Suggestions on knowing I am ready for fish/ or inverts

[thelawnwrangler]

After tons of questions I finally did it. I filled the new aquarium Fluval M90 36 total gallon with RO/DI salt water from LFS, 38 pounds of live rock, and live sand this Friday.

Last night my readings were:

Ammonia: 0.2 to 0.4
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 0-5

I am assuming that I must have had a little die off, and most of the Ammonia has been eaten up and turned in to Nitrite. Waiting to go to Nitrates.

I think I am ready for fish or inverts (need advice) once I get Ammonia to zero, and nitrites really low? How do I decide between fish or a clean up grew? I guess I should see a little algae in the next week or two. when I think there is food get snails?

When should I be thinking first water change?

Any advice is welcome. I have been reading all the beginner guides so I think I have the right plan just looking for a sage veteran to say yeah or nay

 

[gone fishin]

Exciting times.

What was the highest ammonia reading you saw?

Since you used all live rock You may be good to go in a few days. It is hard to say how robust the live rock is, obviously it appears it can handle some ammonia. If you want to see how robust the live rock is you could add some pure ammonia.

I think I would go with a small bit of CUC first then add a fish or two. Once some live stock is added I would check your readings pretty regularly, this should indicate how robust the live rock is. As far as WC's are concerned, early on in a tank it is a kind of play it be ear thing IMO. Once the tank matures a bit then you will be able to get into a weekly or biweekly schedule. Also, as the tank matures you will be able to learn the signs something is up. For example algae shows up out of no where or fish acting a bit different. Good luck just my 2 cents,

 

[jayball]

I would do a little ghost feeding, grind up a few flakes a day and drop them in, every day. You should wait until your ammonia and nitrite are undetectable for a few days in a row before you add anything.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Exciting times.

What was the highest ammonia reading you saw?

Since you used all live rock You may be good to go in a few days. It is hard to say how robust the live rock is, obviously it appears it can handle some ammonia. If you want to see how robust the live rock is you could add some pure ammonia.

I think I would go with a small bit of CUC first then add a fish or two. Once some live stock is added I would check your readings pretty regularly, this should indicate how robust the live rock is. As far as WC's are concerned, early on in a tank it is a kind of play it be ear thing IMO. Once the tank matures a bit then you will be able to get into a weekly or biweekly schedule. Also, as the tank matures you will be able to learn the signs something is up. For example algae shows up out of no where or fish acting a bit different. Good luck just my 2 cents,

Awesome thanks-

I put it in Friday and did my first reading Sunday night. I will do daily I guess for the week now. I probably should have done base line, but was just concerned is it leaking how do I kill dust storm.

CUC- assuming we are we talking a few snails and hermit crab. Shrimp are a little harder (i think) so I want to be a little more established? Do I need to see a little algae to know they will be supported?

 

[gone fishin]

Yes, I meant snails and or hermits. I would start small and add more as needed. I think a lot of newer folks jump the gun and add to much of a CUC in the beginning. You can wait for a bit of algae if you would like or just feed a bit of food.

IMO a lot of folks confuse the job of the CUC. They are not there to get rid of algae. They eat leftover food, fish poo and some algae as well.

 

[Kizzy911]

In addition to this, I too am cycling. Ammonia is about 1.0 nitrate and nitrite are very near to 0

 

[thelawnwrangler]

In addition to this, I too am cycling. Ammonia is about 1.0 nitrate and nitrite are very near to 0

I am a newbie, but sounds like you are on the front end of the cycle. I think you want to see the Ammonia become nitrite, and the nitrite to become nitrate. Do you have any live rock? Someone with more experience may suggest a biological starter that would seed bacteria that will eat ammonia, and then the bacteria that will eat nitrite.

 

[Kizzy911]

I have about 20 lbs of live rock, i've added bacteria to hasten the cycle a bit more, i've been feeding fish flake foods to feed the bacteria.

 

[gottalikesharks]

I don't see how if you filled your tank on Friday it is cycled and ready for animals on Monday. Did you add any ammonia to start the cycle?

 

[Kizzy911]

I don't see how if you filled your tank on Friday it is cycled and ready for animals on Monday. Did you add any ammonia to start the cycle?

Yeah, my first tank took about a month to cycle.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

I don't see how if you filled your tank on Friday it is cycled and ready for animals on Monday. Did you add any ammonia to start the cycle?

I have ammonia and nitrites so I am not ready. I guess my question was more what series of reading will I need to see to say I think I am ready. sounds like multiple days of 0 on ammonia and nitrites.

I put in 38 pounds of cured live rock for a 36 gallon tank LFS said I might not even see a cycle. The didn't cover live rock with water when I transferred it so I think I had a little die off, and why I have ammonia now (although low .2 or .4)

I want to go slow and methodical so just looking for feedback as to what that looks like instead of killing animals bc of my knowledge void.

 

[gottalikesharks]

You don't really need to feed the bacteria fish food, what you want to do is get the ammonia to spike up to about 4 ppm, then it's just a waiting game for the bacteria population to grow.

 

[gone fishin]

I have ammonia and nitrites so I am not ready. I guess my question was more what series of reading will I need to see to say I think I am ready. sounds like multiple days of 0 on ammonia and nitrites.

I put in 38 pounds of cured live rock for a 36 gallon tank LFS said I might not even see a cycle. The didn't cover live rock with water when I transferred it so I think I had a little die off, and why I have ammonia now (although low .2 or .4)

I want to go slow and methodical so just looking for feedback as to what that looks like instead of killing animals bc of my knowledge void.

I believe your on the right track. Since you used live rock it will minimize the cycle time. This in know way means you can go and fully stock your tank LOL. I would agree that you probably had a small bit of die off during the transport process but the majority of the bacteria survived the process.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Thanks Tony

Still happening on the Tanks time.
Yesterday I was 0-.2 Ammonia, .5 Nitirite, and 20-50 Nitrate.

If I get Ammonia and Nitrite to zero for 3 days going to do a 15 gallon cuc (2 crabs and 5 snails)

Will monitor nitrate if it I confirm closer to that 50 range will do about a 5 gallon water change. With nitrates up I am assuming I will start seeing a little alage soon?

 

[gone fishin]

yeah, more than likely the the various algae will will start popping up. Do not be surprised if it takes a month or two to get things back in check.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

My refuge light comes in today- Is it too soon for Chaeto?

Nitrates were 20-50

I am not sure I have enough area in the all in one tank for it to make a huge difference just like the idea of balance in the tank.

 

[gone fishin]

I think I would wait until your done cycling then add it in if you want.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

I think I would wait until your done cycling then add it in if you want.

probably prudent (if this cycle doesn't hurry up I could go multiple days without throwing money at this tank) I had to get a algae brush yesterday just to not look weird for being at the lfs for no reason. Oh yeah I need this brush ....

So I have heard basically unless you have a really big sump the micro algae thing is mainly for grins and giggles because it won't have that big of an effect on managing nitrates. Honestly if that is true that is fine with me, because I like the idea of my tank being in harmony (real or otherwise lol) I want the placebo

 

[gone fishin]

I have read that about 10% of tank volume should be used for a refugium to effective. About 3-4 months ago I set up a display refugium with a 30g tank. It is still in its ugly stage right now but the various macro's are growing. I can also tell a difference in the DT since it has been up.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Very surprised by my top off requirements for 36 gallon tank

6 pint glasses today total. I don't think it gets any sunlight. I guess other factors are water movement?