I'm sure you guys get this question a lot, but I'm new, and read all I can find!
So I was donated a little 10 gallon aquarium, so I figured, I'd make a little saltwater aquarium with not too much stuff in it.
I bought 10 lbs live sand, and 3.5-4 lbs of live rock. Kept the aquarium at 80 degrees, and have a little filter that hangs off the back (Circulating quite a lot I think), and some lights, which I pretty much leave off for the time being.
I also have about 5 hermit crabs in there, some tube worms living on the live rock, and some bristleworms (I believe?) that pop out every so often. Long ugly things. And a tiny little starfish.
But it's been 3-4 weeks, and everything is still reading zero! Salinity is good, PH is good, but no ammonia, no nitrates or nitrites.
I figured with that much live stuff going on, it would have at least started cycling by now? What am I missing?
Finally, when it does cycle, is all the livestock on the live rocks going to be killed off/
Thanks!
So I was donated a little 10 gallon aquarium, so I figured, I'd make a little saltwater aquarium with not too much stuff in it.
I bought 10 lbs live sand, and 3.5-4 lbs of live rock. Kept the aquarium at 80 degrees, and have a little filter that hangs off the back (Circulating quite a lot I think), and some lights, which I pretty much leave off for the time being.
I also have about 5 hermit crabs in there, some tube worms living on the live rock, and some bristleworms (I believe?) that pop out every so often. Long ugly things. And a tiny little starfish.
But it's been 3-4 weeks, and everything is still reading zero! Salinity is good, PH is good, but no ammonia, no nitrates or nitrites.
I figured with that much live stuff going on, it would have at least started cycling by now? What am I missing?
Finally, when it does cycle, is all the livestock on the live rocks going to be killed off/
Thanks!