Cycle questions
- Thread starter GOSKN5
- Start date
seamonster124
New member
My last cycle tank was cloudy near the end and for sometime after the completion
Do you think adding some well established bio balls from a friends tank would help/hurt? Any concerns with this introducing anything negative?
I don't have an LFS closer than an hour... my friend has been running bio balls for years in his tank... and could give me some.. any thoughts??
I don't have an LFS closer than an hour... my friend has been running bio balls for years in his tank... and could give me some.. any thoughts??
seamonster124
New member
So you are little over a month into the cycle? Is that correct?
I had super high nitrites from day 5-43, then dead zero on day 44
I also had serious cloudiness from roughly day 30-50
4.5 months later, water conditions consistently pristine.
I had super high nitrites from day 5-43, then dead zero on day 44
I also had serious cloudiness from roughly day 30-50
4.5 months later, water conditions consistently pristine.
Reefaholic1978
New member
Just let the cycle take its course. Once nitrites hits zero then monitor nitrates down to at least 30 ppm do a water change and a one fish. My tank cycled in two months so it will take time and I used a dead raw shrimp for the process.
panhandler01
Member
I cycled my 75 with Dr. Tim's ammonium chloride and One and Only also. In 5 days my tank could reduce ammonia to zero in 24 hrs after raising it to 2ppm. Nitrites kept getting higher and higher until they were off the charts using API test kit. Nitrates were rising slowly during the first 2 weeks. Nitrites finally went down to zero suddenly after about 2 weeks and nitrates jumped to 50ppm. I did a large water change, started a biopellet reactor, and then added my CUC.
seamonster124
New member
Cycle questions
Nitrites still zero?
How long has the tank been set up now?
Nitrites still zero?
How long has the tank been set up now?
mikeatjac
Active member
I would stop everything you are doing and let the tank settle. It should not take this long. When nitrites hit zero out do a WC.
The best way I have seen in 40 years to cycle a take is using live rock, if you are using dead rook then add a small piece of live rock or a little tank water from another tank with a small piece of shrimp to jump start the nitrate process. It is amazing how fast bacteria can multiply. Anything else is snake oil in my book.
Years ago we used pee in tank, then years later we used a sacrificial fish to start a tank.
The best way I have seen in 40 years to cycle a take is using live rock, if you are using dead rook then add a small piece of live rock or a little tank water from another tank with a small piece of shrimp to jump start the nitrate process. It is amazing how fast bacteria can multiply. Anything else is snake oil in my book.
Years ago we used pee in tank, then years later we used a sacrificial fish to start a tank.
Nitrites still zero... tank has been up for right at 6 weeks...
Nitrites been zero for about a week or so... I added a small piece of live rock about 2 weeks ago... pods doing fine, hermits and a single clown doing fine.. as well as a couple small frags I added
Soo cloudiness is back... all levels still good... nitrites 0 ammonia 0 nitrates 5ppm or so... I can see a "powder" moving around in the water column..
I put a sock on my return (couldn't run on drain) and this is what it looked like after about 2 hours.. (was clean) also had a smell to it... fishy algae like smell...
Any thoughts? Bacterial make sock turn brown?
I did a water change about a week ago and it was much clearer.. then about 3 days later cloudy overnight...
I put a sock on my return (couldn't run on drain) and this is what it looked like after about 2 hours.. (was clean) also had a smell to it... fishy algae like smell...
Any thoughts? Bacterial make sock turn brown?
I did a water change about a week ago and it was much clearer.. then about 3 days later cloudy overnight...
leviburns89
New member
Well it appears to be a bloom of some sort.
In my FW experience, I would always go thru a cloudy stage shortly after the cycle.
This is a monoculture that has no competition or things trying to eat it.
Certain bacteria and algae live in the water column itself. Since your tank is new, I would assume this bloom is what's keeping your levels in check.
I would just wait. Soon enough, "beneficial" organisms will out compete/out eat your bloom, or it will simply collapse on itself by out eating itself.
Monocultures don't exist in nature. Neither do sterile environments. It just takes time for mother nature to balance good and evil.
What your going thru will heal itself as long as you stay out of the way. Continue routine water changes. And always stick to your routine. If you do 10% wc every Saturday, then do 10% wc every Saturday. If balance is what you seek, balance is what you must give.
In my FW experience, I would always go thru a cloudy stage shortly after the cycle.
This is a monoculture that has no competition or things trying to eat it.
Certain bacteria and algae live in the water column itself. Since your tank is new, I would assume this bloom is what's keeping your levels in check.
I would just wait. Soon enough, "beneficial" organisms will out compete/out eat your bloom, or it will simply collapse on itself by out eating itself.
Monocultures don't exist in nature. Neither do sterile environments. It just takes time for mother nature to balance good and evil.
What your going thru will heal itself as long as you stay out of the way. Continue routine water changes. And always stick to your routine. If you do 10% wc every Saturday, then do 10% wc every Saturday. If balance is what you seek, balance is what you must give.
