Recent content by etvil

so went and got a digital ph probe today - (digital aquatics) did the calibration and ph tested at 7.8 ( so i was pretty close with the 8.1 from the API. I haven't done any water changes so far, reading today - ammo dropped back to 0, nitrite >5 and nitrates 20, so everything looking good, i...

i will check my ph tonight and see what the level is, having a hard time with API ph testing, have a strange color that does not exactly fit the chart, - my best guess its 8.1 (somewhere in between) hope it's not off the chart low! ammo still drops to zero every day so i think the cycle is still...

im just trying to prevent a ph crash that could bring the cycle to a halt, was wondering if the decrease in the alkalinity is a concern?

currently in the process of fishless cycling with ammonia, no seeded material, dry sand and dry rock. 65 Gallon (Red sea max 250) day 21 today - my first day with ammonia dropping to 0 within 24 hours, nitrates still >5 and nitrates at 10, checked the dKH and seemsto be lowering now to 6 - used...

thankfully i am using RO water, thanks for the advise on topping off, i will match the temperature, will also consider investing in an ATO. any advise on type of cleaning crew - this will be 66g tank and i would like to focus on coral mostly.

did not even think about using fish food with the cuc! thanx! what about adding the worms, small brittle stars etc to the sand . is it necessary or is other sandsifters such as the snails, and sand sifting starfish sufficient. after 2 weeks of cycling my water level has somewhat lowered, it is...

so i shouldnt be concerned about them not having anough to feed since the're will be plenty micro algae present, is adding the cleanup crew sufficient to sustain my nitrifying bacteria or should i add fish at the same time to produce enough ammonia to keep the cycle active, dont want all the...

hey scot, yes adding ammonia as soon as the level drops below 3ppm, i check every day, so when the cycle is completes and i have my algae bloom - now add the cleanup crew - should i add sand sifting snails as well and will they have enough to feed on?

thanks Erik, , will continue to be patient. Will sand organisms such as Detritivores, Pods, ReefWorms, Plankton, Mini Brittle Stars and MacroAlgae start colonizing by themselves, or do i even need all of these organisms?

Brand new to the hobby, did research and decided to try fishless cycling for a new saltwater reef tank. I purchased a Red Sea Max 250, i have started my cycle 2 weeks ago(using dry sand and dry rock and ammonia only, did some further reading and found that some guys also use fishfood to create...