Latest test results

Oklahomareefer

New member
Ok so I just tested my water and here are the results,

Temp. 77.8
Salinity 1.025
pH 8.4
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm

think it is full blown cycle?
 
I think this for a brand new set up and just trying to see if it has completed the nitrogen cycle already.

Have you tested previously since setting it up? Were the readings what you should expect mid cycle?

The current readings look good, but to make a clear call on it, I'd like to know if you used live rock, dry rock, or a combination of them. Did you add any food or something else to decompose or add ammonia to the water? If you used live rock, you may have had some die off that accomplished this. If you've seen any previous spikes in nitrite or ammonia, then you have likely completed the cycle and can add a fish. As I'm sure you're aware, add one at a time, over time for awhile so that the bacteria can keep up.

When and if you decide you want to add corals, start testing for Alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium.
 
I guess I should have added this post to my old one. mskohl this tank was set up on 12/30/10. I have 15lbs of live rock and 18 lbs of live sand. I added a domino damsel last Sunday that died by late friday afternoon. The ammonia was at .25 when the little guy passed. I thought that my nitrates are a little to high to add a fish so I am waiting until next weekend to purchase my clown. I would really love to add a pair of clown but afraid that would be to much for my 12 gallon tank. I am going to have coral in this tank and have a few in it now. They include some clove polyps, button polyps, zoos, green star polyps and two mushrooms.
 
Stacy,

I would think you are about halfway through a cycle, when I did my new setup 5 years ago I want to say from new setup to first fish was 8 weeks.

Some of the more experienced reefers may overrule that thought though.
 
Stacy,

How often are you doing water changes and how much are you doing?

Getting your nitrates down is your immediate goal. It will take some time. You did well starting off with easy corals. I think I would post the question... what would be a matching easy fish to start out with. Something hardy and small to give you something to watch and wait out the tank till its safe.

A blenny comes to mind or a wrass, like a yellow coris, but I'm not a fish expert.
 
Stacy,

How often are you doing water changes and how much are you doing?

Getting your nitrates down is your immediate goal. It will take some time. You did well starting off with easy corals. I think I would post the question... what would be a matching easy fish to start out with. Something hardy and small to give you something to watch and wait out the tank till its safe.

A blenny comes to mind or a wrass, like a yellow coris, but I'm not a fish expert.

Lynn,

i have done one water change on the 17th and was told by the individual that sold my husband the tank, to do a 90% water change and that is what I did. Do you think I should do another one? I just figured that the tank is cycling and I should let it be and just keep testing.
 
I've always been told big water changes will inhibit your cycle.

you should be good with 10% weekly to help knock down your nitrates.

The all in ones tanks, like aquapod and biocubes, are very good for stability if you keep the filters cleaned weekly and do small water changes. Just don't overfeed.

Just remember, it has not been up very long. You are still in the stage where you look at it every moment. You are still developing bacteria in the sand/rock to handle the bioload, but it sounds like you are headed in the right direction.
 
I hate to say this, but consider it a blessing in disguise that the domino died. You wouldn't have had another fish live after having put him in there first.

The 90% water change may have set you back a little. That being said, the cycle is not in the water itself, it's in the rock and sand. Fish will do fine, and many corals as well, with 20ppm nitrates. Continue checking the nitrates - you may need some macro algae to help bring them down the rest of the way. When you start to add poopers, I would begin with some hermit crabs. There will probably be enough for them to munch on and clean while they further build your de-nitrating bacteria.

As for fish, if you love a clown pair, go for it. Prepare to be flamed and just take it with a grain of salt. You are very limited on the size and number of fish, but the great thing about clowns (and the one thing that makes them an exception in my book) is that they don't require a lot of swimming room. I've kept a pair in a 12g biocube, in a 45g, a 75g, and in my 225. It doesn't matter how much space is available to them, They never swim more than about 6" away from their 'home'. So, if this is what you like and want, pick out a small pair and give them something to 'hide' in. For the record, I wouldn't put an anemone in that small of a tank. Stay away from the larger (and more hostile) clowns like tomato. Also, it's probably best that you make that your only fish occupancy.

Good job so far.
 
Today's Test results


Temp 79.3
Salinity 1.025
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 15ppm
pH 7.8
Ammonia 0ppm


Still have not gotten my other tests in yet. Hopefully soon I will have them to post also.
 
Getting better,

still looking to up the Ph a little and lower the nitrates.

when was your las water change-- about 10%
 
Was thinking about doing one this weekend. Just been waiting to be able to get out of my town. I am actually going to be able to leave tomorrow for the first time since monday. I should just do about a 2 gallon water change right?
 
I would wait on buying any fish since your tank is not finished cycling yet. Since you are limited on the number if fish u can have in your tank I would wait, so that u can pick from a wider variety than what can survive during a cycle. If u want to see something moving in ur tank rather looking at rocks I would pick up some cleaners like snails, hermit crabs, etc. Good luck.

Stay away from damsels they mean little suckers.
 
I would wait on buying any fish since your tank is not finished cycling yet. Since you are limited on the number if fish u can have in your tank I would wait, so that u can pick from a wider variety than what can survive during a cycle. If u want to see something moving in ur tank rather looking at rocks I would pick up some cleaners like snails, hermit crabs, etc. Good luck.

Stay away from damsels they mean little suckers.

Thanks, I have decided to wait on my fish. My tank currently has five astrea snails and one peppermint shrimp plus the little snails that came in on my LR. Just trying to make sure I am doing everything right
 
Take your time and try not to rush into buying anything to quickly (very hard in this hobby). Try to find a day during the week that you aren't to busy and set that day as your "water change" day along with other miscellaneous tank maintenance. It helped me get in the weekly routine of doing it to where in a few months it will be clock work. I would give it a couple more weeks to finish off the cycle before considering buying any fish. Also watch the snails to see if they stay alive.
 
Shrimp are usually fragile critters as well... so watch his condition...

Patience...and then wait some more...

LL
 
Thanks everyone for your words of advice and encouragement. The snails and shrimp have all been in the tank for three weeks so it is a good thing that they are still with me lol I don't know if I could handle anymore casualties lol thanks again
 
All very good advice,

To understand if you have had the cycly complete you really need to know if at some point the ammonia and the nitrite rose, then dropped. Cycling a tank is establishing the bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate. Removal of nitrate from a nano is an almost impossible task since the filter required ( a deep sand bed) is not really possible. I doubt that the nano has a skimmer either, so again a filter lacking there as well. The best advice I can give you on a nano is to do regular water changes, as stated by everyone above. 10% every 2 weeks, or weekly, is enough. You just have to make sure the water parameters are exact. Alos- you have to use RoDi water to make the water change water and the top off water.

Finally- Nanos tend to run slightly low on pH due to the lack of a skimmer. This results in an insufficient oxygenation/gas exchange of the water. You can get around this by ensuring at least one pump on the system agitates the surface of the water. This helps break the film of organics that forms at the surface and ensures the tank becomes oxygenated. It will really help a great deal.

Regards,

Paul.
 
Paul, Do they make a skimmer that will fit in my 12 gallon aquapod? I would be more than willing to add a skimmer but had been told not to worry about it. I appreciate everything that you are telling me because I have been told the total opposite of what you have said. I was told that I should not do water changes but maybe once a year.
 
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