Is it Time.........................?

[Martin Cox]

Lee, I got a book like you advised, Ive read a lot of information, but I still miss the interaction and discussions with people that I got on here.
Its been a week of rest I have given you but I decided to come back, books just dont do it for me!!

Right so I am thinking I might be about ready, but Im still not sure!!

Since my last post I have made a few changes and what not but so far all is great I think!!

I have had my external filter running and its great, this has meant that i can take my internal filter which if nothing else frees up a bit of swim space for my new family! I have also gone with the Black background as suggested and Im happy with this!! Thanks for that Original Fin

I also added a bit of colour and a nightime blue LED light bar that comes on fir a few hours at night and it looks pretty cool.

So this is where Im at,

Tank has been set-up now for 6 weeks, with cured live rock since day one, two powerheads are pumping, external filter is externaling, everything seems to be ticking over nicely.

I have been testing for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels every few days and these are the results:

25/06 PH = 8.0, Ammonia = 0.25ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = 20ppm
01/07 PH = 8.0, Ammonia = 0.25ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = 10ppm
07/07 PH = 8.0, Ammonia = 0.50ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = 20ppm
09/07 PH = 8.0, Ammonia = 0.25ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = 20ppm
14/07 PH = 8.0, Ammonia = 0.25ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = 10ppm

What does this tell you?

Do I need to keep on waiting for spikes?

Should I add anything? I read about a bit of food every other day?

Am I ready to introduce anything? Clean Up Crew etc?

Or am I still on the waiting game?

You know what its like, I just want to make sure and have a chat with someone, I miss it

[Reefing Madness]

Your still waiting. Your Ammonia and Trites have to be 0 in order for your cycle to be complete. Your Trite test seems be be messed up, you never got a reading on those. Trates eat Trites. Hmm. No clean up crew yet. When you see 0 Amm and 0 Trites, do the ITS TIME FOR FISH JIG. Your Trates can be around 20 or under for you to add A FISH. Not many fish, A FISH. One at a time so you don't throw your tank into another cycle. No need to feed the tank at this point because you have some numbers going on there. Weird numbers, but you have some. Especially after 6 weeks, thos Amm #'s should be lower.

[chrisfont23]

You are still probably still cycling. Is there anything in your water, rock etc., that might be giving off trace amounts of Ammonia? Do you test the water you are putting into the tank before putting into the tank? Also... the fish thing. I guess it's personal preference, but after the cycle I usually recommend waiting about 2 weeks to make sure everything shakes out right...so think of it as a "cycle integration period"

[Martin Cox]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I'm a little worried............ I am always stringent with my tests, I take my time and care when doing them so that I always get accurate fair results.

Chris, I have had live rock in there since day one, there are bits of growth on it, even some coral seems to be growing off it, I also had a small stoma snail that shipped itself in on the live rock, could this account for the problem?

I'm in no rush to get anything in the tank I just wanted a bit of reassurance of where I was at.

Should I be doing anything (water change etc) or just keep on testing until I'm at 0 0 ?

[Reefing Madness]

You can do a normal water change, the beneficials are all over the tank. you rjust waiting for enough of them to sustain the Params. Ammonia is the worst thing you can have in the tank with life forms, ie CUC. Water changes with RO water?? If not, what are your params with the water your using?

[muttley000]

I'm a little worried............ I am always stringent with my tests, I take my time and care when doing them so that I always get accurate fair results.

If you want some reassurance, take a water sample to the LFS and let them check it. Nothing wrong with checking the checker! I personally would not do the water change, let the bacteria do the work! If ammonia were to be over 2, or your trates get over 40, then I would do a 20% change.

[leebca]

Sorry Martin. I'm traveling and somehow your post 'slipped by' me.

I have a sticky post that gives guidance on starting up a FOWLR system. I hope you are following that. That will tell you when to introduce clean up crew, and then live stock. It also recommends when you start testing the water for alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium to bring those three into BALANCE.

I'd rather not risk helping you out without knowing for sure where exactly you are in that post's guidance because I'm afraid I may miss some detail. The details are all there. If you have a specific question about anything in that post, I'd be happy to elaborate on it. Also, if you go to the post and make sure you've followed along doing everything suggested there, then I can 'pick up' from that point if you have questions or need further help.

Who in general are you getting advice from? It makes a big difference. Hope you have chosen an experienced friend, club, or reliable LFS. Always check out their suggestions with experts! I like it's appearance in general.

Good luck!

[chrisfont23]

Chris, I have had live rock in there since day one, there are bits of growth on it, even some coral seems to be growing off it, I also had a small stoma snail that shipped itself in on the live rock, could this account for the problem?

I don't think so. I would follow Reefing Madness' advice. Get a second opinion on your params. Is something dead? Possibly the sand bed contributing? How deep is it?