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bdereefer91

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Good Evening,

My "Lazarus" Tank has been set up for a little over two weeks. Tonight, I took my first reading of Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates and was surprised to see the readings already at 0 ppms across all three. Tests were done with the basic API Test Kits.

Other than a small piece of live rock put in the sump, I decided to use new dry rock and substrate when setting up. Tank was filled and 80 gallons equivalent of FritzZyme (whatever is required for 80+ gallons of water) was added on 7/16/17. The set-up has run skimmerless since the start. Should the skimmer be turned on now? Yes, there is a media reactor in the sump but it does not have anything in it at this time.

Could my tank actually be ready to begin stocking? I have been adding a little bit of coral food about every two days since the beginning of the second week. I was going to continue to test and do that until after MACNA and then begin stocking. If the tank is ready, any reason why I cannot start stocking with easier corals and invertebrates instead of fish?

My philosophy with marine tanks is like the tortoise from the Tortoise and the Hare, "Slow and steady, wins the race". Hasn't always been that way and had to learn that lesson a couple of times the hard way. A few pictures have been included because each starting thread post should always have some pictures.

BTW, yes, I did check the expiration date on my test kits.

Thanks,
Braedon

FTS.jpg Test Results.jpg FTS2.jpg
 

webster1234

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Did you ever get an ammonia reading? If you never got an initial spike that then went to zero, then the tank probably hasn't cycled. But if you added some really good bacteria in the beginning, its possible that the cycle was very small. I start all of my tanks with dry rock and a product called SmartStart and never get a cycle, so it is possible.

If you start stocking, just go slow. One or two fish and wait a bit, checking ammonia just to be sure. I would add fish before I add inverts. Fish are more hardy. Inverts can be sensitive. I wouldn't add corals for 3 months or so. Corals require a more stable environment and even if your tank is "cycled," it doesn't mean its stable yet. Just go slow and you will be fine. If ammonia starts to go up, just do some water changes to bring it back down. And yes, turn the skimmer on now.
 
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At three weeks, and all reading zero, i'd be willing to bet you are in the valley between the nitrite and nitrate portion of the cycle. I'd keep an eye on it over the next 3-5 days and see what the nitrates do because you are likely going to see it spike up. Once it does then you can do your first big water change and start adding inverts like hermits and snails. Then give it another week or two keeping a close eye on the levels and then start adding fish. At the month mark after adding fish you can get away with a toadstool or other soft or leather coral, just be sure to keep up with the water chemistry and regular water changes. You will battle Diatoms and cyano once the lights go on but the diatoms will look bad but they are harmless. They are feasting on the silicates in the tank, and will die off once they have consumed their fill. Cyano will also likely develop around the same time as will GHA (green hair algae) reducing nitrates and phosphates via water changes and gfo will help the underlying issues causing the blooms. Once all is inline and the rock is well seasoned (about 4-6 months) everything just kinda clicks into place and the tank will finally stabilize and you can go more than a day or two having to test and adjust something.

Oh, make sure to log your test results so you can track it and identify trends in your parameters before they become an issue.
 
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bdereefer91

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Appreciate the responses.

Will turn on the skimmer now, test again tomorrow, and begin to track the results.

Should I throw in the phosphorus guard now? Use the Poly-Filters made by Poly-Bio-Marine Inc.

Finally, is there any reason to begin 2-step dosing for Alk and Calc without any corals? I have read places that I should start and I have read places that I should wait.
 

Bigfishy

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No reason 2 does two part until you have corals consuming calcium and alk.


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