New tank, first test results

[t_nix]

It's almost been a week since setting up our tank. We are new to this hobby and would like to know your recommendations on the following lab results I did myself.
Temp: 80
pH: 8.4
ammonia: 0.25(total dissolved)
nitrate: 2.5
nitrite: 0.1
specific gravity: 1.023

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[ichthyoid]

t_nix;499072 wrote: It's almost been a week since setting up our tank. We are new to this hobby and would like to know your recommendations on the following lab results I did myself.
Temp: 80
pH: 8.4
ammonia: 0.25(total dissolved)
nitrate: 2.5
nitrite: 0.1
specific gravity: 1.023

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Are those nitrate and nitrite numbers backwards by any chance? Otherwise, everything else looks like you are doing as should be expected.

 

[t_nix]

I don't think I have them backwards... but it may be possible since I've been up for 19 hours. What do we need to do to be able to add some critters?

 

[drnecropolis]

t_nix;499075 wrote: What do we need to do to be able to add some critters?

Patience.. LOL

 

[ichthyoid]

DrNecropolis;499080 wrote: Patience.. LOL

Great advice Doc!

Someone once told me that the most important thing you will ever put into an aquarium is...patience (FWIW-I should have listened the first time).

 

[cr500_af]

+1.
The best advice I ever got was don't rush, because "Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank".

 

[chefrepo]

+2. It will come around soon.

 

[t_nix]

Thanks everyone! I am trying to be patient which is something I struggle with. As a nurse I am use to looking at lab values and then immediatly trying to "fix them" right away. I didn't know if there was something that we could do or needed to do besides waiting to make the values be more fish friendly.

 

[jhutto]

Wait and then wait some more....when I cycle a tank I wait a minimum of 45 days before adding anything other than CUC and wait 30 days for those. No need to test every day...trust us it will take the time to do it right. You will save money in wasted livestock by going real slow.

 

[cr500_af]

Remember that what "fixes" your water parameters on a new tank is the growth of beneficial bacteria colonies (two different species). Nothing you can do will speed that up, but if you don't let it happen fully you'll pay the price down the road with livestock loss.

 

[brianjfinn]

jhutto;499172 wrote: Wait and then wait some more....when I cycle a tank I wait a minimum of 45 days before adding anything other than CUC and wait 30 days for those. No need to test every day...trust us it will take the time to do it right. You will save money in wasted livestock by going real slow.

Same here. Most say that a tank will be fully cycled in about two weeks and that once ammonia and nitrite are zero, you can begin adding livestock. This is true, but I like to wait a little longer just to let everything settle and let the bacteria cultivate a little longer.

Once you do start adding livestock, start with your clean up crew, then add your other livestock slowly.