Tank cycled... what am I waiting for?

[LX20000]

Just don't be dumb like me and add a couple fish that might be sensitive to even slight ammonia spikes. Start with something hardy that can handle the new tank's parameter swings and possible ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/random weirdness spikes. Like a crab or snail if that's what you want.

It is hard as heck to wait. But after reading about quarantining, it seems I will have to do TTM and then a 2 week quarantine before I even put into tank. And that means I need a cycled quarantine tank. So fish seem farther off than ever. But now I wonder... if you have a cycled quarantine tank, and a fish gets sick in there, you must do a full tear down on the cycled tank, no?

 

[texdoc77]

I dosed to 2ppm again last night. I was at 0/0/40 on the nitrogens.
24 hours later, 1ppm NH3, 3-4ppm Nitrates, 40ish on Nitrates.
So I guess I am light on bacteria still.

I am assuming you mean 3-4 PPM Nitrites? You are well on your way, but I would say a little light still. Obviously you can test every day, when I cycled my tank I tested every 3-4 days.

Interesting your nitrate did not bump with more ammonia administration, are you skimming? I assume you must be, but just wondering. I think you are doing a great job. Be patient. :spin3:

 

[LX20000]

This morning, ammonia down to 0.5 ppm from 2ppm dose... in about 36 hours... was in a hurry to get to work, did not do nitrite... so ammonia is dropping.

Yes, I am skimming, and it is producing foam and a bit of stinky brown water. Ahh... duhh... I did not know that skimming would reduce nitrates... it does? I thought skimming just took out organic molecules...

Ya, I am sorta locked in to just being patient now. I would like to get some crabs for something in, maybe at 3 week mark. I am just coming to terms with having to do QT on fish I want to add... and guess I will do TTM, followed by quarantine. I am looking to set up a 10 gallon IM AIO tank for quarantine.

 

[texdoc77]

Yes, I am skimming, and it is producing foam and a bit of stinky brown water. Ahh... duhh... I did not know that skimming would reduce nitrates... it does? I thought skimming just took out organic molecules...

You are correct, skimming does not directly reduce nitrates. It does reduce the waste that can lead to nitrates however. In your case, I had a bit of a brain freeze, the nitrate from t he ammonia would only be exported with water changes.

 

[Swensos]

It is hard as heck to wait. But after reading about quarantining, it seems I will have to do TTM and then a 2 week quarantine before I even put into tank. And that means I need a cycled quarantine tank. So fish seem farther off than ever. But now I wonder... if you have a cycled quarantine tank, and a fish gets sick in there, you must do a full tear down on the cycled tank, no?

No, just treat the fish/disease in the QT. As long as it doesn't require something that will wipe out your bacterial filter, you just keep rolling. I expect the fish to be sick in QT; better there than in my DT with a higher water volume (more expensive medication) and potentially inverts that will die.