speed up the cycle?

[Conesus_Kid]

You DO have test kits to monitor ammonia, 'trites, and 'trates, yes?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Yeeees Mr Krebbeks.......

 

[laxing22]

Have you thought about someone near you doing a water change and taking ~5 gallons and dumping it in your tank? I always start a new tank with water from one of my others or a friends.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Spose I could, but the established LR I added should accomplish the same goal. Bacteria are in there, just need them to proliferate.

 

[smogl00]

Have you thought about someone near you doing a water change and taking ~5 gallons and dumping it in your tank? I always start a new tank with water from one of my others or a friends.

This is what I did with my newest tank. Granted- it was on a MUCH smaller scale, but still the same effect with dry rock. After a few weeks of throwing "dirty" water in there after water changes from the other tank, I bought my clowns, started feeding, ran a light cycle and watched that algae grow. About a month of that, and I did a big water change, added the cuc, and followed up with smaller water changes on a weekly basis and the occasional supplementing of phosphate reducing filter floss- the result is one pristine looking, fully cycled little tank.

Let's get this show on the road though, Cully. You've been tankless for too long here. :hmm5:

Best of luck!

 

[Capt_Cully]

I've taken my time for sure. This fishless process is a quantifiable one. No guess work, just testing. So no matter which way I go about it, I'm expecting it to take at least 4 weeks, maybe more. If it cycles quicker, great. But its certainly a cleaner way to go about it. No detritus from feeding or dead shrimp or dead salmon.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

The other benefit is that you can initially stock at a higher rate than you normally would. Instead of starting with a single small fish or two, you can be a bit more bold with your first fish additions.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Just been dosing 2.5cc's for the 220 gallons. Still not measuring 1ppm after 24 hrs. I'll get there.

I am running my skimmer for oxygenation. I'm actually emptying the skimmate back into the water. But, here's my question, why does the skimmer go berzerk after I dose the ammonia. What is the NH3 reacting with? O2? CO2? What's the reaction?

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Bet it's just changes in surface tension. pH can affect it. My guess....

 

[Capt_Cully]

Ok, up to 1mg/L. Dosed about 0.25ml/20gallons. That is about 1/2 the recommended dosing. Per Conesus' recommendation, I'm taking it slow. 1mg/L is roughly 1ppm, yes?

Previous question with regard to Skimmer going nuts.

Going to start looking for nitrites in about 4-5 days, for those following along and for future reference.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I would guess that Jeremy's on the money with the skimmer going nuts response. There's no reaction that takes place. The ammonia is just mixed with the water.

Are you dosing daily?

Keep us posted.

 

[Capt_Cully]

According to the few articles I read, once the ammonia is where you want it, you stop dosing and wait for the bacteria to proliferate. In 5 days or so, nitrites should start to bump as the ammonia is metabolized.