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Dr. Tims "one and only" version 2 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jasonc
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TiAg
Guest
Since a couple of you guys have "figured" out the directions for this stuff can you post up exactly the steps you took on each day so nothing gets lost in translation? When I get my 210 later this year I'm going to need to try this myself. Would be nice to have a really clear reference. Big congrats and thanks for the thread, this sounds really cool.
fredG
Guest
This and can we get an update? Are your fish still alive? lol
OP
OP
Jasonc
Guest
Totally forgot to update....sorry guys!
I'll get the "instructions" posted up a little later - gotta run for the moment.
But yes, fish are fine
I'll get the "instructions" posted up a little later - gotta run for the moment.
But yes, fish are fine
TiAg
Guest
Nice good job Jason. Are you going to keep monitoring to see if you get another cycle?
OP
OP
Jasonc
Guest
OK - here's how I interpreted the directions and completed my cycle. Funny thing is, Dr. Tim told me I still did it wrong and could have added more ammonia sooner. Why can't this guy get decent directions out??? Anyway, here is what worked for me:
Day 1: Calculate your water volume (tank/sump minus rock/sand). For my 180 with 60 gallon sump I estimated 140 gallons for the tank ( 100 lbs of eco-rock and a 4" sand bed) and and I have an operating sump volume of 40 gallons for a total of 180 gallons. I probably have more water volume but I would definitely go easy on the ammonia. You are shooting for 2 PPM in your system. So test until you get to 2 PPM or just guesstimate it. The ammonia supplied by Dr. Tims says 1 drop per gallon or 1 ML per 20 gallons will bring you to 2 PPM.
I turned off my skimmer, dosed 8 ML of ammonia, shook the bottle and added the contents to the tank.
Day 2: Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and record. If you have nitrate - don't test again until your cycle is done; you just want to see if it's there for peace of mind that your cycle is on the right track. If you see nitrate that means the bacteria that convert nitrite to nitrate are there and that's all that matters. Otherwise, your just burning up tests that are probably false high readings. Add a HALF DOSE of ammonia - I dosed 4 ML
48 hours after adding bacteria - turn your skimmer back on. It's a great time to break in the skimmer while nothing is in there and all the bacteria have had time to settle (contrary to popular belief the bacteria in our systems are not in the water; their on hard surfaces [sand/rock/glass etc])
Day 3: Test and record ammonia and nitrite.
Day 4: Test and record ammonia and nitrite
Keep this up until you have 0 on ammonia and nitrite. Once you hit 0 on ammonia and nitrite add another FULL DOSE. Once this processes (24-48 hours) you are good to go! Here's the best thing....ADD FISH AND CORALS!
I added soft corals the day after I cycled and have not lost a single item. I added fish, crabs, snails and shrimp 2 days after the cycle and have not lost any of those items either. No signs of stress...nothing.
So far in the 180 I have all my LPS and softies - a labouti wrasse, a hooded wrasse, a pair of swallowtail angels and a small sailfin tang. All are doing great! I move in the rest of my crew this weekend (borbonius, royal gramma and chalk bass).
Day 1: Calculate your water volume (tank/sump minus rock/sand). For my 180 with 60 gallon sump I estimated 140 gallons for the tank ( 100 lbs of eco-rock and a 4" sand bed) and and I have an operating sump volume of 40 gallons for a total of 180 gallons. I probably have more water volume but I would definitely go easy on the ammonia. You are shooting for 2 PPM in your system. So test until you get to 2 PPM or just guesstimate it. The ammonia supplied by Dr. Tims says 1 drop per gallon or 1 ML per 20 gallons will bring you to 2 PPM.
I turned off my skimmer, dosed 8 ML of ammonia, shook the bottle and added the contents to the tank.
Day 2: Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and record. If you have nitrate - don't test again until your cycle is done; you just want to see if it's there for peace of mind that your cycle is on the right track. If you see nitrate that means the bacteria that convert nitrite to nitrate are there and that's all that matters. Otherwise, your just burning up tests that are probably false high readings. Add a HALF DOSE of ammonia - I dosed 4 ML
48 hours after adding bacteria - turn your skimmer back on. It's a great time to break in the skimmer while nothing is in there and all the bacteria have had time to settle (contrary to popular belief the bacteria in our systems are not in the water; their on hard surfaces [sand/rock/glass etc])
Day 3: Test and record ammonia and nitrite.
Day 4: Test and record ammonia and nitrite
Keep this up until you have 0 on ammonia and nitrite. Once you hit 0 on ammonia and nitrite add another FULL DOSE. Once this processes (24-48 hours) you are good to go! Here's the best thing....ADD FISH AND CORALS!
I added soft corals the day after I cycled and have not lost a single item. I added fish, crabs, snails and shrimp 2 days after the cycle and have not lost any of those items either. No signs of stress...nothing.
So far in the 180 I have all my LPS and softies - a labouti wrasse, a hooded wrasse, a pair of swallowtail angels and a small sailfin tang. All are doing great! I move in the rest of my crew this weekend (borbonius, royal gramma and chalk bass).
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OP
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Jasonc
Guest
I will once I put in the rock from the cube. I don't know what I'd do about it if I did see a blip but it'd be nice to know. That's the only thing that scares me about moving the old tank into the new one - I don't want to loose my stonies!
fredG
Guest
I second!
TiAg
Guest
I have a big bottle of stability next to my tank just so I can sleep at night
Thats awesome. Thanks for the directions.
OP
OP
Jasonc
Guest
I have a big bottle of stability next to my tank just so I can sleep at night
Hilarious! I do the same thing! Since the tank is so new and I have 5 fish in I am dosing stability at 5ml per 20 gallons every day. Better safe than sorry....
OP
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Jasonc
Guest
Quick update -
Moved all my stonies and LR from old system on Friday evening. I also added about 6 cups of sand from the old system to help seed the new system with sand critters. With all this new livestock/LR added I got zero bump on any of the levels and my nitrates are hovering around 5ppm.
I am adding 10 caps of stability after I add things. Not sure if this is helping with spikes but as mentioned - better safe than sorry
Fish load (so far) - borbonius anthias, pair of genicanthus melanospilos, hooded and labouti wrasse, royal gramma, chalk bass and a small sailfin tang.
Moved all my stonies and LR from old system on Friday evening. I also added about 6 cups of sand from the old system to help seed the new system with sand critters. With all this new livestock/LR added I got zero bump on any of the levels and my nitrates are hovering around 5ppm.
I am adding 10 caps of stability after I add things. Not sure if this is helping with spikes but as mentioned - better safe than sorry
Fish load (so far) - borbonius anthias, pair of genicanthus melanospilos, hooded and labouti wrasse, royal gramma, chalk bass and a small sailfin tang.
Mark L.
Moved On
Nice results! I may have to give this a try when I set up my new tank.
Hooded and labouti wrasse, nice. Nice write up this will help a lot of people. Sold me
Mark L.
Moved On
I just ordered my "One and Only" today and it made me think of this thread. I created a new thread and added Jasonc's writeup in the first post and made it a sticky so everyone could find it easier. Hope that helps and thanks again Jason for the awesome writeup!
below radar
Guest
Mark, where did you get yours from? I'll be ordering and using this.
Mark L.
Moved On
I bought it right from his website..... http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/
Although I may need to buy another small bottle. My tank is 240 gallons (96x24x24) and the 16oz. bottle treats exactly 240 gallons. I didn't think about my actual volume including the sump. I'm going to put my sand in and aquascape then fill with water to see what my actual volume is. If I do indeed go over the 240 gallons which I'm sure I will then I'll grab another bottle before starting my cycle.
Although I may need to buy another small bottle. My tank is 240 gallons (96x24x24) and the 16oz. bottle treats exactly 240 gallons. I didn't think about my actual volume including the sump. I'm going to put my sand in and aquascape then fill with water to see what my actual volume is. If I do indeed go over the 240 gallons which I'm sure I will then I'll grab another bottle before starting my cycle.
below radar
Guest
10-4...
below radar
Guest
Mark, did you buy the saltwater one or the reef? Neither Kelly or Jason documented which one they bought. I'm assuming it was the "reef" version.
OP
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Jasonc
Guest
For the record - I used the reef version.
No problem Mark. I hope everyone finds it useful. I don't think I'd start another tank without it. Why wait all that time when you can condense the whole month long event into a 7-10 day process. To this day I have had zero problems with my cycle or anything that could even be remotely linked to it.
No problem Mark. I hope everyone finds it useful. I don't think I'd start another tank without it. Why wait all that time when you can condense the whole month long event into a 7-10 day process. To this day I have had zero problems with my cycle or anything that could even be remotely linked to it.
