TESTING NEW TANK CONDITIONS
- Thread starter Schmitty
- Start date
Schmitty
Supporting Member
So once all the levels are where they are supposed to be, does that mean that the tanks stable or could they spike again... Ive heard everything from 2-6 weeks cycle wise. The guy at the store told me since I was using live sand and cured live rocks it might be done soon
kinetic
Supporting Member
[quote author=Schmitty link=topic=2975.msg31921#msg31921 date=1202335692]
So once all the levels are where they are supposed to be, does that mean that the tanks stable or could they spike again... Ive heard everything from 2-6 weeks cycle wise. The guy at the store told me since I was using live sand and cured live rocks it might be done soon
[/quote]
If you can, get a hold of some pure ammonia or ammonia chloride and dose 3-8ppm. If your ammonia drops to undetectable (using pretty accurate test kits) within 12 hours or so, AND your nitrites do the same, then you're cycle is ready. That's really the for sure way to know. If not, I'd dose 3-8ppm of ammonia daily until you can bring the levels down fast enough.
I say 3-8 because 3 is a low bioload, so if you just put in a few small fishes at first or something, it'd slowly build up. 8 would be pushing it as if you had a fully stocked tank already.
I dosed 8ppm daily for the first few months, then slowed to 8ppm every other day.
Remember to do a pretty big water change when you're done to get rid of your nitrates unless you have some great nitrate export (macro algae, RDSB, etc).
So once all the levels are where they are supposed to be, does that mean that the tanks stable or could they spike again... Ive heard everything from 2-6 weeks cycle wise. The guy at the store told me since I was using live sand and cured live rocks it might be done soon
[/quote]
If you can, get a hold of some pure ammonia or ammonia chloride and dose 3-8ppm. If your ammonia drops to undetectable (using pretty accurate test kits) within 12 hours or so, AND your nitrites do the same, then you're cycle is ready. That's really the for sure way to know. If not, I'd dose 3-8ppm of ammonia daily until you can bring the levels down fast enough.
I say 3-8 because 3 is a low bioload, so if you just put in a few small fishes at first or something, it'd slowly build up. 8 would be pushing it as if you had a fully stocked tank already.
I dosed 8ppm daily for the first few months, then slowed to 8ppm every other day.
Remember to do a pretty big water change when you're done to get rid of your nitrates unless you have some great nitrate export (macro algae, RDSB, etc).
kinetic
Supporting Member
[quote author=iani link=topic=2975.msg31934#msg31934 date=1202339262]
You do test hardness. kH (or alk) is one part of it. The other part gH consists of magnesium and calcium. So you test the elements that determine gH separately.
[/quote]
wow you're a genius!
that's good info though
You do test hardness. kH (or alk) is one part of it. The other part gH consists of magnesium and calcium. So you test the elements that determine gH separately.
[/quote]
wow you're a genius!
that's good info though