ready for livestock?

[tlp4]

hello I'm relatively new to this! I have biocube have had it for a year! I was given everything from a friend to start it up! i just set up a new tank 125 gal. it's been set up for almost 3 weeks. I started with live sand and dry rock. and placed 10lbs of live rubble in sump tank. my readings are

ph- 8.0
ammonia- 0
nitrite- 0
nitrate- 0

I also was directed by my local store to add damsels they have been in the tank for almost 2 weeks. can i move my guys from bio to big tank?

 

[JustinM]

Did you see any spike in ammonia at all?

Being a 125, and a small bio load, it's possible you might not though. How many fish are coming from the biocube?

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Do you have a diatomaceous bloom started yet? That's usually a good sign of being close...

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[Rani]

Is 3 weeks long enough for the tank to have cycled? IMO it takes a lot longer than that....but then I've only had mine for a year or so - still a beginner too! I've just purchased a much bigger tank and am expecting at least 6-8 weeks to cycle


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[ZachsZoo]

Your nitrates should be around 5-15 ppm. Nitrates actually have some good nutrients that help fish and corals thrive, too much can do damage but if they are kept low it can help your tank a lot. My LFS keeps their nitrates at 10ppm. They once tried maintaining one of their tanks at 0 nitrates, and their corals actually started to die.

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[ReeferNoob4ever]

Were you testing throughout the process? In other words, did you see the ammonia go up, nitrite go up, nitrate go up and then all come back down? That's usually a surefire way to tell if the cycle is finished. I did set up a 10 gallon using water and a filter from my already established 20 gallon and I was putting things in a week later. It's been a few months and everything is still alive. It's not about time...it's about the process being complete with permanent beneficial bacterial growth in your bio filter.

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Your nitrates should be around 5-15 ppm. Nitrates actually have some good nutrients that help fish and corals thrive, too much can do damage but if they are kept low it can help your tank a lot. My LFS keeps their nitrates at 10ppm. They once tried maintaining one of their tanks at 0 nitrates, and their corals actually started to die.

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Have to say, I've never heard this one... Have you done any reading on this to see if there is any validity to it? My nitrates usually never go above 5ppm and my tank is extremely healthy, so I find it hard to believe, but I'm always down to learn! Please share some links

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