Restart Break trew period???

[canada911]

Hello everyone, I have a question for you guys...

I have a 35 gallons, reef tank. No fish in it but alot of live rock.

These few month I wasnt there to keep in good state my aquarium, so it happens that the salinity dropped to 1.014 for a farely long period (2 month).

The quality of the water is good, but I was asking myself if I should consider redoing an other Break trew period since the salinity was incredibily low (Did this low salinity killed the good bacteria????)

I want to push in a fish... That is why I wanna know... (Obviously, now that I am back, the salinity is perfercty back to the normal)

What do I do? Personnaly I woulndt wait no more to put a fish, but if you guys think that the good bacteria are gone than I would wait. ??

 

[dralarms]

Welcome to AA. I believe sg has to drop closer to 1.009 before the good stuff starts dying off. You shoudl be fine but I would check the water very closley after adding your fish.

 

[lando]

The bacteria on the rock should be fine. I would just start doing top-offs with aged SW unitl you get back up to your desired SG. Might want to hold off on fish until you get things back in order.
Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!!

 

[canada911]

Thanks alot guys!

BTW, this forum seems prettty cool!

 

[canada911]

oups... I just did water test, My last message was stating that the water quality was perfect but infact I only tested it a couple of minutes ago I said that because it was OK 2 month ago during my last water test and that since that day I didnt putted nothing in the aquarium (there is only live rocks)... I mistaken, there is a problem I think:

-Salinity is now 1.025
-PH = 8.1
-phosphate = 0
-No2 = 0ppm
-No3 = 0 ppm
-Ammonia = 0.6 mg/L

The aquarium is 4 years old and I god a protein skimmer and alot of live rocks. I never saw any trace of ammonia in this aquarium befor today!
How come there is some NH3 even if I have no fish in it??? I have to mentione that I had algae problem last 2 month.
Where does that ammonia coming from? and how come there is no No2 and No3? (Is it because my skimmer takes the No out?) Or meaby the cycle is all *****d up??

I had a gobby that died (I guess) 3 month ago, he misteriously disapeared from the tank... Meaby that is the source of the ammonia? (bet even after 3 months??)

I first tought my tester was wrong, so I tested with fresh water and it notices no ammonia. So I guess the reading are good.

I would greatly appreciate your advice!

 

[lando]

the ammonia could be coming from life on the rock. Just do some water changes and keep testing.

 

[canada911]

Ok, since I had a bit of ammoniac and NO nitrate and nitrite I tought that meaby my bacterial cycle was dead. So I putted some "Cycle" product from nutrafin in the aquarium yesterday, and I stoped the skimmer and filter to allow the spores to grow and open. Today (24H after) I looked at the water, it was like a bit white... I restarted the skimmer and filter and waited an hour to test again the water and here is the results:

-the ammoniac seems to be at the same level (meaby a bit lower)
-BUT: the Nitrate and nitrite has Jupped at higher Level!!!

So know I have plenty of nitrite and nitrate... whats the deal?? Is it effectivly because of the bacteries of the "cycle" that I putted yesterday that is restarting the nitrification of my aquarium?? Its the first time since a couple of years that I have nitrite and nitrate in this aquarium...

Can I assume that all the bacterial flore was dead and that since yesterday I restarted all the cycle??

 

[TygGer]

I'd also like to know if Nutrafin Cycle works. ????

 

[dralarms]

In a word, NO.

 

[lando]

I'd also like to know if Nutrafin Cycle works. ????

Don't waste your money. Spend it on some LR

 

[TygGer]

Actually, I was going to use it to start a FW tank for my parents. Seems like the general consensus is that it's junk. Thanks.

Time to find clear ammonia...

 

[RMPD109]

You can use any source of ammonia. Check out the attached link from the articles section here. It explains how to cycle with a cocktail shrimp

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=15