My first reef tank, 110 Gallons!

NanoNana · Jul 9, 2024

Do you know how much to add to get to 2 ppm?
Day 10 now you should have nitrates. I’m not sure why you didn’t have them day 8 tbh.

Did you use bottled bacteria or wet live rock?

vcnt · Jul 9, 2024

NanoNana said:
Do you know how much to add to get to 2 ppm?
Day 10 now you should have nitrates. I’m not sure why you didn’t have them day 8 tbh.

Did you use bottled bacteria or wet live rock?

frit zyme 9 and dried up rock that previous was in a tank and yeah lfs lady said 110 drops for 2ppm and i hit 2ppm

NanoNana · Jul 9, 2024

Zero ammonia and big nitrate usually signals cycled. I dosed mine again to 2 ppm just to be sure it would clear fast because it made me feel better.

Then I had surgery so the tank had to cook empty because my right arm was immobilized for 6 weeks. Lol. So I had a well cycled tank. Lol

vcnt · Jul 9, 2024

NanoNana said:
Zero ammonia and big nitrate usually signals cycled. I dosed mine again to 2 ppm just to be sure it would clear fast because it made me feel better.

Then I had surgery so the tank had to cook empty because my right arm was immobilized for 6 weeks. Lol. So I had a well cycled tank. Lol

I dont think i have nitrate

NanoNana · Jul 9, 2024

Unless you got a bad batch of Fritz turbo, you have to have nitrates. Yes, nitrites can make them look artificially off the chain but nitrates have to be present for the ammonia to clear.
You’re showing zero ammonia. Add 2 ppm and check ammonia again in 12 hours. If it’s dropping quickly or gone, you have nitrifying bacteria established.

If you really have zero nitrates, your bacteria was bad and you’ll have to add more.

vcnt · Jul 9, 2024

NanoNana said:
Unless you got a bad batch of Fritz turbo, you have to have nitrates. Yes, nitrites can make them look artificially off the chain but nitrates have to be present for the ammonia to clear.
You’re showing zero ammonia. Add 2 ppm and check ammonia again in 12 hours. If it’s dropping quickly or gone, you have nitrifying bacteria established.

If you really have zero nitrates, your bacteria was bad and you’ll have to add more.

When I get home i think ill add ammonia and check in the morning, if its bad results you say i need another bottle?

NanoNana · Jul 9, 2024

You’re over ten days right? If ammonia clears in 24 you’re good. If it doesn’t or drops only slightly, then I'd have LFS test nitrates. If zero nitrates it’s likely a bad bottle of bacteria.

Cycle time with bottled bacteria can take over two weeks to cycle but you should have nitrate activity by now. If your LFS confirms the presence of nitrate, even if you don’t clear the ammonia, don’t add more bacteria, just watch ammonia and wait for the cycle to finish.
I suspect you’re cycled tho.

vcnt · Jul 9, 2024

NanoNana said:
You’re over ten days right? If ammonia clears in 24 you’re good. If it doesn’t or drops only slightly, then I'd have LFS test nitrates. If zero nitrates it’s likely a bad bottle of bacteria.

Cycle time with bottled bacteria can take over two weeks to cycle but you should have nitrate activity by now. If your LFS confirms the presence of nitrate, even if you don’t clear the ammonia, don’t add more bacteria, just watch ammonia and wait for the cycle to finish.
I suspect you’re cycled tho.

I just added about ammonia probably brining it to around 2 ppm

NanoNana · Jul 9, 2024

LFS showing no nitrates is odd. Like I said, I think you’re cycled but it would stink to find out you’re not by coming home to a floating fish.
Fingers crossed you wake up to zero ammonia!

vcnt · Jul 10, 2024

NanoNana said:
LFS showing no nitrates is odd. Like I said, I think you’re cycled but it would stink to find out you’re not by coming home to a floating fish.
Fingers crossed you wake up to zero ammonia!

Good news! Its hitting the .25/0

NanoNana · Jul 10, 2024

vcnt said:
Good news! Its hitting the .25/0

YES! I would trust that you have nitrates. Nitrites are going to vanish and stop affecting your at home test. Most ppl do about a 20% water change (some do 10, some do 50 depending on how high the nitrates are) and start adding livestock.
I added a gorgonian before I added fish cuz I had the surgery thing going on and knew the gorgonian could stand waiting for water changes.

vcnt · Jul 10, 2024

NanoNana said:
YES! I would trust that you have nitrates. Nitrites are going to vanish and stop affecting your at home test. Most ppl do about a 20% water change (some do 10, some do 50 depending on how high the nitrates are) and start adding livestock.
I added a gorgonian before I added fish cuz I had the surgery thing going on and knew the gorgonian could stand waiting for water changes.

im about to do a nitrite nitrate test, maybe ill get another lfs test