Start to cycle my tank, several questions

lbear · 05/15/2006, 12:46 PM

Hi!

I filled my 90 gal tank with sw last Thursday and put 50 lbs of live rock and 50 lbs of base rock in it last Saturday. There is no substrate yet. I plan to add 1" fine sand after siphoning out die-off of LR days later. I did 15 gal water change on Sunday.

Water parameters:

temp: 79 degree F
ph: 8.15 (was 8.2 on Thursday)
alk: 2.5
amonia, nitire and nitrate are very very low according to my Seachem test kit. Total amonia is 0.1. free amonia is 0.

Here are my questions:

1. Do I need to add amonia source like cocktail shrimp or fish food to increase amonia level? The amonia level is so low. I doubt the accuray of my kit or my test procedure. The water smells bad actually.

2. The ph becomes lower after water change on Sunday. I am using instant ocean salt. Do I have to try raising the ph level to 8.4 during cycling period?

3. The water looks greenish. Is it better to do water change or wait for a while?

CMReefer · 05/15/2006, 01:02 PM

It is probably too early to detect high levels of Amonia, but it will come. Just let the tank run for about another week and then check it. If the water smells, you definitely don't need to add any shrimp or food to kick up the amonia levels, they will come toward the later part of the cycle as a result of the natural die off on the live rock (that's what you smell).

Don't worry about PH, alkalinity, calcium etc during the cycle phase, just keep the salinity stable and let it run. Instant Ocean is a great salt, but you shouldn't do any more water changes until the cycle has run its course, probably in a week and a half to two weeks.

Hope that helps!
Danny

Kaiser Tang · 05/15/2006, 01:29 PM

Once you have added the LR, let the tank run (run all of your pumps, skimmer, etc.) and sit back and watch. Nothing to do douring a cycle but wait. Test periodically just so you can keep track of the cycle. You want to know when it peaks so that you'll know when the cycle is over. IMO, go ahead and add the sand. It will help support beneficial bacteria and speed up the cycle slightly.

CarmieJo · 05/15/2006, 07:43 PM

Here is a podcast on cycling your tank http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=938 that you might like to listen to. You can get it from the link or at iTunes. If you don't have an iPod or MP3 player you can download iTunes and listen at your computer. Both iTunes and the podcast are free.

05/15/2006, 12:46 PM	#1
lbear Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 391	Start to cycle my tank, several questions Hi! I filled my 90 gal tank with sw last Thursday and put 50 lbs of live rock and 50 lbs of base rock in it last Saturday. There is no substrate yet. I plan to add 1" fine sand after siphoning out die-off of LR days later. I did 15 gal water change on Sunday. Water parameters: temp: 79 degree F ph: 8.15 (was 8.2 on Thursday) alk: 2.5 amonia, nitire and nitrate are very very low according to my Seachem test kit. Total amonia is 0.1. free amonia is 0. Here are my questions: 1. Do I need to add amonia source like cocktail shrimp or fish food to increase amonia level? The amonia level is so low. I doubt the accuray of my kit or my test procedure. The water smells bad actually. 2. The ph becomes lower after water change on Sunday. I am using instant ocean salt. Do I have to try raising the ph level to 8.4 during cycling period? 3. The water looks greenish. Is it better to do water change or wait for a while?

05/15/2006, 01:29 PM	#3
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Once you have added the LR, let the tank run (run all of your pumps, skimmer, etc.) and sit back and watch. Nothing to do douring a cycle but wait. Test periodically just so you can keep track of the cycle. You want to know when it peaks so that you'll know when the cycle is over. IMO, go ahead and add the sand. It will help support beneficial bacteria and speed up the cycle slightly. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/15/2006, 07:43 PM	#4
CarmieJo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 390	Here is a podcast on cycling your tank http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=938 that you might like to listen to. You can get it from the link or at iTunes. If you don't have an iPod or MP3 player you can download iTunes and listen at your computer. Both iTunes and the podcast are free. __________________ Carmie Only disasters happen fast! Current Tank Info: 54 gal AGA corner tank with a Solaris LED fixture; NanoCube 24

05/15/2006, 01:02 PM	#2
CMReefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Costa Mesa CA Posts: 139	It is probably too early to detect high levels of Amonia, but it will come. Just let the tank run for about another week and then check it. If the water smells, you definitely don't need to add any shrimp or food to kick up the amonia levels, they will come toward the later part of the cycle as a result of the natural die off on the live rock (that's what you smell). Don't worry about PH, alkalinity, calcium etc during the cycle phase, just keep the salinity stable and let it run. Instant Ocean is a great salt, but you shouldn't do any more water changes until the cycle has run its course, probably in a week and a half to two weeks. Hope that helps! Danny