New Cycle Help

[Bloodbuzz459]

Hello,

I actually posted earlier this week in another section when I guess it should have been in here, apologies.

So, again in summary I set up a new tank left it a week then tested the water, somehow I already had an ammonia reading somewhere between .5 - 1ppm not sure how as I only used dry rock and sand?

Anyway at this point added ammonia chloride taking it to about 2ppm and then added Dr Tim One & Only...1 week on nothing really happened ammonia did drop slightly back to .5-1ppm but then nothing.

Tonight an email from Dr Tims told me to dose again and see what happens so I have.

I'm not looking to fast track this I just want to be on the right track but not sure I am. Never really had an issue with freshwater before.

I also have conflicting test kits (or its my eyesight) my API at the minute appears to indicate 4ppm ammonia and my Salifert 1.5ppm. (Photos attached)

Any advice from anyone on this? Its driving me insane.

Thank you.

Rich.

 

[surfingdude]

That is a big difference in 2 kits...From what I heard, salifert is more accurate. I have only used API tho.

iam new to this, but amonia is first to rise then nitrites...as nitrites rise, amonia decreases and then nitrates rise slightly as nitrites drop...at least how that happened with y new tank that I recently started the last 2 weeks.

 

[ethuman]

Just be patient. API test are garbage imo but I started out with them too. Trust the Dali feet. Just wait now for the nitrites to rise and ammonia to drop

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

Thank you from the Salifert would you say there is enough ammonia to teigger this?

Also was it normal to have an ammonia reading using dry rock and sand? Its bothered me a little.

 

[mcgyvr]

API test kits are notorious for reading a bit high and never showing you at zero..

Frankly.. Just give it 2 more weeks and you should be good to go..

I've gotten to the point where I just setup a tank.. Throw a little food in it for the first few days.. top off as needed and don't even test.. I just give it 4 weeks and then start stocking..

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

Great thanks - So the salifert kit is showing enough ammonia to start things?

 

[ethuman]

Yes that's sufficient just sit back a wait now. Sometimes you will get proper readings in a week and sometimes a month. Just wait the 4 weeks

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

Will do thanks for the help. Hopefully see some progress soon.

Since switching from freshwater I haven't had a great deal of luck in the last 7 months trying to cycle.

 

[ethuman]

Sounds like you might be trying to do too much so just be patient. What's the set up you have and equipment? Could be something else if you've been tying to cycle a tank for 7 months

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

Well I had a biOrb 60 Life and last summer I set out to convert it to Marine. Their not great tanks but I just wanted to get a feel for it before investing more money. But I could never get it to cycle because I made the fatal error of making a DSB with live sand and the die off from it just never ended. So it was basically 6 months wasted.

So at Christmas I did a new build -

80L Clearseal Tank
Red Sea Dry Reef White Sand
9KG Real Reef Rock
Fluval 100w E Series (Set to 26.5c)
2x Hydor Powerheads
Fluval PS1 Skimmer

I'm using RODI water - Salinity about 1.025


I set it up two weekends ago no problems accept the fact I had an ammonia reading before doing anything which made me worried I had a similar problem to the failed biOrb project.

 

[ethuman]

did you completely clean out all the media in the canister filter and buy new foam and media? if not that could all be left over from the first attempt

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

I'm not running a canister filter - I purely just have the skimmer.

I read conflicting articles on using a filter in marine thought I was considering adding one?

 

[ethuman]

sorry misread the equipment list. just sit back and wait now good luck

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

Is it something worth adding at some stage?

Thanks - Hopefully something will happen! I don't mind if it takes weeks or months I'd just hate to stare at a tank for 2 months thats never going to do anything.

Never particularly struggled with a cycle with freshwater it has always seemed very straight forward.

 

[CarrieB]

The question is really whether your dry rock had any organics on it. Any dead matter would cause you to get an ammonia reading as it decayed.

If everything was perfectly clean, then I'd ask whether you have a catbox close by. I've read a post by someone that had some aerial contamination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CarrieB]

You might try putting a bowl of water out for a couple days and testing it for ammonia.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bloodbuzz459]

No unfortunately I don't have a cat.

Prior to putting the real reef in a tank I kept it soaked in RO in a storage container and out of curiosity I tested the water and it was 0ppm.

Could the sand have anything decaying in it? It was dry sand however and I did rinse it as much as possible through RODI water.