treblehook
Member
I am presently cycling a tank. It has been 7 weeks. it is still not done. Anyone ever have one cycle longer?
Cycling
- Thread starter treblehook
- Start date
treblehook
Member
just 2 large shrimp in a 75 to cycle. Ammonia peaked and is non existent....Nitrite still very high. Very little Nitrate.
dcoyle11
Member
Originally Posted by TrebleHook
just 2 large shrimp in a 75 to cycle. Ammonia peaked and is non existent....Nitrite still very high. Very little Nitrate.
If i have been following along these posts correctly when that (nitrite) drops the nitrates will go up then all will come down.. someone correct me if i am wrong.. since i am kinda waiting for the same thing to happen.
just 2 large shrimp in a 75 to cycle. Ammonia peaked and is non existent....Nitrite still very high. Very little Nitrate.
If i have been following along these posts correctly when that (nitrite) drops the nitrates will go up then all will come down.. someone correct me if i am wrong.. since i am kinda waiting for the same thing to happen.
1journeyman
Active Member
Nitrate will not come down unless you have anearobic (oxygen deprived) regions in your tank (such as a deep sand bed).
Nitrate can be controlled with Macro algae exports, water changes, etc. Some nitrate removal even takes place deep, deep, within the crevices of your live rock (from what I've recently read).
Nitrate can be controlled with Macro algae exports, water changes, etc. Some nitrate removal even takes place deep, deep, within the crevices of your live rock (from what I've recently read).
geridoc
Well-Known Member
The desirable nitrate level varies, depending on what you intend to have in your tank. Most reef set-ups aim for the lowest possible nitrate levels - zero or close to zero. FO tanks can be higher since fish don't seem to be as sensitive to nitrates as inverts. While there are successful tanks with nitrates with values of 200, IMHO that is potentially toxic. I try to keep my FO tank nitrate levels below 20. That can be difficult, but I use a chaeto export system, I skim heavily and change 10% of the water weekly.
dcoyle11
Member
i tested my tap water and the nitrates are 20 so no matter what if i use that water thats what they will be? from what i read here they only way i am going to lower this level is to buy a ro/di unit. am i correct in saying this? i do not seem to see any other way to lower nitrates?
ktsdad
Member
Here is some general information from my experience with salt water tanks - hope it helps....
Cycling
You will know that your cycle has started when the ammonia starts to rise. This will cause "good" bacteria to start to grow in your rocks/filtration system which will convert this ammonia to NitrItes. This will cause another bacteria growth which will convert the nitrItes to nitrAtes.
So your cycle will consist of an ammonia spike followed by a nitrite spike followed by a nitrate spike.
You are finished cycling when your ammonia test is zero, nitrIte test is zero and nitrates are some level.
Controlling Nitrate
I use 3 methods - 3-4" sand bed, good skimmer and frequent water changes. I change 35 gallons (250 gallon tank) every week. With all these methods I don't have any measurable nitrAtes.
Water
Yes you should use RO/DI water for water changes and top off water. Your tap water has more than just nitrates that you need to worry about.
Hope this help with some of the confusion.
Good Luck
Dave
Cycling
You will know that your cycle has started when the ammonia starts to rise. This will cause "good" bacteria to start to grow in your rocks/filtration system which will convert this ammonia to NitrItes. This will cause another bacteria growth which will convert the nitrItes to nitrAtes.
So your cycle will consist of an ammonia spike followed by a nitrite spike followed by a nitrate spike.
You are finished cycling when your ammonia test is zero, nitrIte test is zero and nitrates are some level.
Controlling Nitrate
I use 3 methods - 3-4" sand bed, good skimmer and frequent water changes. I change 35 gallons (250 gallon tank) every week. With all these methods I don't have any measurable nitrAtes.
Water
Yes you should use RO/DI water for water changes and top off water. Your tap water has more than just nitrates that you need to worry about.
Hope this help with some of the confusion.
Good Luck
Dave
dcoyle11
Member
:thinking: First off i would like to thank everyone for your help! I think my cycle is complete.
here are my lastest parameters 03/09/07
Salt 1.024
ammonia-0
ph-8.2
nitrite-0
nitrate-20 (most likely as low as it will go with my tap water) would like to get a ro/di unit
Here is my question the tank has been running since 01/26/07 so for about 6 weeks. i cycled it with damsels (i am sorry found the site after the fact)
The highest the ammonia got was 0.5 on 02/16 thru 02/22
The highest the nitrites got was 2 on 03/01
and the nitrates were has high as 40 last week does this seem about right for a cycled tank?
thanks again everyone for your help this past 6 weeks. i would like to go get a clean up crew this weekend if possible? :thinking:
here are my lastest parameters 03/09/07
Salt 1.024
ammonia-0
ph-8.2
nitrite-0
nitrate-20 (most likely as low as it will go with my tap water) would like to get a ro/di unit
Here is my question the tank has been running since 01/26/07 so for about 6 weeks. i cycled it with damsels (i am sorry found the site after the fact)
The highest the ammonia got was 0.5 on 02/16 thru 02/22
The highest the nitrites got was 2 on 03/01
and the nitrates were has high as 40 last week does this seem about right for a cycled tank?
thanks again everyone for your help this past 6 weeks. i would like to go get a clean up crew this weekend if possible? :thinking: