test results

[doox00]

set my tank up a couple days ago. I have about 120 or so pounds of live rock in a 90g with a 30g sump. Tonight I just put a baseball size ball of cheato in my fuge, have a asm g1-x skimmer. all ro/di water.

I purchased the rock from someone that was quiting the hobby, he had the tank up for 1 year and half about. The rock was out of water for 4 or 5 hours, but was kept wet during that time. I have had the rock in rubbermaid containers in the garage for almost 2 weeks with a heater and a powerhead, I did only one 50 percent water change and replaced evapped water, about half a gallon a day or two.

This is the 3rd night I have done tests, each night has been the same, using salifert test kits.

nitrite 0
amonia 0
nitrate 2-5 (can't tell exactly)
ph 8.0

that is all the test kits I have atm, this is going to be a fowlr tank. So my question is, this normal 2-3 days into cycle.. with rock that was already cured? I know there was some die off, so I am expecting some sorta cycle, when should I start to see things rise/fall?

No foul spells at all either btw.

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

Give it a week or two. Just let it do its thing. I wouldn't even test for the first couple of weeks.

 

[doox00]

okies is 8.0 ph ok? will that change?

 

[bjonesjr1]

let it go for a few weeks, your just wasting you test strips, The ph should be alittle higher, around 8.0 - 8.3

 

[doox00]

okay, I will not test for a couple weeks, should I be concerned about the ph right now?

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

Jones is right. Raise the ph a little. Natural sea water ranges from 8.0 to 8.4. 8.3 is "ideal" for a reef. I'd say 8.1 or 8.2 would be a happy medium for a fowlr.

 

[doox00]

recommendations on raising ph?

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

No need to be concerned. Just raise it a little at a time untill it is stable at 8.2ish. No rush. You have plenty of time while it cycles.

 

[doox00]

what do you use you raise ph safely?

 

[Witchdoctor_h]

I use Seachem Reef Buffer. It works well for me. I suppose it's a matter of opinion, though.

 

[bjonesjr1]

Thanks witchdoctor... I wouldn't be concerned about the ph if you don't have anything in their, If you do just monitor it alittle make sure it doesn't drop below 8.0

 

[doox00]

I have read to add 1 or 2 dead cocktail shrimps from the super market, with my current setup/situation is this recommended? or just leave what I have and go with it?

 

[six.line]

You don't really need to do that. There's plenty of material on the rock to get going. If you want to watch them rot, however, then by all means.

 

[doox00]

lol, ok, I leave the the shrimp out then