Going to try this one more time

[jeffrat]

I recently changed my aquarium over to salt water, it is only a 35 gal tank but after my last disaster with salt water I wanted to keep it small. I have a wet dry filter, protein skimmer, canister filter, 50 lbs live rock(uncured) and live sand. The tank has been set up for 5 days and already my nitrite is rising, ammonia is going down and starting to show a little nitrate. How will I know when my aquarium is fully cycled, and am I missing any equipment for a simple fish and a few inverts tank?

 

[who dey]

heater???? Good luck with everything this time

 

[who dey]

when your ammonia spikes then returns to zero you are cycled. id suggest about 4 weeks depending

 

[sly]

It sounds like you are doing good. Wait about a month for the tank to cycle. You should notice your ammonia and nitrite go down to almost 0. Do a water change to lower the nitrate and your done. Add fish slowly and acclimate properly.

 

[jeffrat]

Yes I have a heater just forgot to list it. My last tank was a 120 gal tank and we had a power outage and my check valve failed and my tank siphoned on to my floor did not find it until next day

 

[geridoc]

A word to the wise - Never, not even sometimes, rely on check valves! Be sure to have a siphon break in your return, and you will be fine...and dry.

 

[jeffrat]

where were you about 6 month's ago. LOL. Trust me I know that now I learned a very hard and expensive lesson. But never new that at the time thought I was good with the check valve.