Cycling questions

[dmbnpj]

This is being measured on a 10 gallon barebottom tank (It is going to be a quarantine tank for approx. 3 weeks)

1. Ammonia- Is high ammonia part of the cycling process, or is there something I can do to bring it down?

2. Should I let the system cycle before adding Calcium buffer?

Thanks

 

[Ti]

yes high ammonia is part of the process.
Let it cycle, you don't need to add ca

 

[supertech3]

Why do you want to add cal buffer for a qt?
Did you use the water from your main tank for the set-up?

 

[dmbnpj]

duh, i wasnt thinking on the calcium-just a habit of adding to my main tank

no i didnt use water from my main tank. i used brand new RO/DI water

 

[supertech3]

I use the water from my main to keep the two parameters equal and this helps speed up tank set-up, you may later be using the main tank water for other things if hyposalinity is used

 

[dmbnpj]

good idea, you think i should just take 10 gallons out of my main tank and use that for my quarantine?

 

[supertech3]

If all your water parameters look good, I would. Or you may add most of the water from the main and act like you are just adding a couple of new gallons of newly made saltwater

 

[dmbnpj]

yah i will do that. i will add 7 gallons of the tank water and then 3 new gallons of fresh salt water. then i will give that a week or so checking parameters before adding my invertebrates

Thanks again!

 

[supertech3]

that sounds like a good idea, I set mine up the same way for my 12 g