Water Testing

[bckane]

Ok Ive have water and sand in my tank for a week, nothing else. Added live rocks and been running skimmer and powerheads for 24 hours. Just did a test tonight.....can this be right.?

Ammonia-0ppm
Nitrite-0ppm
Nitrate-0ppm
PH-8.0
Salinity-1.024
Temp-78

Im using Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit
Aquarium Pharmaceutical.

[saltcreep1025]

cycle probably hasnt started.... turn off the skimmer, its useless during the cycle

[bckane]

Im gettting alot of green gunk in the collector camber...good or bad.?
Your telling me to turn it off, others say turn it on ....Im confussed now.^

[WarOrks15]

well some people say turn it off some say turn it on. i cyceld my tank with it on. it took some stuff out of the water but not that much. it helped with the smell some. i would keep it on but it is really up to you..

[bckane]

I did another test today and its the same

[BlueDolphin]

I am cycling my tank right now - I'm on about day 8 of the cycle. I have had my skimmer on from the very beginning and it has taken out a lot of nasty stuff. My liverock was already cured, so I threw in two dead raw shrimp to kickstart the cycle. I think it was about day 4 or 5 before I started to see the ammonia go up.

[jackdp]

Was your LR cured? If so then there may not be much cycling to do. If you want to be sure, toss a raw shrimp in there and let it go and test for another week and see what happens. The shrimp should produce some ammonia and if your tank has cycled, the bacteria should make quick work of it. HTH