29 gallon progress update - Aquarium Advice

drucifer · 06-25-2008, 02:19 PM

11 days since filling her.

Salinity: 1.024
Temp (F): 79
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: .25
Nitrate: 20
Plus, a healthy population of diatoms

A couple of pics, too:

No lights:

PC actinics:

cmor1701d · 06-26-2008, 12:40 PM

Is that all base rock?
What did you do to start your cycle?

**roka64** · 06-26-2008, 01:02 PM

I agree.
That is some cool scaping!

drucifer · 06-26-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmor1701d

Is that all base rock?
What did you do to start your cycle?

Some is base rock, if you look at the pic here you can see exactly how much. I really didn't do anything to start the cycle other than chucking the live rock in there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roka64

I agree.
That is some cool scaping!

Thanks!

**melosu58** · 06-26-2008, 02:09 PM

You`ll need to add something maybe a pinch of flake to jump start the cycle. Read about the cycle on our SW articles.

drucifer · 06-26-2008, 04:25 PM

How about a few drops of ammonia?

**melosu58** · 06-26-2008, 05:32 PM

Why not a small pinch of flakes or a small piece of shrimp?

cmor1701d · 06-26-2008, 06:53 PM

Use the tried and tru coctail shrimp method. Just put it in a mesh bag for ease of removal later. You could add some pure ammonia, but there's something about using biological material (shrimp/flake food, etc.) that just seems more nautral.

drucifer · 06-26-2008, 09:23 PM

I should do this even though my nitrites have already peaked (beyond 5 according to the color scale on the API test kit) and fallen?

cmor1701d · 06-27-2008, 12:04 PM

IMO you had a mini-cycle because of you added some LR. Did you see a rise in ammonia first, and if so to what level?

You have about a 50/50 mix of LR and base rock. Your tank might be cycled, but there's a better chance that you don't have a very large population of bacteria yet. Try adding a pinch of flake and see if you get an ammonia reading in a day. If there's no spike to ammonia, nitrite or nitrate you can do your PWC and start slowly adding livestock (1 fish per month).

Please keep us posted.

06-25-2008, 02:19 PM	#1
drucifer Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2007 Location: KY USA Posts: 33 Images: 11	29 gallon progress update 11 days since filling her. Salinity: 1.024 Temp (F): 79 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: .25 Nitrate: 20 Plus, a healthy population of diatoms A couple of pics, too: No lights: PC actinics:

06-26-2008, 12:40 PM	#2
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,800 Images: 43	Is that all base rock? What did you do to start your cycle? __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

06-26-2008, 01:02 PM	#3
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,298 Images: 12	I agree. That is some cool scaping! __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

06-26-2008, 02:09 PM	#5
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,104 Images: 73	You`ll need to add something maybe a pinch of flake to jump start the cycle. Read about the cycle on our SW articles. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

06-26-2008, 05:32 PM	#7
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,104 Images: 73	Why not a small pinch of flakes or a small piece of shrimp? __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

06-26-2008, 04:25 PM	#6
drucifer Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2007 Location: KY USA Posts: 33 Images: 11	How about a few drops of ammonia?

06-26-2008, 06:53 PM	#8
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,800 Images: 43	Use the tried and tru coctail shrimp method. Just put it in a mesh bag for ease of removal later. You could add some pure ammonia, but there's something about using biological material (shrimp/flake food, etc.) that just seems more nautral. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

06-26-2008, 09:23 PM	#9
drucifer Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2007 Location: KY USA Posts: 33 Images: 11	I should do this even though my nitrites have already peaked (beyond 5 according to the color scale on the API test kit) and fallen?

06-27-2008, 12:04 PM	#10
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,800 Images: 43	IMO you had a mini-cycle because of you added some LR. Did you see a rise in ammonia first, and if so to what level? You have about a 50/50 mix of LR and base rock. Your tank might be cycled, but there's a better chance that you don't have a very large population of bacteria yet. Try adding a pinch of flake and see if you get an ammonia reading in a day. If there's no spike to ammonia, nitrite or nitrate you can do your PWC and start slowly adding livestock (1 fish per month). Please keep us posted. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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