rookie question again..

[RY@N]

so, hi again. tonight hits my 17th day of cycling, so I tested my parameters. I've been testing every 3 days or so. 3 days ago, my tank finally showed a little spike in nitrate and my ammonia and nitrite declined a little bit, but I tested tonight and got something unexpected. My ammonia and nitrate was the same as last test, but my nitrite declined to 0. Is this normal? maybe I'm testing too often and over thinking things?

 

[smartchoice]

did you use dry rock?

 

[RY@N]

I did, along with uncured and cured live rock. dosed Microbacter7.

 

[ndrwater]

so, hi again. tonight hits my 17th day of cycling, so I tested my parameters. I've been testing every 3 days or so. 3 days ago, my tank finally showed a little spike in nitrate and my ammonia and nitrite declined a little bit, but I tested tonight and got something unexpected. My ammonia and nitrate was the same as last test, but my nitrite declined to 0. Is this normal? maybe I'm testing too often and over thinking things?

As long as you are still showing Amonia and Nitrite you still aren't cycled...
Hang in there... You'll get there soon enough.

 

[RY@N]

just confused as why nitrite disappeared while ammonia is still present..

As long as you are still showing Amonia and Nitrite you still aren't cycled...
Hang in there... You'll get there soon enough.

 

[ndrwater]

just confused as why nitrite disappeared while ammonia is still present..

Probably well on your way to being cycled. Without knowing all of the other variables it's hard to say, but...... Probably something in the uncured or cured died off recently causing the amonia to have a mini spike. Chances are, in the next couple of days you will see the ammonia disappear and the nitrite follow the same mini spike as you had with the ammonia.
Like I said before... Hang in there...

 

[RY@N]

I know...I know...this hobby is super frustrating! I'm so impatient. lol.

Probably well on your way to being cycled. Without knowing all of the other variables it's hard to say, but...... Probably something in the uncured or cured died off recently causing the amonia to have a mini spike. Chances are, in the next couple of days you will see the ammonia disappear and the nitrite follow the same mini spike as you had with the ammonia.
Like I said before... Hang in there...

 

[waterman78]

Ryan, my suggestion would be to start counting the weeks rather than the days. And test weekly than daily. Even though you may see 0 in all parameters, as soon as you start adding livestock, the system will begin cycling all over again...however, you shouldn't see the NH4 or Nitrite....only Nitrates. Just know that the cycle is a never ending balance in your system. You will continuously see spikes here and there in the beginning but that's just your system getting use to all the new introduced bacteria and waste. Patient is the name of the game. PM me if you need advice on local shops in the SFV.

Larry

 

[RY@N]

cool. the mini spikes as a result of additions to the tank makes sense. appreciate the advice and help offer.

Ryan, my suggestion would be to start counting the weeks rather than the days. And test weekly than daily. Even though you may see 0 in all parameters, as soon as you start adding livestock, the system will begin cycling all over again...however, you shouldn't see the NH4 or Nitrite....only Nitrates. Just know that the cycle is a never ending balance in your system. You will continuously see spikes here and there in the beginning but that's just your system getting use to all the new introduced bacteria and waste. Patient is the name of the game. PM me if you need advice on local shops in the SFV.

Larry

 

[jessesoto33]

Have you added any nitrifying bacteria?

 

[RY@N]

I've been dosing Microbacter7 daily.

Have you added any nitrifying bacteria?

 

[Greaser9999]

U gotta give it at least a month, I don't know y peeps even bother to measure parameters before that. Makes no sense!!

 

[RY@N]

hence my post in the beginner's reef section and the title of my post. lol with all due respect, oh wise one, a million apologies for breaking a reefer commandment!

U gotta give it at least a month, I don't know y peeps even bother to measure parameters before that. Makes no sense!!

 

[Greaser9999]

hence my post in the beginner's reef section and the title of my post. lol with all due respect, oh wise one, a million apologies for breaking a reefer commandment!

Didn't mean to come off aggressive in any way lol. Just saying though..

 

[RY@N]

no harm done. and yes I will be more patient and give it sometime to cycle. thanks for the advice.

Didn't mean to come off aggressive in any way lol. Just saying though..

 

[Greaser9999]

no harm done. and yes I will be more patient and give it sometime to cycle. thanks for the advice.

What r ur plans once cycled livestock wise?

 

[RY@N]

I really want to get into sps but will start off with beginner corals until I can get the hang of things. as for fish, for sure a pair of designer clowns(daughter has been nagging me about her nemos), a purple tang, a goby/shrimp pair, mystery wrasse. that's the wish list for now. any additional recommendations?

What r ur plans once cycled livestock wise?

 

[Greaser9999]

I really want to get into sps but will start off with beginner corals until I can get the hang of things. as for fish, for sure a pair of designer clowns(daughter has been nagging me about her nemos), a purple tang, a goby/shrimp pair, mystery wrasse. that's the wish list for now. any additional recommendations?

Too many great choices to reccommend anything, everyone has different taste! My tank use to be a reef but sold off almost all my coral and went fish only. Still have a few corals in there but nothing fancy, way too many nice fish out there. I personally love Angels so it was one or the other

 

[RY@N]

Too many great choices to reccommend anything, everyone has different taste! My tank use to be a reef but sold off almost all my coral and went fish only. Still have a few corals in there but nothing fancy, way too many nice fish out there. I personally love Angels do it was one or the other

originally, I was going to go with a FOWLR tank (still have a 48x24x24 in the garage) because of all the crazy nice aggressive fish I wanted to keep, but eventually gave went a different direction and picked up a cube to start a reef. Maybe in the future I'll set the other tank up for fish only.

 

[Greaser9999]

originally, I was going to go with a FOWLR tank (still have a 48x24x24 in the garage) because of all the crazy nice aggressive fish I wanted to keep, but eventually gave went a different direction and picked up a cube to start a reef. Maybe in the future I'll set the other tank up for fish only.

That's exactly what I did, I have a 28g jbj I still need to clean and set up! That one will b a reef, softy simple coral, Zoas, acan & shrooms. Gonna transfer my pair of blackice clowns from my main, add a goby/shrimp pair. This hobby just milks my money away and cAnt seem to finish one or the other lol. Well good stock list bud! Good luck when u get going, it's always difficult to stare at an empty tank in the beginning