First time cycling tank questions, water test results (pics)

Brent Thomann

Brent Thomann

New member
After adding live rock/sand/water Tank is now clear!

Live Rock has no significant life on it and is still real white in color. There are a couple smaller pieces that have a little purple but just a little bit.

I had the liverock in trash cans in my basement for about 3 months while setting up the tank. When I first put the live rock in my basement it had lots of purple/bacteria but now it looks dead and turned white, guesing from no light?

Here are my water test results-
Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, PH 8.2, Phosphate 2, Calcium 460

Suggestions please, what should I do, wait..., buy some live rock -errh, add shrimp, run lights a little bit?

Here's a pic, below- (still setting things up) Here's a earlier photo- http://partydamage.com/fishtank/09.jpg
10.jpg
 
i've seen lots of cured rock with no corraline on it...im no expert but i think it will come back once it cycles...just keep your calcium in check
 
Looking Good! You're doing things right!
Dont worry.... the purple Coraline Algae will come back!
I would let it cycle...wait for the Ammonia and Nitrite to rise and fall to zero. In addition you will see a rise in Nitrate as the Nitrite is getting broken down... Once the Nitrate falls to zero... you can slowly add some critters. I would wait before running lights... wait until Nitrates are almost to zero.

Also...the Phosphates are a bit high. Keep doing weekly water changes and skim like crazy....you should see that come down to.
Nitrates and Phosphates feed algaes, so before turning on the lights I would try to get those levels as close to zero as possible.

Good Luck!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6557168#post6557168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sindjin
Looking Good! You're doing things right!
Dont worry.... the purple Coraline Algae will come back!
I would let it cycle...wait for the Ammonia and Nitrite to rise and fall to zero. In addition you will see a rise in Nitrate as the Nitrite is getting broken down... Once the Nitrate falls to zero... you can slowly add some critters. I would wait before running lights... wait until Nitrates are almost to zero.

Also...the Phosphates are a bit high. Keep doing weekly water changes and skim like crazy....you should see that come down to.
Nitrates and Phosphates feed algaes, so before turning on the lights I would try to get those levels as close to zero as possible.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks.. So leave things as is. Don't add any shrimp? Or maybe add shrimp in a couple days if my Ammonia doesn't go up, right?

Thanks for all your help!
 
dont add anything until ammonia is 0 and nitrates are close to 0. it will take a few weeks.

just a tip---Id buy some of that sticky plastic colored backing for behind the tank. It will hide all the cords and pipes.
 
also check out the DIY section on RC about modifications to those maxijets to increase flow...or you can buy some of those hydro nozzels that rotate the flow from the powerhead.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6558404#post6558404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
also check out the DIY section on RC about modifications to those maxijets to increase flow...or you can buy some of those hydro nozzels that rotate the flow from the powerhead.
Click to expand...
I actually have 4 of the hydor FLO's installed on my return lines. I really like them. You can see them going across the top. Will be looking into the maxijets mods. for more water flow. Was looking at the tunzes, but way too expensive.
 
so thats what those things are along the top of the tank. I wasnt sure when I first looked at it.

FWIW, I would buy a couple of BIG pieces of LR...helps with bio filtration and adds to the appearance-right now it looks alittle barren.(Im not saying going crazy and make a rock wall but 2 nice pieces on each size would balance off the tank nicely)
 
Please help me understand my water parameters.

First water test was taken 2 days after setup.
Results Again: Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, PH 8.2, Phosphate 2, Calcium 460

Second water test was taken 5 days after setup. (I did clean the bottom of the tank a little about 4 hours before I tested the water if that makes any difference.)
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, PH 8.2

..Not making sense to me. From the readings it looks like the tank cycled already, right? In 5 days? Please help, anyone! I never added any shrimp either.

Greatly Appreciated,
Brent
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6565243#post6565243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stingers81
you did cure your rock in bins for 3 months before so it is a possiblity that it finished cycling...
Click to expand...
yeah but I can't see anything growing on the rock and it looks dead and has changed colors, to yellowish white. It was cured when I first got it with lots of purples.
 
My rock finished the initial ammonia "cycle" in around a week...the time it takes is entirely dependent on water quality throughout the cycle and the initial quality of rock when you started the process (how much dead/decaying matter, etc.).

However, having 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is only telling us that enough bacteria have reproduced to uptake any ammonia and nitrite present in the tank.

Since you had your rock in a container for 3 months though I'm sure you are good to go. Once you turn your lights on in the tank you'll probably still have a diatom and small algae bloom. Within a couple months the coralline (purple) algae should start to make a comeback...just keep up your Ca and Alk levels.
 
It sounds like your tank has pretty much cycled. You did have it curing for 3 months, so the bacterial colony was well established.
Dont worry about the discoloration... the purples will come back and before you know it you'll be scraping it off the glass.
I think its safe to add a clean up crew...snails, hermits, shrimp.
Go slow, be patient and monitor your levels.

Again....good job on taking your time and doing it right!
 
Id do a water change and turn the lights on. Then go get a clean up crew. LOTS of snails and a few hermits. Youll see algea start to grow and the crew will keep it in check. IMO hold off on adding fish for a week or two. Start dosing calcium and get the parameters (calc/alk) stable. youve waited this long dont get an ichy trigger finger now.

Good Job.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6567532#post6567532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stevedola
Id do a water change and turn the lights on. Then go get a clean up crew. LOTS of snails and a few hermits. Youll see algea start to grow and the crew will keep it in check. IMO hold off on adding fish for a week or two. Start dosing calcium and get the parameters (calc/alk) stable. youve waited this long dont get an ichy trigger finger now.

Good Job.
Click to expand...
Thats Awesome! news! Thanks for all your responses. I have countless all nighters working on the setup. I built the stand and canopy too.

Can Someone now please put together a good clean up crew list that I can bring down to the LFS.

If you have some time on your hands I'll also be needing assistance with what to put in my refuge. Right now there's nothing in it as you can see from the photo.
 
Tested water again this morning with the same results (day 6)
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, PH 8.2

really hard to believe my tank cycled in just 4 or 5 days!

Can some one help me come up with a list of what to buy for a really good clean up crew. Would like to go to the LFS soon. I should probably do a water change before adding the clean up crew right??

Here's a updated pic of my tank (I have a background, just haven't added yet. The pumps you see in the tank are just temps until I get my wavemaker setup.)-
11.jpg
 
It looks great!

I would add a bunch of Astraea Snails, Mexican Turbo Snails, and Ceriths (snails). If you like Hermit crabs...add some of those too...Scarlets and Blue legs are nice and dont bother anything.
Maybe add 25 of each if possible.

KeysCritters.com has some great deals on higher volume purchases...you can save a ton.

Keep those pics coming!
What kind of backdrop are you doing?
 
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