Tank cycling and Algae?

[cjpitt80]

If those first fish have ICH (not the mollies, Highly unlikely they had Marine ICH) then the tank will have ICH and every fish after will have ICH until the tank has gone fallow (totally fishless,including the mollies now, 72 days)and the fish treated in a QT with one of the 3 effective ways of eradicating it.

But wouldn't I be able to tell if the first fish are infected within 72 days? If I add the first batch of fish (not counting the mollies in there now) THEN wait at lest 72 days before adding any OTHER fish, isn't this the same as quarantining? Essentially, I'm just quarantining in the display tank, right?

 

[cjpitt80]

Ammonia back to zero

Ammonia back to zero

just like everyone else has said, slow down and enjoy the process, learn from it. I know exactly what you're going through, I wanted everything done fast too, I bought the bacteria in a bottle and expected a quick cycle but it didn't happen. I still had to wait the full 4-6 weeks before I was fully cycled.

Don't add anything else, keep testing you ammonia every other day, don't worry about nitrites and nitrates right now. Once you see your ammonia back to 0 add some more of the ammonia chloride until you get at least 1ppm, wait 24 hours and retest, if it reads 0 then test your nitrites if those read 0 then you're cycled.

If your nitrites don't read 0 when tested then retest every other day until they read 0 once they do I would add another dose of ammonia chloride to 1ppm and retest both ammonia and nitrites after 24 hours. If they both read 0 you're good to go. do a 50% water change to get nitrates to manageable levels.

So I tested the ammonia level and it's back to zero along with Nitrites and Nitrates. This is 4 days after I dosed with ammonia. I'll add more ammonia and then test tomorrow to see where I'm at (I don't know if there was a nitrite/nitrate spike since I didn't test after the initial ammonia spike)

 

[Tyler438]

Sounds like you are just impatient I started in April I believe, converted my fresh water to salt water after a move. I let my tank cycle for 30 days with live rock bought from petco before I added anything in it. Here we are in June and I have a puffer, 2 clowns, blenny, angel, snails, shrimp and a mean starfish. I haven't lost anything except a turbo snail (starfish ate it). Listen to the guys on this site, I have learned a lot just by poking around in the forums.

 

[cjpitt80]

Sounds like you are just impatient I started in April I believe, converted my fresh water to salt water after a move. I let my tank cycle for 30 days with live rock bought from petco before I added anything in it. Here we are in June and I have a puffer, 2 clowns, blenny, angel, snails, shrimp and a mean starfish. I haven't lost anything except a turbo snail (starfish ate it). Listen to the guys on this site, I have learned a lot just by poking around in the forums.

What part seems impatient? I was simply wondering why I didn't see anything until after I dosed with ammonia. The ammonia is now back to zero, but I haven't seen any nitrite or nitrate yet.

 

[cjpitt80]

What part seems impatient? I was simply wondering why I didn't see anything until after I dosed with ammonia. The ammonia is now back to zero, but I haven't seen any nitrite or nitrate yet.

And where are you located? I've never seen a Petco with any marine livestock or rocks...

 

[Smokey Stover]

But wouldn't I be able to tell if the first fish are infected within 72 days? If I add the first batch of fish (not counting the mollies in there now) THEN wait at lest 72 days before adding any OTHER fish, isn't this the same as quarantining? Essentially, I'm just quarantining in the display tank, right?

No, If you put a marine fish in the tank without confirming that it does not have ich, And if it does have ich (even if it's not noticeable) Then 72 days later the fish and tank both have ich waiting for new hosts. The life cycle of ich in the tank has to be totally fishless to be broken.

 

[cjpitt80]

No, If you put a marine fish in the tank without confirming that it does not have ich, And if it does have ich (even if it's not noticeable) Then 72 days later the fish and tank both have ich waiting for new hosts. The life cycle of ich in the tank has to be totally fishless to be broken.

Ok, I got it thanks. I was a little confused with the lifecycle. I'm going to go with a 10 gal quarantine tank and treat prophylactically with chloroquine phosphate to be safe.

Also, this forum is a lil different than others I'm on. How the heck did you edit your post?

 

[Tyler438]

And where are you located? I've never seen a Petco with any marine livestock or rocks...

North Carolina, They have a large Saltwater section in my store.