new tank (1 Viewer)

[newtankguy]

so i started my tank yesterday. put live rock in it that has been curing for 2 weeks, i also used natures ocean live sand from petco. i can see amphipods and copepods running around already. i tested the water tonight and it read .25 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 7.4 ph. its an api test kit. my question is if .25 is enough ammonia to get a cycle started? or do i need to add a shrimp or something? also in the morning i noticed bubbles on my liverock and read that live rock could be turning the nitrates to n2 gas?My best guess was that its too early to know if its cycling yet or not.

 

[TiAg]

WAYYYYYYY too early If you're going to do a natural cycle I'd toss in a dead shrimp and feed it a pinch of food every day for a couple weeks.

If you are going to use a bottled bacteria to kickstart/speed up things you'll need to get ammonia chloride as well since most all of them require you to raise your ammonia to 2ppm-5ppm depending on the MFG. I'd use one that's a refrigerated (truly live) bacteria like Turbostart from Fritz or Dr. Tims. Just make sure the expiration date is still good and don't panic like I did

If you're going to kick it old school, since you started with live sand, your cycle will probably take around 4 weeks. Just keep testing it every day or two and you'll see your numbers start to move around.

 

[newtankguy]

yeah i figured it was too early. i dropped a piece of shrimp in there right now. i have nothing but time so i guess ill just let it rott and keep testing.

 

[TiAg]

Bunch of good guys and reefers out there in Katy so you'll have a network before long.

 

[newtankguy]

Yeah I will be needing some Coulerpa or chaeto In a few weeks haha.