nitrate is not necessarily toxic but more of an 'impurity' in the water so don't get caught up in trying to remove it as it will probable never happen in your current setup.