So im definitely not rushing, just want to do everything right. I tested and then had my lfs test my water to double check. The results are Ammonia= 0ppm Nitrites= 0ppm Nitrates= 10 ppm and ph =8.1. Does this mean im on the last leg of the cycle? and what should i do when cycling completes? Also whats the best way to get the pH up closer to 8.4?

I waited a month after my params were at 0 to add livestock. I added my CUC first, waited a few weeks and added a couple of fish. I hope this helps.

So how you going to get a cycle started if nothing died in the first place?

Throw some ammonia in your tank and get it to 2-4 ppm. Then 4 days later you will start to see nitrites rise. Once nitrites start to fade, throw more ammonia into the tank. The 2nd time it falls, your nitrites will also fall at which time nitrates should be 20-50 ppm. Once the nitrates fall down to 5 ppm you can think about CUC. You should have had a diatom bloom around then.

ive started the cycle already right? i have LR and LS. Im saying ive already had ammonia and nitrites but now they are gone. So just wait for nitrites to get to 0ppm and put in the CUC?

never heard of anyone using that method. sounds like it would work but probably not neccessary. Depending on the the state you got the rock in cycles can sometimes be faster than expected.

This is horrible advise.


You tank will cycle naturally - no need to throw amonia / dead shrimp or urin in it.

Just take your time and continue to monitor your peramiters. Your tank will develop the benficial bacteria it needs to handle bio waste naturally and you be better off for it.

+1 to crappy advice, let nature do it's thing

alright sounds good. Thanks for all the help guys

Perfect advice for a fishless cycle. Look it up.

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Fishless-Cycle

so many noobs around here you have to be careful

Why 8.4?

8.0 to 8.2 is just fine.

his cycle is on it's way already, numb nuts

"ive already had ammonia and nitrites but now they are gone"

That is how the old fish-only tanks were set up back in the 80s.

This site is Nano REEF. com. For reef systems, which are small. People here use live rock and live sand for their biological filtration.
The live rock has everything you need on it to start a fishless cycle.

Your way use to work when people used underground filters and had little bubble treasure chests in their tanks. The idea of sticking dirty smelly ocean rock with dead stuff on it into their tanks was anathema to them back then. They had bleached white or stained pink coral skeletons in their tanks instead with bubble wands. And plastic plants and little plastic scuba divers.

Okay thank you. For some reason i was thinking 8.4 was desired. Ill leave it alone then. Time for more waiting

LOL... was that your source? Really? That's funny.




Keep in mind that while you cycle your peramiters are all going to fluxuate - just make sure your temps and salinity are stable and let the rest fluxuate. As your cycle progresses your peramiters will level out and give you a better indication of where you are.

Good luck.

alright soo whats the target range for the temperature??

+1

The slower you go at this the better your tank will be and the more you will appreciate it. Go really slow and you will reduce the amount of bad things that can happen. While you are going slow read, read, read and then read some more. Before you buy something know everything about it, and dont buy something at the LFS that looks cool without knowing how to care for it or if it will work with the other living things in your tank.
What you are doing is perfect just keeping go slow and have fun.

Use this as a guide to all reef aquarium parameters:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Thank you guys for the help. it really amazes me at how much some people here are willing to help. Thank you again. Ill keep everyone updated in my 10 g tank thread.