So my tank has been running for about 2 days. All i have is live sand in there at the moment. I tested my water parameters (PH, Amonnia, Nitrite, and nitrate) for the first time. All of the tests except for PH, obviousl,y came back as zero. I dont really know what to take this as since im pretty new. Is this a bad thing good thing or should i just keep testing and watch it. It seems a little soon for the tank to be cycled. It is a 5g marineland contour
Water parameters
- Thread starter Bassguy13
- Start date
mcgyvr
New member
Give it time..
Typically a cycle can take up to 4 weeks or more but can happen in a week or 2 with sufficient live rock/live sand with little die off..
I guarantee your cycle is not done.. and probably hasn't even started..
Typically people do the following.
#1-Ghost feed (just add a few flakes of fish food to the tank for a few days).. This will break down into ammonia and start the process.
#2-Actually add bottled ammonia to the tank.. Typically we recommend adding enough till 2ppm of ammonia is measureable.. Do that once.. Then maybe a few more times to see how fast the system is processing that ammonia all the way through to nitrates..
#3-throwing in a dead shrimp or something else to again break down into ammonia,etc..
Welcome.. Sit back.. Relax.. You've got time.. Tank is NOT cycled..
Seriously I wouldn't recommend anyone cycling for less than 4 weeks no matter whats in the tank...
remember this..
NOTHING good happens quickly in Reefing..
Typically a cycle can take up to 4 weeks or more but can happen in a week or 2 with sufficient live rock/live sand with little die off..
I guarantee your cycle is not done.. and probably hasn't even started..
Typically people do the following.
#1-Ghost feed (just add a few flakes of fish food to the tank for a few days).. This will break down into ammonia and start the process.
#2-Actually add bottled ammonia to the tank.. Typically we recommend adding enough till 2ppm of ammonia is measureable.. Do that once.. Then maybe a few more times to see how fast the system is processing that ammonia all the way through to nitrates..
#3-throwing in a dead shrimp or something else to again break down into ammonia,etc..
Welcome.. Sit back.. Relax.. You've got time.. Tank is NOT cycled..
Seriously I wouldn't recommend anyone cycling for less than 4 weeks no matter whats in the tank...
remember this..
NOTHING good happens quickly in Reefing..
gone fishin
New member
Do you plan on putting any rock in the tank??
