Saltwater NEWB- is my cycle finished?

[necrio]

Okay, just tested everything just a few minutes ago. Its been sitting for probably close to 2 months and im poor and couldnt buy fish. So, now I just tested my water and got close to zero if no Zero on ammonia and nothing on nitrite/rate.

Although yesterday, I gave it a nice healthy 5ppm dose of pure ammonia.

So, almighty question- is my cycle done for now?

 

[acabgd]

If you added 5ppm of ammonia yesterday and now have 0 your cycle is finished. However, you should have some nitrate, as it doesn't just "evaporate". Therefore, check your test kits.

You say "I'm poor" - I'm sorry to say you're probably in the wrong hobby. Not that you cannot be successful, but rather that you can use money for other, probably more needed things. Reef tanks are money eaters, gigantic sinkholes capable of turning rich into poor...

 

[necrio]

Lol. When I say poor, I meant right right. I had an excellent year and then some things happen and bam. But, things are getting better and it the sun is starting to shine heavily on my strong obsession in this hobby.

However, you are correct. I do believe there is something wrong with my nitrate. I know there should be nitrates by now.. In both my tanks. However, it never shows- ever. Good news is that the other tests do give me successful readings. Its been a little while since i bought the kit online, so its too late to complain to them.

 

[AquamanE]

Lol. When I say poor, I meant right right. I had an excellent year and then some things happen and bam. But, things are getting better and it the sun is starting to shine heavily on my strong obsession in this hobby.

However, you are correct. I do believe there is something wrong with my nitrate. I know there should be nitrates by now.. In both my tanks. However, it never shows- ever. Good news is that the other tests do give me successful readings. Its been a little while since i bought the kit online, so its too late to complain to them.

Necrio- Have your water tested at a LFS, or ask folks here, most would be happy to help. Thats what this club and forum are all about.

BTW- I disagree that this is a hobby for the "rich". You will find most of us are middle income people. A SW tank can be kept very simple and still be very successful.

 

[necrio]

Yeah. I am not joining this the hobby to go have huge expensive 4,000 dollar sharks in a, 5000+ gallon tanks.

I'd just like a nice little tank with some cheap pretty coral and a few little fish that arn't that sensitive.

 

[AquamanE]

Yeah. I am not joining this the hobby to go have huge expensive 4,000 dollar sharks in a, 5000+ gallon tanks.

I'd just like a nice little tank with some cheap pretty coral and a few little fish that arn't that sensitive.

If that is indeed your goal, and you can keep that train of though, it is not an expensive hobby. :headwally:

What becomes expensive is bigger tanks, expensive coral, and fish ( it does become an addiction, i wont lie). And if you start buying fancy equipment controllers etc, THEN it becomes a money pit you have to know if you can accept or not. :eek1::debi:

 

[necrio]

Ive seen some of those fancy controllers and feeders and other stuff. Honestly, it might make the hobby a lot easier, but honestly I dont know if they are worth it for smaller time tanks like my 10g and 50gal. However, I was thinking of turning my 100g freshwater into a salt since my freshwater fish have been eating all my plants latey and ruining the beauty of it.

 

[donpachino1983]

Yeah. I am not joining this the hobby to go have huge expensive 4,000 dollar sharks in a, 5000+ gallon tanks.

I'd just like a nice little tank with some cheap pretty coral and a few little fish that arn't that sensitive.

A tank full of damsels is nice.when I first started the hobby I had a 55 gal with over 5 different species of them about 12 fish in total cool thing is most of them are 4 to 5 bucks and very hardy of course if your looking for something less expensive clowns are pretty and cheap as well

 

[AquamanE]

Ive seen some of those fancy controllers and feeders and other stuff. Honestly, it might make the hobby a lot easier, but honestly I dont know if they are worth it for smaller time tanks like my 10g and 50gal. However, I was thinking of turning my 100g freshwater into a salt since my freshwater fish have been eating all my plants latey and ruining the beauty of it.

Your absolutely correct. I ran my very successful 65 and 120 with timers and manual daily dosin of A/B and had no issues. and these where SPS dominant tanks with full growth of corals. First 2 controllers i did buy, i bought used here on RC, and only cause the price was too good to pass up, but i could have easily continued to run them manually.

 

[Siptang]

lol. My tank is the definition of budget tank. You just have to be extra diligent. Every coral piece that I got was almost single polyp(s) or 1 inch frags that grew out.

$5-10-15. Most expensive coral in my tank is my red lobo which was $35.

 

[necrio]

Yeah. That sounds like my ideal tank. I don't know much corals yet. I'd like to get my 10g into corals sooner than later. But I guess I need "perfect" water or something? so I dont know much about that yet.

If anybody wants to give me a little bit of information on the water chemistry that I need for some easy starter coral.

 

[AquamanE]

Yeah. That sounds like my ideal tank. I don't know much corals yet. I'd like to get my 10g into corals sooner than later. But I guess I need "perfect" water or something? so I dont know much about that yet.

If anybody wants to give me a little bit of information on the water chemistry that I need for some easy starter coral.

IMHO- if you want corals make it your 50, not your 10. Corals require stable parameters. Its easier to do that in a 50, than a 10G.

 

[young_reefer]

This is why I love RC! It's great to get confirmation that however simple or complex you want to make your tank, it's all about commitment to your goals, your plan on how to get there, and consistency... I have a 72g bow front (like Siptang's) but no where near his cool setup. I do plan on getting there someday in the near future. :thumbsup:

 

[rovster]

I ran my 14 gallon nano very simple, manual everything, and a couple of timers. It can be done. I did have some expensive coral I there though, LOL!

 

[necrio]

IMHO- if you want corals make it your 50, not your 10. Corals require stable parameters. Its easier to do that in a 50, than a 10G.

Yeah I hear that a lot. I believe it too, however right now I have a lighting for a 10 gallon because its a lot cheaper right now. Also, its a lot less chemicals to buy for the nano. The 50 gallon requires some lights that are a bit out of my budget right now, but honestly I kind of wanted to just get a couple 5$ corals, get them started in the 10 and see if I can do it or not. Lets me know if I am ready for the 50 gal or far future- the 100g!!

 

[necrio]

This is why I love RC! It's great to get confirmation that however simple or complex you want to make your tank, it's all about commitment to your goals, your plan on how to get there, and consistency... I have a 72g bow front (like Siptang's) but no where near his cool setup. I do plan on getting there someday in the near future. :thumbsup:

I completely agree. These fourms are amazing. I read them almost 10 times a day because I see a lot of stuff that is good to learn for my adventure.

But this reminds me of another question I'd like to ask the community without opening a new thread.

Q: When I first got into saltwater and cycled the tank I bought a basic clown for 20 bucks at the LFS. Turns out, it had serious ICH. Sadly, when I noticed the ICH at night the store was closed. By morning it was dead. It lasted less than 24 hours.

I am going to move onto a couple damsels for my first fish this time, should I go through the process of Quarantining the damsels or is it okay to just put them in the 10g display? (btw I am not buying fish from that store again . . )

I also heard that some stores Q their fish before their even sold. Is that true?:spin3: :spin3:

 

[doreo]

i think my tanks are pretty cheap too lol. I love this group because i can trade and buy for 1/4 the price of the stores and its awesome.

As for your question, The right answer i would assume is yes quarantine the fish, however some folks, dont and you just run the risk of introducing something to the tank such as ich. Also how long ago has the ich fish been out of the tank? if it was a few days or so id say without a doubt cause the ich will probably still be in the tank.

 

[necrio]

It was without fish for 5-6 weeks now.

 

[doreo]

Think that is fine, but I'm not a expert on ich. Double check the life cycle to see

 

[AquamanE]

So have you had your water re checked?