I have cycled countless freshwater tanks. Does the process work the same? I started the tank and allowed the water to stay in the tank for a week before I started the powerheads. Then checked my perameters. My ammonia was really high. A week later I had nitrites two days later I had another spike in ammonia. This repeated over the next week. Now I have 0 ammonia, my nitrites seem to be on the downhill slope and my nitrates are slowly rising. I added all of the rock today so I expecting another ammonia spike in the next week. After I get through this next spike and my nitrites hit 0 is it safe to add a damsel or two? Or possibly a clown or two? Just to start with. I know I want clowns and a damsel or two. What are the best clowns to get?
cycling question
- Thread starter kstyle13
- Start date
No you do not want damsels at all I repeat you do not want them.. lol
You let the water sit stagnant for a week? Or is there a sump/return pump
Edit: Just because you are seeing a rise/fall in ammonia and nitrite doesn't mean that the bacteria colonies are established well enough to handle livestock. A good way to go about cycling a tank is to use a source of ammonia that is not alive, like table shrimp rather than damsels.
Plus once you put that sucker in there get used to it because you may never catch it.
Once ammonia and nitrite are undetectable for a few days the tank is ready.
Edit: Also I like to use Seachem Stability during this process. But it does not eliminate new tank syndrome IMO just helps speed it up.
Edit: Just because you are seeing a rise/fall in ammonia and nitrite doesn't mean that the bacteria colonies are established well enough to handle livestock. A good way to go about cycling a tank is to use a source of ammonia that is not alive, like table shrimp rather than damsels.
Plus once you put that sucker in there get used to it because you may never catch it.
Once ammonia and nitrite are undetectable for a few days the tank is ready.
Edit: Also I like to use Seachem Stability during this process. But it does not eliminate new tank syndrome IMO just helps speed it up.
What they are telling you is Damsels are a PITS fish and there are soooo many other fish that are nicer and are peaceful to other tank mates.
Maybe read up on Damsels on a few reef forums.....
Maybe read up on Damsels on a few reef forums.....
I read several books about different species of fish. I do k ow they get aggressive but IMO they are cute. Lol but I can do without them. I did use seachem. No it didn't sit stagnant. Lol that's a little gross. But didn't have a protien skimmer at that time so I just ran a canister filter. But that's what I was asking basically. Once it I get 0 reading for ammonia and nitrites is it safe to a fish or two. No more than 2 to start with since it is brand new. I will give it a week or two to increase the biofilm. Then add a couple more and so on. Once I get good and established I will start looking into corals. I bought a book on different corals I have just yet to read it as there's other more important aspect that come first. Lol
Once you know the tank has cycled, you could easily add some corals as the bio load that they add is minimal at best. Start off with a few softies. Mushrooms and the like. Maybe a few zoas.
Just hold off on the harder stuff for a while. Let the tank mature a while before getting in deeper.
Just hold off on the harder stuff for a while. Let the tank mature a while before getting in deeper.
about clowns, that is all preference. some like the designers some want Nemo from the movie. My fav are the black footed clowns, i have a pair. Maroons are ussualy more agressive towards others IMO,all clowns are aggrewsive toward eachother but thats normal.
Might still be there, there was a cant pair of ORA maroons on divers den. Not lightenings, but crazy
Edit: Here it is, actually not even a pair just one
http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=215860">Gold nugget maroon</a>
It's like the whyoming white of maroon clownfish.
You Will know the tank is nearing the end of its cycle when you wake up to a diatom bloom , it will look like brown sludge on the sand and rock.
I would continue to add ammonia up to 5ppm daily or every other day in the tank water , if it can eliminate the 5ppm in 24 hours the bacteria should be adequate to keep up with a a few coral or a fish.
After that wait a few 2-3 weeks in between adding fish so the bio load can catch up.
I would continue to add ammonia up to 5ppm daily or every other day in the tank water , if it can eliminate the 5ppm in 24 hours the bacteria should be adequate to keep up with a a few coral or a fish.
After that wait a few 2-3 weeks in between adding fish so the bio load can catch up.
You got the right idea.
Now that you added rock prepare for another spike. After that settles in 0 for a few days, yes you can add a small fish or two. I would stick with hardy and something you plan on keeping long term. Steer clear of corals for a few more weeks.
Ok. So I did the tests the curt let me use. The master reef test kits. Everything is where it's supposed to be. My ammonia is 0. My nitrite is 0. My nitrate is around 10. There is coralline algae popping up everywhere on my rock and the brown sludge. Which I'm guessing the diatom bloom tbub1221 was referring to. Is all over the place. Even the hair algae on my first rock has turned brown and is now back to being green. The readings have been like this for the last three days now. Without any wavering. This means I can add a fish or two right? Granted it won't be until Thursday. So if something does change I'll know. And I can wait but if they remain the same I'm good right?
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