Ammonia question new tank "seeded"

singold · 07/13/2008, 08:23 PM

Started a new tank, put Live rock, Live Sand, Media Sponge & Filter from my display tank 2 days ago and used R/O water. Just did my tests and got following:

Ammonia .50
Nitrites -- 0
Nitrates --- 10
Ph 8.4

My question is this, when I started my DT I got cured LR, Live Sand from LFS and I ended up skipping cycling process.

When doing this tank, all levels look good except ammonia at .50.
I am wondering why all levels would be good and not ammonia, even that very low nitrates are established and nitrites at zero, given the level of "seeding" I did.

I plan to do a coral only tank so was trying to avoid cycle and having to put a fish in. Any ideas and should Ammonia get to zero on its own anyway given all other levels stable from "seeding" I did"?

Thanks for advise, I would appreciate it. ---Sean

reefnetworth · 07/13/2008, 08:47 PM

you should have gotten as much established water from him as he would let you have.
you stated you have cured LR but was the sand from his tank or a bag? if it was from a bag it will have a small cycle.
ask if you can get some SW from his tank and do a WC with it, that will increase needed benificial bacteria, which in turn, helps decrease the cycle time.

reefnetworth · 07/13/2008, 08:54 PM

FWIW, an established tank usually takes 6 -9 months depending on how stable your parameters remain.
i would not add any corals for at least 3 months minimum...

Aquarist007 · 07/13/2008, 10:01 PM

I agree that the live rock is not fully cured and this is evident by the ammonia level. This is good however, you should be able to monitor this minicycle and when the ammonia and nitrates are zero you are good to go with first adding a clean up crew

07/13/2008, 08:23 PM	#1
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Ammonia question new tank "seeded" Started a new tank, put Live rock, Live Sand, Media Sponge & Filter from my display tank 2 days ago and used R/O water. Just did my tests and got following: Ammonia .50 Nitrites -- 0 Nitrates --- 10 Ph 8.4 My question is this, when I started my DT I got cured LR, Live Sand from LFS and I ended up skipping cycling process. When doing this tank, all levels look good except ammonia at .50. I am wondering why all levels would be good and not ammonia, even that very low nitrates are established and nitrites at zero, given the level of "seeding" I did. I plan to do a coral only tank so was trying to avoid cycle and having to put a fish in. Any ideas and should Ammonia get to zero on its own anyway given all other levels stable from "seeding" I did"? Thanks for advise, I would appreciate it. ---Sean __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

07/13/2008, 08:47 PM	#2
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	you should have gotten as much established water from him as he would let you have. you stated you have cured LR but was the sand from his tank or a bag? if it was from a bag it will have a small cycle. ask if you can get some SW from his tank and do a WC with it, that will increase needed benificial bacteria, which in turn, helps decrease the cycle time. __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

07/13/2008, 08:54 PM	#3
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	FWIW, an established tank usually takes 6 -9 months depending on how stable your parameters remain. i would not add any corals for at least 3 months minimum... __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

07/13/2008, 10:01 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I agree that the live rock is not fully cured and this is evident by the ammonia level. This is good however, you should be able to monitor this minicycle and when the ammonia and nitrates are zero you are good to go with first adding a clean up crew __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock