New tank.... another cycling question.

cheflavor · 02/02/2015, 07:01 PM

Cycling, no not the kind on the bike. this is my first time doing a cycle with no fish. I bought 70 pounds of Uncured rock straight from fiji. It is about ay 7 and my ammonia has went down to about .5. I went to the LFS and they tested my nitrates which are at 160ppm, they suggested a 100% water change, From what i know i think the guy who didnt seem to know much about cycling could have been on crack. I got home and the green film algae which was covering my tank has now taken over every inch of the glass and the water is a bit cloudy, but that could be due to my recent mini water change and top off. could this be to using uncured live rock is it normal? Specific gravity is at 1.025.

JammyBirch · 02/02/2015, 07:29 PM

I don't know man, you can't have nitrate without the bacteria to convert nitrite. Since you still have ammonia you're not done yet. Don't do anything, if you're itching to do something go buy a test kit.

I'd never run water to the LFS, half of those guys recommend weird stuff. Cycling is easy, measure ammonia, no3 and no4...when ammonia and no3 are gone meaning ZERO...water change and add a clean up crew, CUC.

if you really want to see how good your bio filter is add some ammonia chloride to purposely bump ammonia to 2ppm, and see how long it takes to run the cycle again...should be a day.

danielmitchell · 02/02/2015, 07:30 PM

algal bloom is expected for a cycling tank. and for the love of god do not do a 100% water change. test for ammonia daily. Once the ammonia is gone, watch your Nitrites and Nitrates. Once you show only nitrates, do a 50% water change and you should be good to go.

OrQidz · 02/02/2015, 07:51 PM

Well, you aren't just cycling the tank but curing the LR at the same time. So yes, I think it's normal. Uncured LR can have a mass die off and create huge ammonia cycles, which you are seeing. I'm not sure what your nitrite is but it must be well over zero as well. Certainly with nitrates of 160 you've converted a lot of ammonia. I don't think starting modest WC now would hurt, but that's your decision.
Some people cure their LR in big vats in the garage because it gets so yucky, so you aren't doing so badly

You will need to make sure your tank is completely cycled and the nitrates need to be way down (<20 at the very least for fish) before you put any livestock in. Only way to remove those is with water changes, skimming, etc.
Get a test kit if you don't have one already - very worth it!

danielmitchell · 02/02/2015, 08:11 PM

oh right i completely skimmed over the part where you said you were curing the LR in your tank. in this case do what OrQidz said.

Azedenkae · 02/02/2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheflavor

Cycling, no not the kind on the bike. this is my first time doing a cycle with no fish. I bought 70 pounds of Uncured rock straight from fiji. It is about ay 7 and my ammonia has went down to about .5. I went to the LFS and they tested my nitrates which are at 160ppm, they suggested a 100% water change, From what i know i think the guy who didnt seem to know much about cycling could have been on crack. I got home and the green film algae which was covering my tank has now taken over every inch of the glass and the water is a bit cloudy, but that could be due to my recent mini water change and top off. could this be to using uncured live rock is it normal? Specific gravity is at 1.025.

Normally I wouldn't bother, but if nitrate is at 160ppm I'd suggest doing a large of a water change as possible too, especially since it may be way above 160ppm and simply is not registering (I assume that was from an API nitrate test kit).

02/02/2015, 07:01 PM	#1
cheflavor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 9	New tank.... another cycling question. Cycling, no not the kind on the bike. this is my first time doing a cycle with no fish. I bought 70 pounds of Uncured rock straight from fiji. It is about ay 7 and my ammonia has went down to about .5. I went to the LFS and they tested my nitrates which are at 160ppm, they suggested a 100% water change, From what i know i think the guy who didnt seem to know much about cycling could have been on crack. I got home and the green film algae which was covering my tank has now taken over every inch of the glass and the water is a bit cloudy, but that could be due to my recent mini water change and top off. could this be to using uncured live rock is it normal? Specific gravity is at 1.025.

02/02/2015, 07:29 PM	#2
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	I don't know man, you can't have nitrate without the bacteria to convert nitrite. Since you still have ammonia you're not done yet. Don't do anything, if you're itching to do something go buy a test kit. I'd never run water to the LFS, half of those guys recommend weird stuff. Cycling is easy, measure ammonia, no3 and no4...when ammonia and no3 are gone meaning ZERO...water change and add a clean up crew, CUC. if you really want to see how good your bio filter is add some ammonia chloride to purposely bump ammonia to 2ppm, and see how long it takes to run the cycle again...should be a day. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/02/2015, 07:30 PM	#3
danielmitchell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: QLD, Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 38	algal bloom is expected for a cycling tank. and for the love of god do not do a 100% water change. test for ammonia daily. Once the ammonia is gone, watch your Nitrites and Nitrates. Once you show only nitrates, do a 50% water change and you should be good to go. __________________ "Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing"

02/02/2015, 08:11 PM	#5
danielmitchell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: QLD, Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 38	oh right i completely skimmed over the part where you said you were curing the LR in your tank. in this case do what OrQidz said. __________________ "Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing"

02/02/2015, 07:51 PM	#4
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Well, you aren't just cycling the tank but curing the LR at the same time. So yes, I think it's normal. Uncured LR can have a mass die off and create huge ammonia cycles, which you are seeing. I'm not sure what your nitrite is but it must be well over zero as well. Certainly with nitrates of 160 you've converted a lot of ammonia. I don't think starting modest WC now would hurt, but that's your decision. Some people cure their LR in big vats in the garage because it gets so yucky, so you aren't doing so badly You will need to make sure your tank is completely cycled and the nitrates need to be way down (<20 at the very least for fish) before you put any livestock in. Only way to remove those is with water changes, skimming, etc. Get a test kit if you don't have one already - very worth it!