Let me try this again

[carter3]

Let's try this again. I set my tank up 4-3-07 finaly got everything excecpt for the ammonia test.

Blew my whole budget so had to waite until today.list of equipment, 55g, wet/dry with sump, skimmer 65g, heater, anyway I did the shrimp thing and didn't have a ammonia test kit to check levels. My question is can I redo the peeled shrimp wait for my ammonia to jump again, or did I just miss it. Oh Yes also have 25lbs lr & 20lbs dead sand and 20lbs of ls. Will get more rock later. It took a while to find an ammonia test kit becaue 2 closest lfs ammonia test are damsels quote throw a couple of damsels in their they might die but if they live my levels are ok

Of course I left never to return.to bad their only 4 blocks away.Ok well maybe for something small like salt no live stock.
Here are all my test today
ammonia .25
Nitrate 20
nitrite 0.05
alkalinity 300 thats kind of ?? I touch it

Ph 8.8
salt 1.027
temp 80

 

[geridoc]

Your nitrates are up - so you have cycled the tank. If you do the shrimp thing again you probably won't see a spike because you already have an adequate population of bacteria.

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by GeriDoc
Your nitrates are up - so you have cycled the tank. If you do the shrimp thing again you probably won't see a spike because you already have an adequate population of bacteria.
You have definately not finished your cycle. Your ph, ammonia, and nitrate are too high. Let mother nature run its course. Usually you can figure 21-28 days for a cycle. Continue to monitor your perameters. Your salinity is slightly high, but top off water (not salt water) will lower this. Strive for 1.025-1.026 for optimum salinity.
Saltwater tanks can not be rushed in my opinion, just wait it out.
I do agree that the first shrimp put the bacteria in there, now just wait.
Do your first water change when the numbers in the nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia are zero. Like I said, this usually takes a good three to four weeks. There are products out there that "speed up the process" , but usually this leads to...."my tank has red slime, what do I do?". Because of the false feeling that the tank is ready, and people add fish....thus poo....ammonia.
PATIENCE