Cycle seems to not be cycling!

[kablamo]

Hey, ok i started the cycle on my tank about four days ago, dropped the shrimp in the water, got the filter and the heater goin, but my water hasn't clouded up yet. Any suggestions?

 

[kablamo]

Unfortunately, the LFS is closed at the moment, i am going to take the water to get tested on monday

 

[kablamo]

Update:
woke up this morning, water is very milky looking, thats a good sign i guess, still gonna take it to get tested though!

 

[tizzo]

Now would be a good time to add a substrate, if you haven't already!!!

 

[zap800]

i recomend you use aragalive reff substrate. just because its nicer looking then just argonite sand. imo. but take it from the other people here dont go cheap and get crushed coral. you'll reget it

 

[zap800]

damn i cant spell lol. i meant reef not reff

 

[kablamo]

i got the water tested and the ammonia was off the charts, which was good, but unfortunately, so was the copper and the zinc... (used tap water) So i've drained the tank and am now just going to buy premixed SW from the LFS
:jumping:
gotta start the thing over!

 

[zap800]

did u just put in plain tap? or did u use conditioner like amquel?if you didnt use it then thats why it ha a high copper reading. i used tap water and used a conditioner, got the water tested and it had a "0" copper reading

 

[tizzo]

Originally posted by MarksMagic
geez, that sucks if coppper was in your tap
....unless the lfs just told u that so u'd ahve to buy it from them :thinking:
Well Mark, I think it's funny... If there is suspicion to be had, your the one to have it!! You make me laugh.... Whenever I see your name with a:thinking: . I know right away that I'm in for a treat!!
But anyway...Kablamo, If your copper levels were high, I THINK that means that you won't be able to keep inverts...ever.
Somebody back me (or correct me) on this one!!!

 

[kablamo]

Thats pretty much what LFS guy said, about the inverts. So i cleaned my tank out, and am just going to buy pre mixed water, i have a friend whos been doin' SW reef for years and has always just bought his water from them cause it's easier, so I'm gonna do that.
LFS guy said, it's fine to do FO, but no way any inverts or corals or anenomes.

 

[dreeves]

Copper can and usually does bond to most items in a tank...this is usually copper in the form of copper treatment where the levels are elevated...residual copper from tap water sources I wouldnt think would be that incredibly high...what you should do, in my own little opinion, is set your tank up, once it gets going...add a few snails and see what happens...snails are extremely sensitive to copper...if they croak...no inverts...if they survive you are good to go.