Starting to cycle my QT tank

pdiehm · 03/09/2015, 11:44 AM

I have ACE Ammonia laying around. I have an AquaClear 20. 2 425 gph nano powerheads and a 100W heater.

I dosed enough ammonia to make 3ppm.

I've cycled freshwater tanks before, never a saltwater. So I want to make sure I have the process right.

Dose ammonia.
Wait for ammonia to drop (currently reading 2ppm+) per Red Sea.
Once ammonia drops, test for nitrites. Re-dose back to 3ppm
Continue to redose back to 3ppm until ammonia and nitrites are both 0.
Redose 2ppm ammonia, if ammonia and nitrites are at 0 in 24 hours, I'm cycled.

Yes?

pdiehm · 03/13/2015, 08:32 AM

Big Doings!

Ammonia dropped to 1.2 (per red sea)
and we have Nitrites!

Redosing up to 3ppm ammonia!

Kyle461 · 03/13/2015, 08:41 AM

Looks like it's on track with cycling. What did you use as a source of bacteria to start processing the ammonia?

pdiehm · 03/13/2015, 10:00 AM

Nothing. I have a piece of pukani in there, my AquaClear 20 filter, with sponge and bioballs. Dosed with Ace Ammonia, and just waited for nature to take over.

I increased the temp to 84, have my 2 powerheads pointed at the surface for agitation. Just waiting.

It's also my test run for when I finally set up the 120 in the house.

pdiehm · 03/20/2015, 10:53 AM

Today's test (using Red Sea).

Ammonia: 0.4ppm
Nitrites: Off the charts (I'm 90 seconds in, and it's already the color or beyond 1ppm).

Should I keep redosing ammonia back to 2ppm?

BlackTip · 03/20/2015, 12:25 PM

Why do you have to r-dose ammonia?

pdiehm · 03/21/2015, 09:45 AM

That's what I'm asking. Should I be redosing to 2ppm when ammonia drops? Or just wait?

the way it was explained to me was when ammona drops below 2, redose up to 2 and keep doing that until ammonia and nitrites hit 0.

Another individual says, don't redose ammonia until nitrites are 0, then dose up to 2ppm and wait until the dosing is 0 ppm in 24 hours.

03/09/2015, 11:44 AM	#1
pdiehm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 921	Starting to cycle my QT tank I have ACE Ammonia laying around. I have an AquaClear 20. 2 425 gph nano powerheads and a 100W heater. I dosed enough ammonia to make 3ppm. I've cycled freshwater tanks before, never a saltwater. So I want to make sure I have the process right. Dose ammonia. Wait for ammonia to drop (currently reading 2ppm+) per Red Sea. Once ammonia drops, test for nitrites. Re-dose back to 3ppm Continue to redose back to 3ppm until ammonia and nitrites are both 0. Redose 2ppm ammonia, if ammonia and nitrites are at 0 in 24 hours, I'm cycled. Yes?

03/13/2015, 08:41 AM	#3
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Looks like it's on track with cycling. What did you use as a source of bacteria to start processing the ammonia? __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

03/13/2015, 08:32 AM	#2
pdiehm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 921	Big Doings! Ammonia dropped to 1.2 (per red sea) and we have Nitrites! Redosing up to 3ppm ammonia!

03/13/2015, 10:00 AM	#4
pdiehm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 921	Nothing. I have a piece of pukani in there, my AquaClear 20 filter, with sponge and bioballs. Dosed with Ace Ammonia, and just waited for nature to take over. I increased the temp to 84, have my 2 powerheads pointed at the surface for agitation. Just waiting. It's also my test run for when I finally set up the 120 in the house.

03/20/2015, 10:53 AM	#5
pdiehm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 921	Today's test (using Red Sea). Ammonia: 0.4ppm Nitrites: Off the charts (I'm 90 seconds in, and it's already the color or beyond 1ppm). Should I keep redosing ammonia back to 2ppm?

03/20/2015, 12:25 PM	#6
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	Why do you have to r-dose ammonia?

03/21/2015, 09:45 AM	#7
pdiehm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 921	That's what I'm asking. Should I be redosing to 2ppm when ammonia drops? Or just wait? the way it was explained to me was when ammona drops below 2, redose up to 2 and keep doing that until ammonia and nitrites hit 0. Another individual says, don't redose ammonia until nitrites are 0, then dose up to 2ppm and wait until the dosing is 0 ppm in 24 hours.