Newby questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
they may do that for a few days, unfortunately I don't know how long this cycle is going to take, it's been a week so far and no sign of stopping yet
 
yeah this is the not so fun part of the hobby but one of the most important ones. ive been reading on the progress and just wanted to say keep up the good work. Glad to hear all is well.
 
:nilly:the cycle has gotten worse, was doing daily water changes but the levels were even higher when I checked them the next day. So far looks like that everything capable of moving has died (and been removed) the coral has died and I'm not sure if the live rock has survived (any way to tell?) Since everything is dead have stopped the water changes and am just sitting it out. Haven't checked the levels in a couple of days but last time I checked ammonia was 2, nitrate was at least 80 (max my kit goes to) and nitrite was .5. hopefully this sorts itself out soon so I can put stuff in there again
 
live rock will re cure itself. Leave it in there and let the water run. High ammonia and nitrite is signs that the tank is still trying to cycle. I would hold off on adding anything for a while, and dont do many water changes. This takes away from the cycle. Let the water drop naturly. once your levels are lower to near zero then add a cleanup crew to feed the bacteria and do a water change same day. Astrea snails are good because they poo alot and keep the ammonia in the water, hence keeping the BB alive. Good luck
 
it's so frustrating - I was hoping that it already being an existing setup that it would not need cycling. Admittedly I didn't check the levels when I got it home and put the water back in so they may have already been high. I'm just glad I decided to leave it for a week after I got it home before buying any fish! I'll be going away for a week in a couple of weeks, will probably not look at adding anything untill after I return (if things have sorted themselves out by then!)

I am frustrated - fresh water is so much easier! (though I haven't been having much luck there either lately)
 
things will pull together shortly. How did you transport the LR?? If you let it dry even slightly that will cause some die off. It sounds to me that something was added that shouldnt have been to cause more of a cycle then what would have normaly happened.
 
i feel sorry for ya hun, i know how it feels when you have no idea what to do for the best. i recon the first 6month of owning a marine tank is just learning all the way and thats just the basics! But the pay off is well worth it.
 
the LR was transported in tubs with the existing tank water. It shouldn't have dried out at all. I don't know when the tank would have last had a good clean out prior to me getting it, the sand (not that there was much) and about 2" of water was left in the tank for the trip home. when I got home I had to dump that water - there was so much brown sediment floating in it it looked more like mud than anything. I didn't clean out the sand though, just let the filter pick up the sediment that was stirred up again when it was refilled and cleaned the filter the next day.

come to think of it the filter would have dried out on the trip home - it was in a separate tub with the light and the air pump.

only additions I made were a couple of extra live rocks after it started cycling (when I thought it was going to be minor!) these were cured live rocks from my lfs and I was hoping the added bb in the rocks would help. I also added a cannister filter to go with the existing sponge filter

I hope it comes together eventually - marine tanks look so pretty.....
 
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