Cycle
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=81768
Printed Date: April 27 2024 at 10:17pm
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Topic: Cycle
Posted By: chuckfu5
Subject: Cycle
Date Posted: January 16 2017 at 7:40pm
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How long can I expect my nitrite levels to remain high during my cycle? I put water in Dec 26. Amonnia is at .5 and Nitrites are at 2. I've had a bout of brown diatoms and are now going through some green algae....not hair. Just wondering how much longer to expect. |
Replies:
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 16 2017 at 8:07pm
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8 weeks is standard but depending on what type of rock, sand and Macroalgae were used in setup it could be more or less than the standard. I have been advising for a few years how to set up a tank so that it doesn't have to go through the dreaded "cycle", so it can have animals within a week of setup. Read about it in the thread referred in my signature line below. There are hobbyists in this group that, like me, provide live stuff for this purpose to other hobbyists. I'm sure there are some in Ogden. Just ask here or give me a call/text and come get some from me. I give it away for free to hobbyists starting up a new tank. Aloha, Mark  808-345-1049
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: January 16 2017 at 8:28pm
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Did you put anything ( food, Shrimp etc) in the tank top start the cycle off? Are you currently feeding anything to the tank? General rule is that diatoms and green algae come once the cycle is nearly complete and there is generally tiny or no ammonia level. Have you tried another test kit or taken your water to a store to have it tested? ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: January 17 2017 at 1:09am
| Yea, depending on how you started, it could take a week to a month or more. Just keep testing and once ammonia and nitrite levels start to go to zero, you should be there. |
Posted By: chuckfu5
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 7:22pm
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0 across the board Nitrates at 10! I don't see a need to do a water change.....anyone disagree? I did 5 gallons last Saturday to try to help the cycle move along. |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 8:06pm
| depends on what else is in there. Check all your levels including phosphates. If it seems off, then do one. But it never hurts to add some fresh water in, just not 100%. |
Posted By: evan127
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 8:40pm
| I'd love NO3 at 10ppm! I agree with Phys. Check your phosphate to make sure its in an acceptable range and that you have more nitrogen than phosphorus. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 8:50pm
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Nitrate level of 10 ppm is very acceptable. Assuming ammonia and nitrite are also low. Not knowing what the tank was like or how it was maintained before you bought it, its impossible to say that PO4 needs attention. It certainly could run well for a long time, if there is Macroalgae in it eating up Nitrogen and Phosphate pollution. The addition of snails, a few hermits and some soft coral can be done now without worry. Aloha, Mark ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: chuckfu5
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 9:11pm
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Mark, The tank is brand new. It is an EVO 13.5 gallon all in one. I have a sand bed of about 3 inches which I used " love sand in a bag ". I'm running the PS2 Fluval skimmer with a large clump of Chaeto algae. I'll check phosphates tomorrow. |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: January 19 2017 at 11:18pm
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I try to have some easy stuff and watch for it doing well. For me, it takes the guess work out. I want it to be ready, I test it and it seems ready, but until I see some macro algae growing well, it is not ready. And then, if easy macro grows, it might be ready for snails and a few crabs. Maybe an odd question, but how does it smell? |
Posted By: chuckfu5
Date Posted: January 20 2017 at 5:51pm
| Fishy |
Posted By: chuckfu5
Date Posted: January 20 2017 at 8:05pm
| Phosphates are 0.....thanks everyone! |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: January 29 2017 at 3:02pm
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Fishy means it's not ready, unless some scum is drying out on the edges and is the only cause of the smell. The beach smells because of everything dead out of the water. High tide smells cleaner than low tide. After the cycle is over, I notice a cleaner ocean smell. |