Did my cycle start?

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by andywyeth07, Apr 4, 2013.

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  1. andywyeth07

    andywyeth07 Bristle Worm

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    Thanks for the help! I will go hunt down this "Prime" product after work and stop by our local coral farm and pick up some more live rock.
     
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    #21

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  2. kreator

    kreator Flamingo Tongue

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    Take a water sample out to Todd, I assume when you said Coral Farm you are talking about Reef Systems. He will know exacly where you are in your cyle. He has great live rock too and you are close enough that you can get a small piece home and in your tank with no dieoff. Everything but Nitrates should be 0 if your cycle is complete. I'm in Reynoldsburg BTW looks like you are not far from me.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2013
    kreator, Apr 19, 2013
    kreator, Apr 19, 2013
    #22
  3. andywyeth07

    andywyeth07 Bristle Worm

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    Alright, I will take some water out to them and get it tested. That's where I got my piece of LR that I have in the tank now. You can't beat their prices and really anything compared to the other LFS we have in the area.
     
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    #23
  4. andywyeth07

    andywyeth07 Bristle Worm

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    Just got off work and tested my water:

    Ammonia - 0
    Nitrite - 0
    Nitrate - 0
    Ph - 8.1
    Phosphate - 0
    Calcium - 420
    Alkalinity - 6

    I shut my skimmer off and added microbacter 7 this morning. Even though its reading 0 now I'm still going to go get "prime" and another piece of LR. Just to be safe.
     
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    andywyeth07, Apr 19, 2013
    #24
  5. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    Others can chime in here but I'd say your cycle has completed. More live rock is always beneficial whether you've cycled or not......
     
    oldfishkeeper, Apr 22, 2013
    oldfishkeeper, Apr 22, 2013
    #25
  6. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    +10 The more live rock the better. I'd get a fish in there to put a load on your biological filter, your cycle is complete for the most part.
     
    DSC reef, Apr 22, 2013
    DSC reef, Apr 22, 2013
    #26

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  7. reefnJeff

    reefnJeff Pajama Cardinal

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    I think the best indicator that your cycle is over or near being over is when the Diatoms starting covering everything which my tank is doing right now and started a few days ago
     
    reefnJeff, Apr 22, 2013
    reefnJeff, Apr 22, 2013
    #27
  8. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    Very true. As soon as you get a fish and put a small load then the diatoms will follow. Good luck buddy.
     
    DSC reef, Apr 22, 2013
    DSC reef, Apr 22, 2013
    #28
  9. andywyeth07

    andywyeth07 Bristle Worm

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    I'm going to add about 5 more pounds of live rock tomorrow. Hopefully not only for bacteria but for the coraline algae.

    I've had Diatoms for awhile now. The sand bed was covered, along with my base rock. Once I added my CuC they have taken care of it.

    I've had a few green chromis in the tank for about 3 weeks now. I have a feeling the cycle is over and maybe I was just over feeding this last time I got the ammonia reading (i hope at least).

    All of you guys have been a tremendous help so far in this process and I thank you for that!
     
    andywyeth07, Apr 23, 2013
    andywyeth07, Apr 23, 2013
    #29
  10. andywyeth07

    andywyeth07 Bristle Worm

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    So it's been about 24 days since I first detected an ammonia level. It still hasn't went away and is still around .25. I've done 2 - 10% water changes since then. I've taken a water sample to my LFS and they tested it and said it was slightly less then .25.

    I've added a few more pounds of LR since my original post. I have prime and have only used it once.

    Should I be concerned? Is there anything else i need to do or am i doing everything I can?
     
    andywyeth07, Apr 28, 2013
    andywyeth07, Apr 28, 2013
    #30
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