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Roller coaster cycle


cal1319

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Iv had this tank up for more then a month and added two clowns and few snails and mushrooms to the tank when everything read zero I started routinely testing water again and seems as though the tank is cycling again. Obviously I didn't cycle it correctly the first time. There is 20lbs cured live rock and 20lbs live sand. Should I just leave the tank be and wait it out? Or does any of you more experienced tank owners have any suggestions. Thanks!!!!

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The ammonia is fairly high and not very good for your livestock. If you know anybody that would be willing to take them while your tank establishes its cycle, then I'd do that. Otherwise, I'd probably add a bacteria culture (like Dr Tims One and Only) and wait it out.

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I just have to ask for two things

 

pics of your system to check for substrate curing

 

and this is an api ammonia kit?

 

my curiosity is centered around 40 lbs of cured substrate not being able to process two fish

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Thanks for the reply! I know I am confused too why it's not handling the bioload right now! I had a huge diatom bloom about a week ago and the whole tank was brown... The diatoms are more or less gone. I added some fritz zyme last Thursday because the nitrites were still there but has not gone down since adding. In fact the ammonia actually went up. Yes I am using the API test kits I know they are not the best I'll try to make it to my lfs and have them double check the water. This is the only pic i have and it is towards the end of the bloom you can see the power head it was completely brown as with the sand but a snail got to it I think.

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Ammonia threads are usually diagnosed better off pics alone vs any test kit input

 

and we have an interesting detail here

 

 

that could be painted live rock, which means we dont know how cured it really is

 

need some close ups of benthic establishment...can you find any fanworms/tubeworms common on lr that looks like it has been submerged for a while and post a nice cell phone close up pic>? that coralline pink and red and no other form of growth looks concerning. it looks painted, and som lfs are selling faux lr without telling people. early brainstorm, might be wrong. maybe you have the nicest cured lr and coralline diversity we've seen on here in a new tank in years, but if this is faux that explains potentially the lack of bioload processing.

 


 


a couple nice macro pics of the live rock will tell us more about its legitimacy. porosity is another key factor in waste processing for lr. true lr in that amnt and curing would not register ammonia from two clowns and would again call the test kit into question even in the presence of past zero readings, there is usually always something that does call them into question when we get good pics.

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Thabks for your replays everyone! Yes the rock is indeed painted I wish it was nice coralline! I tired to get some pics with my phone not sure how helpful they will be! Again thanks for all your input! Also, do you think I should countinue to add mycrobacter7?

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yes if you like. I agree with removing the bioload, treating the rock as white uncycled rock and starting with the usual ammonia dosing etc. its not worth the risk to the fish, the stress=brook disease eventually or ich but you can replace that ammonia you need to cycle your tank just by following the typical cycling procedures for uncured substrate. if your live sand was cured at the time of install that will speed things up. yes I know score one for api and its zero readings before the bioload heh :)

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I'll see if I can find a friend who has room for the clowns and try to let the tank run it's course... I really appreciate the input!!!

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