Cycled or stalled?

[samratm]

I have set up a marine tank for the past 30 days with the wavemaker and filtration running continuously, and I’ve been dosing bacteria(Stability, AF ProBio S, AF NP Pro, AF Bio S and Fritzzyme 9 Nitrifying bacteria) every other day. In between I used StartUp from Prodibio (3 BioDigest Start & 3 Stop Ammo Start), in the aquarium. Currently, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are all reading zero. Has my tank fully cycled? I’ve also added fish food three to four times during cycling. Still, all readings show zero, and the test was done with two different test kits.

I have used AF Bio Sand and AF Rock. My lights, skimmer, and UV lights are off. I have covered the tank with newspaper so that unwanted algae doesn't crop up, as the aquarium is near a door. Salinity is 35ppt, pH 8.3. The refugium slot in the tank is empty.

Aquarium history

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[PharmrJohn]

Adding fish food three to four times total in 30 days isn't gonna give the bacteria enough to eat. There needs to be some constant source of rot (for lack of a better term) for the bacteria to do its thing.....to eat and multiply. I'd start dosing ammonia to mo more than 2ppm in your tank. Higher numbers here can actually stall a cycle. But IMO, you've not been giving the cycle a chance to actually happen.

 

[Reef keeper 103]

UV lights what do you mean.

 

[samratm]

T

UV lights what do you mean.

To handle algae, it is switched off now.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Did you added any ammonia during cycling?

 

[samratm]

Did you added any ammonia during cycling?

I have been doing ghost feeding. Adding fish food to the aquarium

 

[sixty_reefer]

I have been doing ghost feeding. Adding fish food to the aquarium

It’s difficult to really know if ghost feeding has made the biological filter grew enough to be safe.
the only way to know if the tank has cycled would be by adding ammonium chloride and evaluate if it all gets transformed imo.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have been doing ghost feeding. Adding fish food to the aquarium

While people say ghost feeding works I have never seen any type of ammonia spike from just fish food at a start up. Nitrates and phosphates yes. While you should have plenty of bacteria I agree with @PharmrJohn and @sixty_reefer ammonia needs to be added. You will get some version of algae regardless once the lighting comes on. Proper husbandry will mitigate how ugly it gets and will be directly controlled by you. My recent tank never had a bad ugly stage. I mitigated it with cuc including pods of various types, corals, fish and good old fashioned husbandry practices.

 

[samratm]

It's been 1 month and 10 days & today morning, I did the Nitrate test but was unable to understand what the value is

It’s difficult to really know if ghost feeding has made the biological filter grew enough to be safe.
the only way to know if the tank has cycled would be by adding ammonium chloride and evaluate if it all gets transformed imo.

. Video attached.

 

[twentyleagues]

It's been 1 month and 10 days & today morning, I did the Nitrate test but was unable to understand what the value is


. Video attached.

I would say somewhere between 3-5.

 

[samratm]

While people say ghost feeding works I have never seen any type of ammonia spike from just fish food at a start up. Nitrates and phosphates yes. While you should have plenty of bacteria I agree with @PharmrJohn and @sixty_reefer ammonia needs to be added. You will get some version of algae regardless once the lighting comes on. Proper husbandry will mitigate how ugly it gets and will be directly controlled by you. My recent tank never had a bad ugly stage. I mitigated it with cuc including pods of various types, corals, fish and good old fashioned husbandry practices.

How much ammonia should I add now, I have Fishless fuel from Fritz Aquatics with me, tank volume 200L

 

[samratm]

I would say somewhere between 3-5.

Ok, thanks. I have been adding lot of various types of bacteria, you can check the timeline here (https://aquaticlog.com/showcase/dashboard?aquariumId=71360). Kindly advise.

 

[twentyleagues]

How much ammonia should I add now, I have Fishless fuel from Fritz Aquatics with me, tank volume 200L

I would add enough to take the tank up to 1.5-2ppm of ammonia. Then see how long it takes to get to 0 and show nitrite on a test. If its 24hrs or less you are cycled. if not then you are not cycled.

 

[samratm]

I would add enough to take the tank up to 1.5-2ppm of ammonia. Then see how long it takes to get to 0 and show nitrite on a test. If its 24hrs or less you are cycled. if not then you are not cycled.

Ok, will try today and will post progress here.

 

[sixty_reefer]

How much ammonia should I add now, I have Fishless fuel from Fritz Aquatics with me, tank volume 200L

10ml for 2 ppm

 

[twentyleagues]

Ok, thanks. I have been adding lot of various types of bacteria, you can check the timeline here (https://aquaticlog.com/showcase/dashboard?aquariumId=71360). Kindly advise.

The nitrate reading you are getting could be just the residual from whats in the food before break down.

 

[samratm]

The nitrate reading you are getting could be just the residual from whats in the food before break down.

ok. Will be adding ammonium chloride today, to see how tank behaves after 24hrs

 

[Lasse]

I do not think you need to add any ammonia in order to "verify" enough nitrification capability. It will only end up in a NO3 rise later on. If it was my aquarium I would add one (one) small and well feed fish (a clown as an example) and feed very little in the first 3 weeks. If you read this article - you´ll get another point of view how to start a saltwater tank. After 1 month - putting in all of these chemicals/products you listed + some ghost feeding - the system is adapted to your present NH3/NH4 production. If you add a fish (or whatever gill-breathing animal) you rise the NH3/NH4 production and need to give the nitrification bacteria time to grow enough in order to handle the new NH3/NH4 production. You managed this with the way you feed your fish. Just feed very sparsely in the beginning and the raised NH3/NH4 amount will adjust the nitrification bacteria biomass - just give them enough time to growth.

Sincerely Lasse