So i've started my cycle

[Jason04r]

Hi guys,

I started my cycle yesterday after changing my muggy water. My tank is a 55 gallon

Heres my reading:
Temperature: 77F
Salinity:1.022
PH: 8.0
Nitrit: 0mg/l (ppm)
Ammonium: 1,0mg/l (ppm)
Alkalinity: 10dKH

I've added a dead shrimp to the process and currently have 20KG of live rock. Water is getting alittle smelly.

Am i on the right track or is this something im missing or shouldn't be doing.

Thank you :)

Jay

 

[SarahSmile]

Sounds good. You don't have to leave the shrimp in there long, you just want to spike the ammonia to get the cycle started.

 

[Jason04r]

Thanks for that info , on my test sheet theres 1,0mg/l (ppm) and then the next is 3.0mg/ (ppm)

Should i wait until its at 3,0 before taking the shrimp out?

Thanks

 

[SarahSmile]

How long has the shrimp been in there?

 

[Jason04r]

Its been in there for about 1 day

 

[little_fish]

Na, you can take it out now

 

[Jason04r]

okay, out it comes.

I will reply in a couple of days with my results :)

Thanks

 

[Jason04r]

Okay,

Todays results:

Temperature: 77F
Salinity:1.022
PH: 8.0
Nitrite: 0.1 mg/l (ppm)
Nitrate: 10mg
Ammonium: 3.0mg/l (ppm)
Alkalinity: 10dKH

Ammonium has spiked but it guess its normal on the cycle. are my other results okay?

thanks

 

[little_fish]

Yep! Sounds fine!

 

[Jason04r]

Yay!

How long do you think before the tank will be fully cycled? im not looking to put anything in yet.

 

[little_fish]

Depends on how much live rock is also in there, but then every cycle is unique, some people its only a week, others as much as a month. But it gives you a great chance to research!

 

[Jason04r]

I currently have 20KG of live rock in my 55 gallon tank. I'm going down my lfs tomorrow to get another 20-30kg of live rock and a nice skimmer.I shall keep you updated.

Thanks for your help :)

 

[little_fish]

Do you know what brand of skimmer they are selling? Ive never seen a quality skimmer for sale at a lfs

 

[Jason04r]

He has a hang on reef octopus skimmer which im interested in. Issue is i dont have a sump.

Can you recommend any good hang on skimmers?

 

[little_fish]

reef octopus is actually a great brand, so you are fine :) however I would suggest comparing prices online. Usually the markup is so great I cant justify buying that stuff at my lfs. Be sure to get one rated for twice you system volume.

 

[Jason04r]

He is selling it second hand for 60 euros (88$) and new there 180 euros (242$)

Things are very expensive in Europe compared to US :)

Shall i go for it or not? He said its 2-3 months old.

 

[little_fish]

That is a great deal! I would get the used one personally

 

[Jason04r]

I shall update tomorrow after my trip :)

 

[Jason04r]

So i went to my lfs and picked up 10KG of live rock. The skimmer he had wasnt reef octopus so i didnt buy it.

This is going to sound totally stupid but i ordered 20KG of live rock from a online store. When it arrived i had a feeling its very small for 20KG but thought nothing of it because im new to the hobby and the rush to get the tank started. After bringing home my massive pieces of live rock (8KG) home i compared it to my other live rock to find they only sent me 1KG! I'm currently talking to them now to sort it out.

I cant believe i've so so stupid.

Anyways , Yesterdays Tests:

Temperature: 77F
Salinity:1.022
PH: 8.0
Nitrite: 0.3 mg/l (ppm)
Nitrate: 30mg
Ammonium: 2.0mg/l (ppm)
Alkalinity: 9dKH

My nitrate has shot up , I dont know if its because i stirred my sand bed when putting the new rock into my tank. Advice?

Thank you

 

[Waddi]

Wow, jeez hope they get that sorted out.
But it looks like your on track my friend!