Cycle progress

[Reeftime99]

Tanks cycling for a couple days. These are my numbers , nothing I'm too worried about just wanted To pick brains if there's anything I should be doing

Sg= 1.025
Ammonia= 0.25 ppm
Nitrite= 0 ppm
Ph= 7.8
Nitrate= 0 ppm
Phosphate= 0.25 ppm
Calcium approx 500 ppm


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[El Dude]

It looks like you're still in the early parts of the cycle. The only thing you should be doing is waiting for ammonia and nitrite to be undetectable...

 

[KYLECT]

How long has your tank been running??

 

[Reeftime99]

Tank cycling for a couple days.


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[Reeftime99]

I have a silverside in there should I try to add more ammonia?


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[jessesoto33]

Add Nitrifying bacteria, and 1 fish, and in 2 day it will be ready! You can buy any brand, but the cheapest is NITE-OUT at PetCo.

 

[Reeftime99]

Add Nitrifying bacteria, and 1 fish, and in 2 day it will be ready! You can buy any brand, but the cheapest is NITE-OUT at PetCo.

ive been adding microbacter7. you think its a good idea to start adding in a fish?

 

[El Dude]

I don't recommend adding any bacteria. It's a waste of money unless you have some rush...or you're the guys from that show "Tanked". All the bacteria you need is already on your live rock.

Don't add any fish. Why put them through the stress of elevated ammonia. We don't think much about it but elevated ammonia and nitrite is terrible for fish blood. Kills leukocytes and turns it brown. Just wait it out. You already have a silverside in there...

 

[jessesoto33]

Well ya! Only if your in a rush as i was!

 

[Reeftime99]

yeah i dont wanna put any fish in until after the cycle..based on my parameters how long do you THINK it should take(ballpark)?

 

[Reeftime99]

And I don't have my light setup on my tank ... Should I be running it at all?

 

[El Dude]

yeah i dont wanna put any fish in until after the cycle..based on my parameters how long do you THINK it should take(ballpark)?

Well its hard to say. If you're using all live rock and live sand. Not long at all. If everything is sterile...about a month. You didn't tell us much about your tank setup.

And I don't have my light setup on my tank ... Should I be running it at all?

Nope. Once you start seeing nitrates rise you can turn it on if you want an algae bloom. Lol.

 

[Reeftime99]

Due to living upstairs I'm limited to a 20 gallon.... So I have a 20 gallon tall with a glass holes overflow box into a 10 gallon sump. I've got 30 pounds of pink Fiji live fine sand and approx 15 pounds of live rock and 15 pounds of dry rock from reef rocks... I've got a 24" 4 bulb t5 HO light fixture ... Nothing special


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[El Dude]

Since it's not all live rock, maybe 3 weeks...maybe less? Just keep testing every few days...don't run your foam fractionator during this time. It will only slow the process. As soon as your nitrates start to rise you can turn on the fractionator and add "hardy" fish.

 

[Reeftime99]

What would be a good first fish? I put a damsel in first in my nano at work and I won't do damsels again


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[El Dude]

Clownfish, Cardinalfish, Royal Grama, Blenny...something SMALL.

Definitely NO Surgeonfish/Tangs.

 

[Reeftime99]

Should I be running a filter sock during my cycle?


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[ep3n3wp]

I put 1 chromie in my tank to test the waters(learned my lesson with damsel in my nano) now I'll add 3 more chromies so they can school together.

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[El Dude]

Should I be running a filter sock during my cycle?


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No. You want all the nasty crap to be left in your tank. This is the fuel that will drive your cycle...

 

[Reeftime99]

Thanks Al for all your great advice


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