Recent content by kjwcpm

An update for all - the cycle is brewing. Some spikes in ammonia and nitrites so I've been relegated to heavier PWC's daily. I know it will slow the cycle but I'm trying to be mindful of the critters at this stage. They all look healthy and the snail has become pretty active. I diluted...

Hello all. I'm not new to aquariums (thanks plenty to this Forum community!), but I am starting my first reef. I've been handling a freshwater 10g aquarium for about a year, and now have taken interest in starting up a Nano Reef in my living room. I frequent Aquatic Wildlife and I trust them...

BTW, I found the attached an interesting summary: Auto vs Hetero Bacteria. Of course, it's aimed at selling a product, but I think the science between hetertrophic and autotrophic bacteria sounds logical.

Hey eco - a couple of questions came to mind last night as I thought about your response. contain heterotrophs which are not the true nitrifying bacteria. Problem is they can perform nitrification for a time giving the appearance of a cycled tank, just to die off and crash your bio-filter in...

Thanks eco. Kinda figured that would be the case. I tried keeping the filter and heater going periodically with a generator during the storm, but it wasn't constant. There were periods where the filter wasn't running at all for as much as 12 hour stretches. As for the testing, it's the API...

Well, thanks to Irene it looks like I'm back to square one. pH = 7.4, Ammonia = 1.0 ppm, NO2 = 0, NO3 = 0 Redosing the Ammonia. These setbacks are driving me nuts. I know most here are not big fans of the use of "helpers" in the process, but I'm really toying with the idea of introducing an...

Just chiming in from Connecticut. Basically same deal as Long Island. Mixed emotions about Gloria in '85. It really messed things up, but it's also the reason I met my wife :) This one does look like it will be a bit worse than Gloria. We already have a higher water table from all the rain...

pH 7.4, Ammonia .5ppm, NO2 <.25ppm, NO3 5ppm.

Went one better Alex. Bought a generator today. Ok, so I really bought it because I work from home and can't be without a computer. But the tank will get a side benefit :)

Ammonia .50ppm, NO2 .50ppm, NO3 5.0ppm. Kinda weird not to see the NO2 spike, but then again I'm recycling what was once an "almost cycled" tank. Honestly, I don't think I can complain here. Redose and check again in the morning. Bad news is Hurricane Irene. Right now were on a direct path...

And we march on... Ok, now maybe making some progress. Ammonia .50ppm, NO2 .50ppm, NO3 0. Redosing to help the bacteria along....

Ok, now maybe making some progress. Ammonia .50ppm, NO2 .50ppm, NO3 0. Redosing to help the bacteria along. Hopefully building a stable filter this time!

Right now daily alex. Consistently at about 8 or 8:15 AM each day.

Oh no panicking here. Just patiently waiting for those pesky bacteria to GET BACK TO WORK!!!! :lol:

Very funny, LG! I'm not panicking just yet. Need to see what happens with conversion over days, not hours. Just thought it was odd.