Newbie with Questions

J

jonto

New member
Hello Everyone,
This is my first post. I have a 75gal minireef started. I have about 65 lbs dry pukani that I ran through acid and then pressure washed. It came out really clean. Added it and 40lbs Aragonite Special grade dry sand and then added RODI with Red Sea Corral Pro salt.
Added Dr Tims One and Only and amomium chloride. Have been adding about 15 drops of the amonia every day. No skimmer or bio-filter or lights.
Today my tests are:
Amonia ................. 0
Nitrite .................. .05
Nitrate ................ 14
KH ...................... 2.5
pH ..................... 8.0
Phos ................. .22
I intend ro add a good sized cleanup crew but right now there is nothing for them to eat.
So should I start adding some fish and some anemone to keep things going?
I'm sure I will have more to add and contribute in the future. Looking forward to all of it!
Thanks
Jim
 
jonto said:
Will check KH again tomorrow. What range should it be??
Click to expand...

The hardness should be at 8-9ish is what I aim for. But since your tank is cycling it's nothing major to be off but by that much is a bit much. Definitely not good to add things in with that level. What kit do you use. But don't worry being that low it most likely has to be a false reading.
 
That's more like it haha. Little low still but that should mellow out over the next couple days when the cycle rounds out and after your water change at the end
 
So my question is still should I add something living to my tank or let it cycle another week or so? I really need some help folks. I don't want to make mistakes at this point.
Jim
 
I'd say recheck the hardness this morning with the ammonia and nitrites and nitrates. The hardness should be a little higher. It isn't terrible where it's at for starting with fish but the reason it's probably still low is because the tank is still cycling a little bit. Give some new readings and let's go from there. Don't want to rush the last few days ya know? You're close. Also nothing other than just a pair of hardy fish for now. Obviously the main choice is a pair of clowns.
 
I would quit worrying about alk (hardness). Worry about the nitrogen cycle. Don't add any livestock.

Instead of adding small amounts of ammonia, I would add a bunch at once. Dose until the ammonia level in the tank is somewhere between 1-2 ppm. Then track ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate over the next couple weeks.
 
The only reason there was attention to the hardness because it is an indicator that the cycle is not over. And there is no reason to dose more if he's done it every day for weeks. I only dosed my tank high twice. There is no need to dose it a bunch because then you will have a high amount of bacteria that will just starve when you only add two fish in. You would have to add a bunch in to keep up with it but then you run the risk of your nitrates running out of control when you do so. And then with the die off the cycle could restart again. Being the nitrites only at a low amount last night I'm willing to bet they are gone today if he's been dosing like he said.
 
Where did he say that he's been adding ammonia every day for weeks?

Unless you see ammonia spike, then drop to zero, and nitrites do the same thing, you don't know if the tank has cycled. High nitrates at the end can be diluted with a water change.
 
nereefpat said:
Where did he say that he's been adding ammonia every day for weeks?

Unless you see ammonia spike, then drop to zero, and nitrites do the same thing, you don't know if the tank has cycled. High nitrates at the end can be diluted with a water change.
Click to expand...

It's right in his post. He's been adding the ammonia in.
 
Lets get this back on track here with a little tough love :)

jonto,
please let us know how long your tank has been setup for?

Second.. (tough love point coming... :p )
Start learning to read directions
It says on the ammonium bottle to add 1 drop per gallon of water so that you achieve an ammonia level of 2ppm
You do that once..
Then you continue to monitor until the ammonia and nitrite levels go back down to zero..
At that point if you choose to do so you will again add 75 drops and the ammonia levels and nitrite levels should return back to zero in 24 hours..

THEN you tank is cycled..

I'd bet you didn't read directions either on the bacteria either did you... shame.. :)

PS.. no need to measure alk(dKH) right now and throw your PH test kit in the trash..
all you are concerned with is proper salinity and ammonia and nitrites right now.. thats it..

remember.. you need to top off with fresh water each day to make up what has evaporated.. The salt does not evaporate..
 
Last edited:
mcgyvr said:
Second.. (tough love point coming... :p )
Start learning to read directions
It says on the ammonium bottle to add 1 drop per gallon of water so that you achieve an ammonia level of 2ppm
You do that once..
Click to expand...

I'm gunna go ahead and be that guy....It actually says on the bottle 4 drops per gallon to reach 2ppm but do not exceed 5. I purchased a bottle as I personally prefer to be able to control what's going in and in what amount as much as possible. However I think it said somewhere on the site that the old formula it was 2 drops per gallon but not sure how far back that would go. I just bought mine in the last maybe 3 weeks.

However that being said mcgyvr brings up some valid points. Focus on the basics right now and it's not necessarily about perfect numbers but stability. Also always make sure to follow directions on whatever it is your using.
 
Last edited:
top shelf said:
.It actually says on the bottle 4 drops per gallon to reach 2ppm but do not exceed 5.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out..

I was just going off an image I saw online (dr fosters smith site) which shows 1 drop per gallon.. Old bottle photo I guess..
But yes if they changed the strength then by all means follow that..
So read the directions and follow to achieve an ammonia reading of 2ppm in the tank..

Once you exceed 5 ppm that bacterial populations are hindered/slowed so most will recommend 2ppm as a max ammonia dosing level..
 
Figured it was worth noting they did change the formula subsequently changing the amount you need to add but either way the bottle will have directions on it.
 
top shelf said:
Figured it was worth noting they did change the formula subsequently changing the amount you need to add but either way the bottle will have directions on it.
Click to expand...

It certain was worth it.. They didn't read the directions the first time
and they may have just gone with what I said and avoided reading the directions again.. :p :lol:

So they should make sure they read the instructions to find out the strength they have so they can use the right amount of drops to achieve 2ppm..
 
Hi folks,
I have read the instructions adnauseum. I have the newer bottle of ammonia and thus 4 drops per gal. I set up the tank on 8/11 and Dr Tims and ammonia 4 days (8/15) later. Ammonia was at 2+.
On 8/22 it dropped to .1 and nitrite was 1 and nitrate was 40.
On 8/24 ammonia was still .1 and nitrite was .05 and nitrate was 12.
On 8/27 ammonia is at 0 and nitrite is .05 and nitrate is 12.
I will stop the ammonia dosing and let it sit a few days. I just figured there still needed to be an ammonia source since there is no livestock in tank. My bad!
Will retest everything this afternoon.
Jim
 
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