cycling stage questions

chipdesigner9

New Member
I did what the book advised to do, and what the aquarium shop also recommended.
My aquarium is standard 30 gallons, 36 long by 12 width by 16 height.
I have fluval 306 canister, powerhead for water movement, etc.
I have put 60 pounds of aragonite live sand
and so far I have 15 pounds of cured rock.
Its been 3 weeks, and my amonia reading is not 0, but below 0.5ppm
The color is like a lemonade drink.
I am not rush into buying fish, not like an overly excited new hobbyst. Previously I had 15 years experience with tanganykan cichlids. So I know it takes time to cycle and I know that marine tanks are totally different animal, so I will be very conservative. and take my time.
My aquarium shop owner told me that to invest in live sand and live rock, so I opt to use cured rock.
He said it will benefit in the long run, water quality will be much better in long run, perhaps less water changes.
He recommended 60 pounds of live sand (30 gal tank), and at least 30 pounds of live rock (so far i only have 15 pounds)
But from the forum experts, because my amonia level is not zero yet, means that there are not yet beneficial bacteria in my tank? or I need give more time, maybe wait 3 more weeks? I plan to finish with buying another 15 pounds of cure rock sometime next week.
Thanks,
chip
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by chipdesigner9 http:///t/393302/cycling-stage-questions#post_3497992
I did what the book advised to do, and what the aquarium shop also recommended.
My aquarium is standard 30 gallons, 36 long by 12 width by 16 height.
I have fluval 306 canister, powerhead for water movement, etc.
I have put 60 pounds of aragonite live sand
and so far I have 15 pounds of cured rock.
Its been 3 weeks, and my amonia reading is not 0, but below 0.5ppm
The color is like a lemonade drink.
I am not rush into buying fish, not like an overly excited new hobbyst. Previously I had 15 years experience with tanganykan cichlids. So I know it takes time to cycle and I know that marine tanks are totally different animal, so I will be very conservative. and take my time.
My aquarium shop owner told me that to invest in live sand and live rock, so I opt to use cured rock.
He said it will benefit in the long run, water quality will be much better in long run, perhaps less water changes.
He recommended 60 pounds of live sand (30 gal tank), and at least 30 pounds of live rock (so far i only have 15 pounds)
But from the forum experts, because my amonia level is not zero yet, means that there are not yet beneficial bacteria in my tank? or I need give more time, maybe wait 3 more weeks? I plan to finish with buying another 15 pounds of cure rock sometime next week.
Thanks,
chip
Hi, I just read thru your other posts...you can't intend to get a pet and not feed it or 3 weeks...except maybe a snake. Seriously...get a stuffed animal. When you can finally afford the equipment and be home enough to do what is at least minimal care for the tank...try it at that time.
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
IMHO the api test kit is very difficult to read low values in saltwater tanks. In FW you do get a nice clear result but in marine systems you get the milky yellowish that is hard to tell if it's 0 or .25 or .5.
I start and recommend others start marine system with macro algaes usually protected from the fish and crabs in a refugium. The idea is the macros do the same thing as the algae (hopefully corraline) on the live rocks to condition the tank. You might try some chaetomorphia (brillo pad) and see what happens.
The algae like macros will actually consume ammonia before nitrates preventing the dangerous start up spikes. Then as the aerobic bacteria build up the algae will consume nitrates. So during the cycle process you can get an initial nitrate spike but no ammonia spike. With the nitrates dropping down in a few weeks.
After a week with the macros I add a single male molly and not add food for a week. then start feeding a single flake per day. Once that molly has lived for 2-3 weeks or so then try a true saltwater fish.
Still that's just what I do and worth at most.
.02
 
S

saxman

Guest
All the men in Renee's family seem to be colorblind, and altho she isn't, she has a tuff time with reading some of the test results. Since I'm not always there to read the "iffy" test results, here's our solution:
 
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