Newbie tankcycling right track?

Victor1046 · 03/03/2007, 07:59 AM

10 days into the new tank 85 lbs of live rock (so I was told) had a few days of lockerroom smell but that seems to be gone.
my numbers are

Amonia 1.00

NO2 5.00

NO3 10.00

Salinity is high 1.30 but I keep topping it with bottled water

I keep reading that the Amonia and Nitrite should get to 0
and the Nitrate will sloowwwwwwly increase.

keep cycling right?

kau_cinta_ku · 03/03/2007, 08:03 AM

yep keep cycling and when your ammonia and nitrites read 0 do a good 20 - 40% water change to lower the nitates and then wait another week or so afterward and add your clean up crew.

also lowering your sg by just adding plain bottled water for topping off evaporated water won't work. when sw evaporates only water evaporates not the salt so to lower your sg you will have to remove some sw and just add plain water in return

Sk8r · 03/03/2007, 08:14 AM

Sounds as if you're doing fine, and kau cinta ku's right: you need to pull out saltwater and put in ro/di-fresh. Do not top-off with salt water: it'll turn your tank into the Dead Sea's salt levels.

Just start backing it down slowly, and it will be fine. [note: in this hobby, make every change slowly, even toward good readings, because whatever survived the previous change to bad levels needs all the help it can get easing back into normal levels: a jolt never helps.]

Victor1046 · 03/03/2007, 08:25 AM

Ok Thanks so much!

reefworm · 03/03/2007, 12:33 PM

You're doing great. Sounds like you're being patient, which will save you untold $$ and heartache. Sk8r is wise to quote Augustus, "Make haste slowly." Put another way, "Good things happen slowly; bad things happen quickly." Good advice from kau_cinta_ku. You might consider setting up an IV drip to replenish your evaporation loss. RO/DI water mixed with a tablespoon of pickling lime and white vinegar dripped into your sump will help keep your free calcium levels up once you start adding coral.

03/03/2007, 07:59 AM	#1
Victor1046 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delray Beach FL Posts: 427	Newbie tankcycling right track? 10 days into the new tank 85 lbs of live rock (so I was told) had a few days of lockerroom smell but that seems to be gone. my numbers are Amonia 1.00 NO2 5.00 NO3 10.00 Salinity is high 1.30 but I keep topping it with bottled water I keep reading that the Amonia and Nitrite should get to 0 and the Nitrate will sloowwwwwwly increase. keep cycling right? __________________ Victoria Current Tank Info: 110Gl, 2X250 MH 2X96W ACT , PS, 2 Tom Clowns, bi-color blennie,flame angel, brain, colt, BTA, Xenia, Red & Yellow Zoe, Green Boniopora, Red Cynarina, Trumpet, Hammer Coral, mushrooms, leather,

03/03/2007, 08:14 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Sounds as if you're doing fine, and kau cinta ku's right: you need to pull out saltwater and put in ro/di-fresh. Do not top-off with salt water: it'll turn your tank into the Dead Sea's salt levels. Just start backing it down slowly, and it will be fine. [note: in this hobby, make every change slowly, even toward good readings, because whatever survived the previous change to bad levels needs all the help it can get easing back into normal levels: a jolt never helps.] __________________ 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%.

03/03/2007, 08:25 AM	#4
Victor1046 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delray Beach FL Posts: 427	Ok Thanks so much! __________________ Victoria Current Tank Info: 110Gl, 2X250 MH 2X96W ACT , PS, 2 Tom Clowns, bi-color blennie,flame angel, brain, colt, BTA, Xenia, Red & Yellow Zoe, Green Boniopora, Red Cynarina, Trumpet, Hammer Coral, mushrooms, leather,

03/03/2007, 12:33 PM	#5
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	You're doing great. Sounds like you're being patient, which will save you untold $$ and heartache. Sk8r is wise to quote Augustus, "Make haste slowly." Put another way, "Good things happen slowly; bad things happen quickly." Good advice from kau_cinta_ku. You might consider setting up an IV drip to replenish your evaporation loss. RO/DI water mixed with a tablespoon of pickling lime and white vinegar dripped into your sump will help keep your free calcium levels up once you start adding coral. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

03/03/2007, 08:03 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	yep keep cycling and when your ammonia and nitrites read 0 do a good 20 - 40% water change to lower the nitates and then wait another week or so afterward and add your clean up crew. also lowering your sg by just adding plain bottled water for topping off evaporated water won't work. when sw evaporates only water evaporates not the salt so to lower your sg you will have to remove some sw and just add plain water in return