Started Cycling and crystal clear water?

[itzchrissmeng]

you really need to be testing your water.

True that! Will be adding the api master kit. I didn't pick up anything still since I went to the dodgers game today. WC again later during the week.
From your experience though canuck would you say that I am now fully cycled even without having to test it?

 

[johnson5585]

There are too many variables in the nitrogen cycle to just say it is cycled due to the amount of time. You need to check to see if there is any traces of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Plus you need to know how large your bacteria colony is and if it can keep up with the bio load of livestock (This is why you add one fish at a time with a two week period between). It gives time for the colony to grow to accommodate the larger bio load. You should first check ammonia if there is none then check nitrites. If there is no nitrites then check to see where your nitrates are. If your nitrate level is high then your tank is going through the cycle.
Then you need to see how quickly it goes though it. You can get the ammonia level to show high (around 2 PPM), then see how quickly it goes away. If it is taking your tank a couple of days to fully remove the ammonia and then the nitrites then you need to build more bacteria. IMHO. I would buy a test kit or at least an Ammonia and a Nitrite kit before doing anything else.

 

[itzchrissmeng]

There are too many variables in the nitrogen cycle to just say it is cycled due to the amount of time. You need to check to see if there is any traces of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Plus you need to know how large your bacteria colony is and if it can keep up with the bio load of livestock (This is why you add one fish at a time with a two week period between). It gives time for the colony to grow to accommodate the larger bio load. You should first check ammonia if there is none then check nitrites. If there is no nitrites then check to see where your nitrates are. If your nitrate level is high then your tank is going through the cycle.
Then you need to see how quickly it goes though it. You can get the ammonia level to show high (around 2 PPM), then see how quickly it goes away. If it is taking your tank a couple of days to fully remove the ammonia and then the nitrites then you need to build more bacteria. IMHO. I would buy a test kit or at least an Ammonia and a Nitrite kit before doing anything else.

I just bought a test kit and it turns out I have 0 ammonia but I still have some traces of nitrates and nitrites. About 25ppm of nitrates 0-.3ppm of nitrites
My alkalinity is at 300 and my ph is at 8.4. Salt levels are at 1.022ppm specific gravity is just under 30.

 

[TheCanuck]

I just bought a test kit and it turns out I have 0 ammonia but I still have some traces of nitrates and nitrites. About 25ppm of nitrates 0-.3ppm of nitrites
My alkalinity is at 300 and my ph is at 8.4. Salt levels are at 1.022ppm specific gravity is just under 30.

all sounds good. Maybe adding a little more bio would help bring those last bit of trites down. Some more live rock or some ceramics, just more bio media. You could add some smaller fish now, make sure they are hardy though. Clown fish, damsels, gobies. Feed lightly, and keep up with testing now

 

[itzchrissmeng]

all sounds good. Maybe adding a little more bio would help bring those last bit of trites down. Some more live rock or some ceramics, just more bio media. You could add some smaller fish now, make sure they are hardy though. Clown fish, damsels, gobies. Feed lightly, and keep up with testing now

Will do! Thanks for all the help and advice. Still looking for more spots to find good deals on LRs here in socal but turning out dry.
On a side note from all this I got one of my good friends into the hobby and he wants to start a freshwater angelfish breeding project after looking in my plans for my fowler and my goals to reach a good breeding project as well.

Are all of you going to be able to make it to the mfk meet in august?

 

[TheCanuck]

Will do! Thanks for all the help and advice. Still looking for more spots to find good deals on LRs here in socal but turning out dry.
On a side note from all this I got one of my good friends into the hobby and he wants to start a freshwater angelfish breeding project after looking in my plans for my fowler and my goals to reach a good breeding project as well.

Are all of you going to be able to make it to the mfk meet in august?

I have not even heard of a meet.. but i am in texas anyways. What kind of filtration are you using? Also do you plan on getting a skimmer?

 

[itzchrissmeng]

I have not even heard of a meet.. but i am in texas anyways. What kind of filtration are you using? Also do you plan on getting a skimmer?

my tank came with a tetra whisper 40. I actually just built my own protein skimmer. using a counter-current design that will have a pump to push water through. im looking for another 10 or 20gallon tank to use as my refugium.

 

[TheCanuck]

my tank came with a tetra whisper 40. I actually just built my own protein skimmer. using a counter-current design that will have a pump to push water through. im looking for another 10 or 20gallon tank to use as my refugium.

good cause the tetra wisper is no good. HOB filters are okay but only emperors or aqua clears.

 

[itzchrissmeng]

good cause the tetra wisper is no good. HOB filters are okay but only emperors or aqua clears.

I agree with that! bio wheels are the way to go if youre using a hob filter. I was also interested in a canister if i couldnt find anyone on craigslist to muster up another free 10gal but that would be my worst case senario cause i know plenty of rocks, a good skimmer, would be plenty of filtration if there is enough water movement.