My moving nightmare!!!

If you load carbon into a reactor, make double sure that it is stable and does not "percolate" If the carbon material is allowed to move around it will flake and powder... Bad news....

After the initial ammonia spike (about day 7 or so) constant testing is sort of a waste IMO if you have already seen the levels drop. (bacteria are growing)

I would get an indicator badge if you are worried about the levels. Ammonia is pretty predictable provided you do not have some secondary die off (ammonia skyrockets unchecked in the first week or so)

At 3 or 4 weeks, things should be pretty stable on that front. The fact that your refuge/sump is healthy is a great sign :) I would not expect any radical changes in chemistry at this stage all the same.
 
The ammonia spike is lasting longer than I thought it would. It must be from all the extra die off I had on my live rock from polyps and mushrooms and other stuff. I only test it once a week or so since I dont have any fish in there yet.
 
You should be testing levels until they begin to drop.

If they are over .20 I would get on some water changes to get them to at least .15 or lower. The .20 can just make the cycle worse than it needs to be.
 
I tested the water this morning and things are looking much better.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: about .10

Ph is still at 7.8
 
Adding buffer will just keep it at 7.8. The buffer is there to hold the Ph where it is.

I would do some big water changes with fresh mixed salt water, if the fresh mix is 8.2-8.4 or so, which it should be.

Dan
 
IMHO newbie opinion: beware****************


Find a local reef club. they will be more than happy to help you get started again.
 
We should be here to stay. If we do move again, it would only be a few miles. I've moved the whole sytem before about 30 miles and it was no problem.
 
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