What do you'll think?ready for cuc?
- Thread starter scramer74
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Looks like you are getting there, hard to really tell with the API tests at times. To be certain, "when fully cycled", you should be able to process a decent amount of ammonia (~3 ppm) in a 24 hour period. (i.e. 0 ammonia & 0 nitrite from 3 ppm ammonia over a 24 hour period.)
I have never used brine food for an ammonia source, but if you can add enough to bump ammonia levels up to ~3 ppm, and it process it in 24 hours or less, you are good to go!
I have never used brine food for an ammonia source, but if you can add enough to bump ammonia levels up to ~3 ppm, and it process it in 24 hours or less, you are good to go!
Ok thanks Grant!! that makes sense, I'll give that a shot and see what happens. What's the most reliable test kit to get?
also, since I'm running such a small system and I won't have many fish, probably more softies, can I just run my skimmer at night, maybe 8 to 12 hours? It's kind of loud and creating a lot of micro bubbles.
By the way, I've been watching your posts on your build out. I can't even imagine how you're doing that!?! That's amazing!
also, since I'm running such a small system and I won't have many fish, probably more softies, can I just run my skimmer at night, maybe 8 to 12 hours? It's kind of loud and creating a lot of micro bubbles.
By the way, I've been watching your posts on your build out. I can't even imagine how you're doing that!?! That's amazing!
The API kit will work through the cycling process, but once you think you are there I would confirm it by investing in good kits for monitoring Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium, Alkalinity, & Magnesium to start. Good kits would be those produced by Red Sea, Salifert, SeaChem, Elos, Etc... One of our sponsors can point you in the right direction in regards to purchasing the right stuff, don't rely on big box stores.
Grants a pretty amazing guy...whops I thought this was the praise Grant thread...
Seriously, follow his advise, good stuff. On the skimmer and micro bubbles, they should disappear after a while so I'd run it full time. For the noise I have seen some skimmers with a chamber filled with floss attached to the airline intake to act as a silencer.
Seriously, follow his advise, good stuff. On the skimmer and micro bubbles, they should disappear after a while so I'd run it full time. For the noise I have seen some skimmers with a chamber filled with floss attached to the airline intake to act as a silencer.
You're just saying that cause you want something from me...lol. Getting ready to reply to your PM.
In regards to the skimmer, most people run their skimmer 24-7, with the exception of a few that have appropriately sized skimmers that allow them to skim for say 8 or 12 hour periods after they broadcast feed. I would only suggest this if you have a quality skimmer that can actually do the job in that amount of time.
+1. API is fine for the cycle. Wouldn't put CUC in until nitrites read 0 though. Personally, post cycle I have never tested for ammonia or nitrite. Nitrate I do occasionally. PH, Phosphate, Calc, Alk, and Mag are all important especially if you start adding LPS and SPS. Alk being the most important IMO/E.
IME, which admittedly isn't nearly as long as some others, if you're alk is good your PH tends to be good too. You'll know you have either phosphate or nitrate, or both, if you have algae problems. API will be good enough for now to test your nitrates. It's more important that you can get consistently low numbers. Once you start adding fish and corals you'll want a better test kit. Red Sea makes a good alk, calc, and mag combo test kit that I've used. Fairly easy to read.
While I agree that it really is not a factor for the DT, they are good to have around for QT and hospital tank setup and use. I did leave PH out of the test kit requirements, sorry. I run an Apex controller with a calibrated PH probe, so I just use it to monitor PH and haven't had a test kit for it in a while. The API will be fine for PH until it runs out, by then you will probably have decided whether or not you will continue to monitor PH. Some people chase it, some don't.
and Prime it.
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dont worry you'll pick it up in no time. and if you ever have trouble trying to figure something out, thats what were here for.
