florida joe
Well-Known Member
Yes do a water change. As for the nitrates YOU tell me how they are eliminated in our tank other then water changes and the time line you would expect
should I look for cycle ?
- Thread starter keith gray
- Start date
keith gray
Member
OK- Joe you got me again. point well taken. I guess I was thinking that if this tank is truly gonna "cycle" that by removing waste from it may cause the ammonia to never come so to speak !
Tired of me and this thread yet ?!!lol
Tired of me and this thread yet ?!!lol
florida joe
Well-Known Member
OK- I guess I was thinking that if this tank is truly gonna "cycle" that by removing waste from it may cause the ammonia to never come so to speak
It may be the drugs but i have absolutely no idea what that statement means please restate
It may be the drugs but i have absolutely no idea what that statement means please restate
keith gray
Member
I was unsure whether or not to do waterchanges while awaiting the cycle of this new tank. I know that ammonia must build up, so I thought if I weekly or whatever put in new water it may be extracting some of the properties that will create the cycle
florida joe
Well-Known Member
oh ok now i understand.
what do we look for in determining if we have started to cycle ammonia. Answer nitrite spike and traces of nitrates, when we no longer see nitrites and an increase of nitrates we can assume that our tank will cycle organic breakdown. In your case if we go by this assumption you can now cycle ammonia(assuming you no longer read ammonia or nitrites). di nitrification is a SLOW process when we depend on anabolic bacteria to do the job so water changes are gong to reduce the nitrites. IMO you should do a single 25 % water change. check your nitrates and continue to add organics to brake down and increases your bio filtration colonization
what do we look for in determining if we have started to cycle ammonia. Answer nitrite spike and traces of nitrates, when we no longer see nitrites and an increase of nitrates we can assume that our tank will cycle organic breakdown. In your case if we go by this assumption you can now cycle ammonia(assuming you no longer read ammonia or nitrites). di nitrification is a SLOW process when we depend on anabolic bacteria to do the job so water changes are gong to reduce the nitrites. IMO you should do a single 25 % water change. check your nitrates and continue to add organics to brake down and increases your bio filtration colonization
mastertech
Member
Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3214135
I guess I was thinking that if this tank is truly gonna "cycle" that by removing waste from it may cause the ammonia to never come so to speak
not trying to hijack but i think you are missing a valuable point.
saltwater tanks should be in a "cycle" at all times. its apart of the filtration prosses along with water changes. you are just trying to avoid the "new tank cycle" this is possible but you need to be vigilant in your tank tests and observations. here is a thread i started concerning this topic.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369931
Not sure i understand that statement aswell.
by "removing waste" you mean nitrates?
http:///forum/post/3214135
I guess I was thinking that if this tank is truly gonna "cycle" that by removing waste from it may cause the ammonia to never come so to speak
not trying to hijack but i think you are missing a valuable point.
saltwater tanks should be in a "cycle" at all times. its apart of the filtration prosses along with water changes. you are just trying to avoid the "new tank cycle" this is possible but you need to be vigilant in your tank tests and observations. here is a thread i started concerning this topic.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369931
Not sure i understand that statement aswell.
by "removing waste" you mean nitrates?
keith gray
Member
Yes- I meant nitrates. Everything on it was used: tank, sand, water, etc.
When I set it up last week it had nitrates of about 20. It only has hitchhikers like 3 small crabs and one snail.
I did not get an Ammonia kit until yesterday so I don't know if Ammonia has already gone up and come back down or not( I figured probably not that fast). But, my nitrates are a good 80 now ! So is the cycle still yet to come or not ?
And since I do not know, I was not sure whether to change the water or let it continue to "do its" thing in hopes that the "new cycle" would occur.
I normally do 10% water changes on my other tank. So I can easily do this type of regimen on the biocube as well.
So..... if next week nitrates come down due to my water change do I wait for ammonia to spike ? If not do I wait another week and do another water change ? How long does this go on before I figure out if this thing is gonna cycle or if moving the prexisting stuff caused a spike in nitrates and that's it ?
When I set it up last week it had nitrates of about 20. It only has hitchhikers like 3 small crabs and one snail.
I did not get an Ammonia kit until yesterday so I don't know if Ammonia has already gone up and come back down or not( I figured probably not that fast). But, my nitrates are a good 80 now ! So is the cycle still yet to come or not ?
And since I do not know, I was not sure whether to change the water or let it continue to "do its" thing in hopes that the "new cycle" would occur.
I normally do 10% water changes on my other tank. So I can easily do this type of regimen on the biocube as well.
So..... if next week nitrates come down due to my water change do I wait for ammonia to spike ? If not do I wait another week and do another water change ? How long does this go on before I figure out if this thing is gonna cycle or if moving the prexisting stuff caused a spike in nitrates and that's it ?
florida joe
Well-Known Member
To Mastertech i think this boils down to semantics "in a constant state of cycling or being able to cycle" Your tank needs not to be constantly cycling organics BUT needs to be able to at any giving moment
Keith again with all due respect I do not believe you understand the concept of nitrification and di nitrification. As soon as you do a water change you will see a reduction in nitrates. Nitrates are in our water column. If you are seeing that high a nitrate reading and are not adding trates via water you are introducing into your tank you are now able IMO to cycle ammonia and you will NOT see any readable ammonia
Keith again with all due respect I do not believe you understand the concept of nitrification and di nitrification. As soon as you do a water change you will see a reduction in nitrates. Nitrates are in our water column. If you are seeing that high a nitrate reading and are not adding trates via water you are introducing into your tank you are now able IMO to cycle ammonia and you will NOT see any readable ammonia
mastertech
Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3214181
To Mastertech i think this boils down to semantics "in a constant state of cycling or being able to cycle" Your tank needs not to be constantly cycling organics BUT needs to be able to at any giving moment
Yea your right it is semantics. but as long as your fish/coral are getting food and producing waste or the tanks sand is getting disturbed and kicking up organics there is a cycle.
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3214181
Keith again with all due respect I do not believe you understand the concept of nitrification and di nitrification.
he should understand the nitrification process because we covered alot of this information with him in this thread.....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369195
http:///forum/post/3214181
To Mastertech i think this boils down to semantics "in a constant state of cycling or being able to cycle" Your tank needs not to be constantly cycling organics BUT needs to be able to at any giving moment
Yea your right it is semantics. but as long as your fish/coral are getting food and producing waste or the tanks sand is getting disturbed and kicking up organics there is a cycle.
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3214181
Keith again with all due respect I do not believe you understand the concept of nitrification and di nitrification.
he should understand the nitrification process because we covered alot of this information with him in this thread.....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369195
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mastertech
http:///forum/post/3214241
Yea your right it is semantics. but as long as your fish/coral are getting food and producing waste or the tanks sand is getting disturbed and kicking up organics there is a cycle.
he should understand the nitrification process because we covered alot of this information with him in this thread.....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369195
Yes but again semantics the ability to cycle ammonia and nitrites with out any readable levels is what allows us to maintain our tanks. It is not a prerequisite to constantly be cycling ammonia.
IMO from some of the OPs posts he may not have fully grasped the process in the other thread
http:///forum/post/3214241
Yea your right it is semantics. but as long as your fish/coral are getting food and producing waste or the tanks sand is getting disturbed and kicking up organics there is a cycle.
he should understand the nitrification process because we covered alot of this information with him in this thread.....
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb/s...d.php?t=369195
Yes but again semantics the ability to cycle ammonia and nitrites with out any readable levels is what allows us to maintain our tanks. It is not a prerequisite to constantly be cycling ammonia.
IMO from some of the OPs posts he may not have fully grasped the process in the other thread
fitbmxdude989
Member
this has me thinking of when i moved, my tank recycled when we got it all put back up
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by fitbmxdude989
http:///forum/post/3214268
this has me thinking of when i moved, my tank recycled when we got it all put back up
IMO when you moved you obviously compromised your bio filtration in some way
http:///forum/post/3214268
this has me thinking of when i moved, my tank recycled when we got it all put back up
IMO when you moved you obviously compromised your bio filtration in some way
fitbmxdude989
Member
yea four hours on the highway and then through the back roads to my house was terrible
mastertech
Member
So i guess.... the new question is. "how can we help you (keith) and what is it that you dont understand"
Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3214165
So is the cycle still yet to come or not ?
And since I do not know, I was not sure whether to change the water or let it continue to "do its" thing in hopes that the "new cycle" would occur.
I normally do 10% water changes on my other tank. So I can easily do this type of regimen on the biocube as well.?
"A" cycle is occuring. if nitrates are increasing that means there are organics (ammonia and nitrites) that are getting broken down by oxidizing bacteria and turning into nitrates.
you want to do water changes to keep the toxic nitrates down. the toxicity will kill benificial organisms.
Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3214165
So..... if next week nitrates come down due to my water change do I wait for ammonia to spike ? If not do I wait another week and do another water change ? How long does this go on before I figure out if this thing is gonna cycle or if moving the prexisting stuff caused a spike in nitrates and that's it ?
waiting is always a good idea. keep testing. you should be able to deduce if the toxic spikes are done.
Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3214165
So is the cycle still yet to come or not ?
And since I do not know, I was not sure whether to change the water or let it continue to "do its" thing in hopes that the "new cycle" would occur.
I normally do 10% water changes on my other tank. So I can easily do this type of regimen on the biocube as well.?
"A" cycle is occuring. if nitrates are increasing that means there are organics (ammonia and nitrites) that are getting broken down by oxidizing bacteria and turning into nitrates.
you want to do water changes to keep the toxic nitrates down. the toxicity will kill benificial organisms.
Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3214165
So..... if next week nitrates come down due to my water change do I wait for ammonia to spike ? If not do I wait another week and do another water change ? How long does this go on before I figure out if this thing is gonna cycle or if moving the prexisting stuff caused a spike in nitrates and that's it ?
waiting is always a good idea. keep testing. you should be able to deduce if the toxic spikes are done.
keith gray
Member
I guess what I wonder is how long do I test Ammonia at zero before I realize that maybe the thing has already cycled and it is safe to put livestock in it. I just got Ammonia test yesterday, a week after I set it up.
Do I test for Ammonia for another week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months....?
Since my nitrates are high and my Ammonia is low, did I miss the Ammonia spike part of the cycle since I did not have a test ?
Do I test for Ammonia for another week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months....?
Since my nitrates are high and my Ammonia is low, did I miss the Ammonia spike part of the cycle since I did not have a test ?
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Keith did I mention familiarizing yourself with the process of cycling ammonia.if not please do
If you are reading nitrates and have not added them directly into your tank you are cycling ammonia. Test for it once and move on, if you want to test something at this time frequently test for nitrites
If you are reading nitrates and have not added them directly into your tank you are cycling ammonia. Test for it once and move on, if you want to test something at this time frequently test for nitrites
keith gray
Member
That is what I wanted to hear.Since we had the discussion about the tank, sand, etc. being used and would it cycle or not I have not seen the ammonia go up !
So either this tank cycled utlra quick or it did not go through a new cycle at all.
Thanks for all of your input
So either this tank cycled utlra quick or it did not go through a new cycle at all.
Thanks for all of your input