55gallon

[kissman]

FALSE! Don't order the CUC till Ammonia and Nitrites are zero. Don't order coral for a few months tank is not balanced yet! Don't waste your money.

 

[SpartaReef]

I'm also getting more live rock.

 

[kissman]

which will start another cycle if you add it straight to tank

 

[SpartaReef]

And, by the time I receive my order I can put it in my qt tank till the cycle is over

 

[SushiGirl]

Excellent!!

 

[MinnFish]

I would wait on a CUC and corals. And spend your money on a good quality test kit and refractometer. But, I see you like the unconventional approach to this hobby. Lol. Have you put lights in your display yet. A little advice from a old fart, build yourself a good foundation before u call the roofers.

 

[KeepNitReel]

Is your QT cycled?

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[SpartaReef]

Was going to get filter setup rather than using rock, etc for the qt. Read about that in a setup thread somewhere. I've got a friend whose been doing this about a year or so and his tank looks great, he has been guiding me and I've been doing a lot of research. The hobby is changing, people are finding new ways of doing things... I will learn what works for me and my system... No two tanks are the same and no one way is the only way... I also have very good instincts and my gut tells me the tank is ready.

 

[SpartaReef]

Now to find more accurate water test... Sigh, any suggestions with links would help.

 

[kissman]

Red Sea Pro, Salifert and Hanna for Alk, Hanna ULR for PO4 they are the best out there. Never tried Elos but heard good things

 

[SushiGirl]

If you have 2 ppm ammonia, your tank is not ready.

 

[KeepNitReel]

If you have 2 ppm ammonia, your tank is not ready.

+1

2ppm ammonia and no nitrites means the cycle just begun

Edit: only nitrate reading was given so I'm assuming that nitrite is zero also

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[MinnFish]

Ok, keep us posted on your progress. Wish you luck. Remember there are people here with some amazing experience. So, feel free to tap into the resources. They have helped me be a better keeper of the reef.

 

[SpartaReef]

I heard salifert was inaccurate

 

[SpartaReef]

Ok, keep us posted on your progress. Wish you luck. Remember there are people here with some amazing experience. So, feel free to tap into the resources. They have helped me be a better keeper of the reef.

That's why I'm posting here... Just frustrated today with the varied responses I'm getting outside this forum...

 

[SpartaReef]

Also, the very first time I tested the water (last week) ammonia was over 2ppm, now it's right at or just below, and nitrate was also 2ppm, but is now zero... Nitrite was not tested for as it is in the middle... Assumed that once ammonia was zero and nitrate was below one I would be good. With the pods thriving and not really seeing anything of a "bloom" other than the spreading fuzz, I've been advised that the cycle could actually have been finished and restarted several times...

 

[MinnFish]

Did you add live sand, recently? Have you added a ammonia source? If not, I would and then test several days later. If then you are at zero, then I would assume its cycled.

 

[SpartaReef]

Well there in lies the problem, no thing added besides the pods and chaeto. And ammonia went down, but is still at 2ppm

 

[MinnFish]

Ok, u added pods from a bag? Well, keep your eyes on the parameters. Mainly, ammonia and nitrite. I would just use this time for practicing good habits.

 

[SpartaReef]

Pods were on live rock from before first test, but a second batch came with the chaeto (in sump)