My QT is not progressing in cycle...eval please.

dg3147 · 05/21/2010, 03:33 PM

I set up a 10g QT with HOB penguin 100 filter (which has a sponge filter and biowheel; additionally I tossed in some dry rock rubble --less than a one lb). I did NOT seed the filter in the DT, but what I did is drop a silverside in for a few days until the Ammonia level reached 1.0, then pulled it out --this was about 7 days ago. Nitrites remain 0.

Doesn't this seem like a long cycle, with failure to progress?

dcombs44 · 05/21/2010, 03:50 PM

Do you still have an ammonia reading? Nitrates?

Is your ammonia test reliable? You may test your display with it (if it's mature) and see if you get the same reading on it. If so, your test may be bad, and you may want to try another silverside or a piece of shrimp and start over.

dwd5813 · 05/21/2010, 03:53 PM

no, that is not a long time at all. you can seed the filter with even a tiny piece of lr rubble and that will introduce bacteria to the system. from there it just takes time. be patient. has the ammonia level changed at all?

dg3147 · 05/21/2010, 07:38 PM

Ammonia level is rock steady at 1.0 and nitrates rock steady at 0. Tests are all reliable when done on DT. This seems like a long cycle --what do you think the average is with this sort of set up?

(I am avoiding using DT rubble in this QT --if I must, I will buy a chunk of LR from my LFS and toss it in).

dwd5813 · 05/21/2010, 07:48 PM

well, you've created a totally barren environment. one week is Nothing. why are you opposed to dropping a small piece of rubble in the tank/filter? you added the ammonia source with the silverside, now you need a bacterial source. you can run the hob on the dt for a while and that would seed the filter. or, again, you can simply drop a small chunk of rubble from the dt in the filter. or you can wait but that's going to be excruciating for you if you're already growing impatient after seven days.

dg3147 · 05/21/2010, 07:58 PM

I had my last two kole tangs died while in the QT of velvet/ick and I have a small suspicion it might have come from my DT; though, my DT fish are all healthy with no ick/velvet. So, you see, I want to see if I can use a completely separate system to keep a new kole alive for a few weeks, then see what happens once acclimation begins. If I use rubble from my DT/refuge, it may contain the same disease and hence screwing up my experiment.

dcombs44 · 05/24/2010, 07:24 AM

You have the sponge in there which will house bacteria.

I'd consider starting over with another silverside or chunk of shrimp and leave it in there a while longer.

05/21/2010, 03:33 PM	#1
dg3147 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,178	My QT is not progressing in cycle...eval please. I set up a 10g QT with HOB penguin 100 filter (which has a sponge filter and biowheel; additionally I tossed in some dry rock rubble --less than a one lb). I did NOT seed the filter in the DT, but what I did is drop a silverside in for a few days until the Ammonia level reached 1.0, then pulled it out --this was about 7 days ago. Nitrites remain 0. Doesn't this seem like a long cycle, with failure to progress? __________________ Elos 160XL \| Powermodule LED/T5 \| BK Double cone 200 \| Pasadena, CA Home page: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23482778#post23482778

05/21/2010, 03:50 PM	#2
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	Do you still have an ammonia reading? Nitrates? Is your ammonia test reliable? You may test your display with it (if it's mature) and see if you get the same reading on it. If so, your test may be bad, and you may want to try another silverside or a piece of shrimp and start over. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

05/21/2010, 03:53 PM	#3
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	no, that is not a long time at all. you can seed the filter with even a tiny piece of lr rubble and that will introduce bacteria to the system. from there it just takes time. be patient. has the ammonia level changed at all? __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

05/21/2010, 07:38 PM	#4
dg3147 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,178	Ammonia level is rock steady at 1.0 and nitrates rock steady at 0. Tests are all reliable when done on DT. This seems like a long cycle --what do you think the average is with this sort of set up? (I am avoiding using DT rubble in this QT --if I must, I will buy a chunk of LR from my LFS and toss it in). __________________ Elos 160XL \| Powermodule LED/T5 \| BK Double cone 200 \| Pasadena, CA Home page: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23482778#post23482778

05/21/2010, 07:48 PM	#5
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	well, you've created a totally barren environment. one week is Nothing. why are you opposed to dropping a small piece of rubble in the tank/filter? you added the ammonia source with the silverside, now you need a bacterial source. you can run the hob on the dt for a while and that would seed the filter. or, again, you can simply drop a small chunk of rubble from the dt in the filter. or you can wait but that's going to be excruciating for you if you're already growing impatient after seven days. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

05/21/2010, 07:58 PM	#6
dg3147 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,178	I had my last two kole tangs died while in the QT of velvet/ick and I have a small suspicion it might have come from my DT; though, my DT fish are all healthy with no ick/velvet. So, you see, I want to see if I can use a completely separate system to keep a new kole alive for a few weeks, then see what happens once acclimation begins. If I use rubble from my DT/refuge, it may contain the same disease and hence screwing up my experiment. __________________ Elos 160XL \| Powermodule LED/T5 \| BK Double cone 200 \| Pasadena, CA Home page: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23482778#post23482778

05/24/2010, 07:24 AM	#7
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	You have the sponge in there which will house bacteria. I'd consider starting over with another silverside or chunk of shrimp and leave it in there a while longer. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

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