Need help with cycle

Mr.Mulley54 said:
So you recommend not adding more pure ammonia and go with fish to creat ammonia, sounds more fun! So would adding more pure ammonia hurt or delay the cycle even more. I just want to make sure I have enough bacteria in the system so I don't kill anything my fish addition is goin to be a pair of clowns and a bt . any thoughts on

I would skip the ammonia. Add the clowns as long as nitrite and ammonia are zero and you lower nitrates. If it were me I would wait on the anemone for the tank to mature.
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Frostyfishman said:
I would skip the ammonia. Add the clowns as long as nitrite and ammonia are zero and you lower nitrates. If it were me I would wait on the anemone for the tank to mature.
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Really? On the anemone I thought they were pretty hardy is it for another reason for waiting for a more mature system then making sure nitrates are low or are they not all that hardy? And thanks again for all your help! You guys are awesome!
 
It does look nice. I prefer not to buy purple rock so I can witness the actual coraline growth. I would imagine it would be difficult to know if there is growth or now. Could the paint maybe clog the pores in the rock? This might account for why the bacteria isn't working as quick as desired.
 
Mr.Mulley54 said:
Really? On the anemone I thought they were pretty hardy is it for another reason for waiting for a more mature system then making sure nitrates are low or are they not all that hardy? And thanks again for all your help! You guys are awesome!
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I think they are hardy compared to other anemones, but stable conditions are desirable for them. They also come with particular challenges like filling with water and flying around the tank. If they get sucked into a power head it will distribute stinging cells throughout your tank. In addition they can move around stinging corals as they find a place they like. If you really want to try the anemone do it but just know what you are getting into. Furthermore the clownfish may completely ignore the anemone. Clownfish should also be pared with the correct species of anemone.
 
reef thief said:
It does look nice. I prefer not to buy purple rock so I can witness the actual coraline growth. I would imagine it would be difficult to know if there is growth or now. Could the paint maybe clog the pores in the rock? This might account for why the bacteria isn't working as quick as desired.
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Ya your right about not seeing the growth of coralline, but I love the instant satisfaction and that is very hard to get with this hobby haha, and it's def a possibility for why the bacteria is t working as quick with the paint, but I think it's just because its dry rock. I think it's made after it painted they say it's color injected so I'm guessing the color is already made before they form the rock, it 100% man made rock it's not from the ocean. And bulk reef supply using it in there display tank in the 52 weeks series. But you could def be right, this setup is all new to me, dry rock and "fish less" cycle with pure ammonia and bacteria.
 
Frostyfishman said:
I think they are hardy compared to other anemones, but stable conditions are desirable for them. They also come with particular challenges like filling with water and flying around the tank. If they get sucked into a power head it will distribute stinging cells throughout your tank. In addition they can move around stinging corals as they find a place they like. If you really want to try the anemone do it but just know what you are getting into. Furthermore the clownfish may completely ignore the anemone. Clownfish should also be pared with the correct species of anemone.
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Ya i would love to have them host it but you may be right I def don't want the bt to get ripped apart by power head if it decides to float around. But then again it would have to whole tank to choose a spot it likes without stinging any coral on its way if I add it first. I'll def think hard about adding one first off. I may hold off for a while and make sure the water parameters are spot on for a while first.
 
Today is a great day got home from work tested the tank and now have 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and a little over 40 nitrates, cycle complete!! So time for water change, cougareyes recommends 75% that seem high to me but what do I know haha does everyone else agree on that or should I start smaller?
 
So I actually didn't test nitrates because I assumed they were at the same if not more then the last time I tested but I just tested nitrates and I'm getting a lower reading it's now 10 to 15 is it possible over night for nitrites and nitrates go down that quick? Iv test it 2 times now and getting the same reading. So now I don't know how much % to do for a water change. Should I still do a big one or do like 20gallons , it's a 65 galling total system .
 
Mr.Mulley54 said:
So I actually didn't test nitrates because I assumed they were at the same if not more then the last time I tested but I just tested nitrates and I'm getting a lower reading it's now 10 to 15 is it possible over night for nitrites and nitrates go down that quick? Iv test it 2 times now and getting the same reading. So now I don't know how much % to do for a water change. Should I still do a big one or do like 20gallons , it's a 65 galling total system .
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When you have nitrite it can cause a false high nitrate reading. Do a 20 gallon change and then another 20 gallons next week.
 
So I did a 20gallon water change and my nitrates are now 10ppm . What Is a safe level for fish. Should I do a bigger water change ?
 
10 is good, the lower the better and I know some people try to get way down below 10. Get ready for a series of ugly tank issues, and don't freak out, just keep up with your maintenance and let it ride.
 
That should be fine for clown fish. It will continue to đrop as you do weekly water change. +1 to what the guy above said. You will have some ugly stages as the tank reaches maturity.
 
I think I already am iv got this stringy white/ tan slimy mucous looking stuff mostly in my sump, any ideas what it may be, I understand I'll get alge in there but anything of concern I'll try and take a pic of it
 


I'm guessing it just some sort of nucence alge but if anyone knows , let me know. I won't worry about it now iv cleaned most of it but there are some spots on my rock as well, we'll see.
 
So iv been reading a lot on this white stringy mucus slime and I'm a little scared cause I ordered a pair of clowns today from my lfs . there is a forum on here that has had some serious issues with it. Maybe I'm reading to far into this but I cleaned my sump sat and I had to clean it today because filter socks were clogged with this nasty stuff. I'll take another picture of this crap when and if I have to clean it again tomarrow. Hopefully it's just cause of the new system and dies off soon. But if anyone has any info would be awesome. Time will tell I guess
 
It's most likely just some bacteria bloom, especially if it's slimey/snot like. If it has some structure, like strings you can feel break off and it stays together so you can yank out clumps of it, it could be chrysophytes. Either way it will probably pass on its own. I believe chrysophytes use silica, so keeping your rodi at zero tds will help. If it's snotty and starts turning colors, you might want to look at some threads about dinoflagellates, but I don't think they are clear like that.
 
I'm woundering if it has to do with the Walt smith 2.1 dry rock I have , research is kinda pointing that way. Some people have it and goes away in a couple day others have to resort to uv sterilizers, i was def expecting some algae but this seems crazy for a brand new setup ,I hope I'm a lucky ones. My rodi water is 0tdm ammonia 0 nitrite0 nitrate10 phosphates 0 ph 7.8 wich I'm guessing are good water pars! haven't tested cal, mag or alk yet because there is nothing in the tank.??
 
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