Is my cycle over??

[sonoma2nv]

It looks like my cycle is over.

Temp.78-81 it is 78 at night i need to get a better heater.
Ph 8.1
Alk 1.7-2.8
Calcium 320ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
Phosphate 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm


I have been cycling the 55gal since 1/8/06 with 120lbs lr and 80lbs of ls.Is it ok to add some more sand later?I want to find some southdown sand this spring.I want to add 2 Ocellaris Clownfish this weekend.Will this be fine if my params are still good?And since my Nitrate is 20ppm should i do a 20% water change or smaller?

Ps if Ocellaris Clownfish is not to good to start with please recommend another clownfish.Thanks Derrick

 

[sonoma2nv]

Sorry i forgot my sg is 1.024.And ill be adding a clean up crew to .Any suggestions Welcome.Thanks For your Time Derrick

 

[GARFVolunteer]

I would prefer to see the alk between 2.8 and 3.5.

You can add sand later if you pay attention how you do it. When you add it, add small amounts at a time. What you do not want to do is pile on a large amount of dead sand on top of the live sand.

Are you feeding the tank? The live rock and sand needs to be fed to keep it "live"...

It would be about time to add critters just do it slow.

Thank,

Scott

 

[sonoma2nv]

No i have not been Feeding the live sand.How would i go about doing this.Thanks Derrick

 

[Blown 346]

You can use phyto plankton, it will help build skeletal structure for all inverts, fish, corals.

 

[bertoni]

The water parameters need a bit of work, IMO. This article should help:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

Looks like the cycle is likely over. Sometimes people see secondary ammonia spikes, though.

 

[GARFVolunteer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6691146#post6691146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sonoma2nv
No i have not been Feeding the live sand.How would i go about doing this.Thanks Derrick

I feed it about the same amount that I would expect the fish to eat. The food breaks down just like fish waste does. I usually use flake food thus "feeding" the live rock/sand.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[capefear]

should be over, get the cal up to 450ppm