thegundog
Aquarium Advice Freak
This is what you will have to consider here- you plan on eventually heavily/overstocking this tank, correct? With just a single fish, this problem most likely wont happen. But, a heavily/overstocked tank will possibly put out 4-5ppm of ammonia. Bottled ammonia & ammonia from fish are the same thing- ammonia. If your are not able to keep a stable ph now, you will probably not be able to keep a stable ph with your future stocking plans either. The coral/argonite does gradually dissolve (once your ph hits 7.5) so you will be adding to it as time goes on.
Now, if you only plan on one or two fish & keeping this tank understocked, drop your amm dose down lower (1-2ppm) and you can probably get this tank cycled without a ph issue. You will just then have to watch as your increase your stock that your ph doesnt start crashing because at some point the bioload will tip the ph scale over its stability point. Ultimately, its up to you on how you would like to approach getting your tank cycled. Hope this makes some sense!
Your post makes perfect sense and I completely understand....
This tank is set up for Peacocks and it will need to be overstocked given the species.
A week ago I purchased my first three male Peacocks about 2.5 inches and put them in a 20 Long to quarantine, thinking this 55 was nearing it's point of cycle.
The 20L is a barebottom tank and I am AMAZED at the amount of bio-load (poop!) these 3 fish produce... more than I expected.
There is no doubt about it - I need a cycle that can handle 4.0 ammonia, otherwise my fish will constantly be at risk which means I won't sleep well at night and I'll be doing constant water changes.
I'm running some fairly strong filtration with two Aquaclear 70's at 300 GPH each and an Aquaclear 50 Powerhead at 270 GPH. I'm hopeful that once the filtration heats up with beneficial bacteria that the large amount of sponge filtration will house adequate bacteria to dispose of the ammonia without ph spikes - is this a possibilty? Am I thinking correctly?
Maybe I should build a cycle to 2.0 and after the tank has cycled at the 2.0 point gradually and continually move the ammonia dose to 4.0 as the ph can handle it?
I feel with certainty at this point I am going to have to stabilize the ph with cc or aragonite to get the ph stable and the cycle completed and probably use either/or on a permanent basis.
I'm not even sure that posting my readings at this point is very beneficial, it is very consistent - the ph falls when the ammonia is displaced.
Today's readings 03-02-12:
AMMONIA: - .25
NITRITES: - 2.0
NITRATES: - 40.0
PH: 6.8
TEMP: 85F