Test results look like tank has cycled. but 0 nitrates kinda worry me. even after 50% water change there should be some nitrates if tank was cycled properly.
i would ghost feed tonight and check parameters tomorrow. report back with those numbers.
Guide to setup a Quarantine Tank (QT).
- Thread starter Dr. Reef
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Test results look like tank has cycled. but 0 nitrates kinda worry me. even after 50% water change there should be some nitrates if tank was cycled properly.
i would ghost feed tonight and check parameters tomorrow. report back with those numbers.
I've tested nitrates for the past week, have seen none and used two different test (neither API). Was thinking that could be a sign that the tank didn't cycle. Sounds like it might not have, thoughts? How do I send it back into cycle if that is the case? Also I've been ghost feeding every other day for a couple of weeks and just did now so will test tomorrow.
I do have some of this stuff arriving tomorrow that I got from BRS
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see that is strange, ghost feeding every other day and no nitrates!!!!!
did the ammonia and nitrites ever get high and then back down to 0?
do u have data on dates and test results so i c\kinda can see how it all went up and down?
the only way to test cycle completion is to ghost feed or pure in some pure ammonia nd check for result tomorrow.
did the ammonia and nitrites ever get high and then back down to 0?
do u have data on dates and test results so i c\kinda can see how it all went up and down?
the only way to test cycle completion is to ghost feed or pure in some pure ammonia nd check for result tomorrow.
Ammonia got up to about 1.0 after the first 3.5 days then I took the crawfish out. I never tested nitrites until today but have been testing nitrates for the last week with never seeing more than 0. Tank has been up and running for about 18 days now.
I have the aquaclear 70 filter with 2 foam pads and carbon in it, temps been at a consistent 78 and have a powerhead in there.
I have the aquaclear 70 filter with 2 foam pads and carbon in it, temps been at a consistent 78 and have a powerhead in there.
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Just an update I finally took shrimp out, Ammonia was just below 2.0 ppm, just waitin for stuff to happen, as of last night the ammonia was still the same and nitrite level was 0, so i guess I just have to keep waiting, have been dosing stability daily, and slowly raised temp from 79 to 81 as I have read this speeds up the process. Hopefully i start seeing some nitrite soon!!! :bounce3:
Other stats are alk 10 dKH, ph right around 8.0, salinity 1.025 (34ppt). Think im doing everything right here, got a power head agitating the surface and a fluval C4 HOB filter with extra biomax ceramic rings in the carbon container instead of the carbon.
Other stats are alk 10 dKH, ph right around 8.0, salinity 1.025 (34ppt). Think im doing everything right here, got a power head agitating the surface and a fluval C4 HOB filter with extra biomax ceramic rings in the carbon container instead of the carbon.
sorry for late response,
have lfs test for ammonia nitrites and nitrates.
i am also in the opinion tank never cycled. Nitrates are the last part of the cycle and they have to be there unless u have denitrator.
to kick start a cycle place a deli shrimp in the tank and let it bring the ammonia upto 1.5ppm. if one shrimp dont do the job use 2.
cool,
yes looks like u are on the right track. now that ammonia is 2 ppm take the shrimp out. soon you will see ammonia drop and go back to 0 over few days/weeks. then nitrites will be rising and dropping down (generally twice as long as ammonia took to go back to 0). once both are 0 then nitrates will be high and at that point do water change and your tank is good to go.
mblackburn
New member
Can I leave the original bio wheel cartridge in if I'm not medicating?
I understand if we medicate we'll want the carbon out so we'd want to pull the bio wheel cartridge out and swap it with maybe some poly filters? I'm sort of confused how the wheel will work without a cartridge in it?
I understand if we medicate we'll want the carbon out so we'd want to pull the bio wheel cartridge out and swap it with maybe some poly filters? I'm sort of confused how the wheel will work without a cartridge in it?
mblackburn
New member
If I'm not QT'ing a tang, should I use the hypo method at all or?
Also, can we keep the perm QT tank running hypo salinity? I was thinking about keeping a PJ in there like you mentioned so I"ll always have it going, but I wasn't sure if it was ok to keep it hypo all the time.
If I don't keep the PJ in there all the time could I try to grow some copepods or somethign else in there in between fish? I hate to leaving it running without "doing something" with it.
Sorry for the questions. I just want to make sure I get the QT right.
Also, can we keep the perm QT tank running hypo salinity? I was thinking about keeping a PJ in there like you mentioned so I"ll always have it going, but I wasn't sure if it was ok to keep it hypo all the time.
If I don't keep the PJ in there all the time could I try to grow some copepods or somethign else in there in between fish? I hate to leaving it running without "doing something" with it.
Sorry for the questions. I just want to make sure I get the QT right.
Spar
New member
sorry if this is answered elsewhere already, but what did you use to seed bacteria? if you are still having issues, then you likely just don't enough bacteria (or any at all) yet. add some bio spira or other 'bacteria in a bottle' and you will see a quick remainder of the cycle.
also what kinda surface area do you have in the system?
if there isnt enough surface area there wont be enough bacteria to process organic breakdown.
Been dosing Stability almost every day for at least a week and a half. Thought I'd be seeing nitrites by now but its still reading zero. Maybe this bottle is bunk :hmm5:
I'm running a fluval C4 with biomax ceramic rings in the wet dry trickle filter area as well as an extra bag of it in where the carbon would normally go, so I think I should be good there
This the filter http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23671
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