NEW AIO Aquatop Recife Eco 24g - Water tests during initial cycling

[Obzidian]

Hey all... well not really new, tank has been setup and fish from day one. (Two Oce. clowns and a pearly jawfish)

 

Dosing with MicroBacter7 from day one, skimmer is off. Dose is a capful per day. Sea water, adding Rodi water for top off, live rock and sand. Light is a Kessil A360WE ... not controlled for now.

 

 

On day 3 I did a water test and these are the results:

 

PH 8.0

 

Ammonia:  25 ppm

 

Nitrites and Nitrates both at 0 ppm.

 

 

Yesterday, noticed some diatom on substrate and live rocks. Lights are on 🙂 .. yea i know. Added a few turbo snails and a horseshoe crab to shift the sand around.

 

Also added a hydor nano 425gph powerhead.

 

 

Today the diatoms are growing, I have less intensity and white out of the kessil and feeding the same. (Once a day, pellets and mysis for the goby.

 

Did a test today and Ph changed a ton, Ammonia up a little:

 

Ph: 7.4 

 

Ammonia: .50 ppm

 

Nitrite and Nitrate are steady at 0 ppm (not cycled yet)

 

The diatom bloom is expected however the ph has need a little concerned. Ammonia going up might be over feeding, I can adjust.

 

Any recommendations on getting the ph to rise quickly?? Any other thoughts??

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

- Angel

[Tamberav]

Funky pH is normal during the cycle, it is from all the bacteria and biological processes forming. It will eventually stabilize. 

 

The main concern is the ammonia. Ammonia isn't from overfeeding, its from having 3 fish in a non-cycled tank. You will need to do water changes to keep it low or risk harming your fish and inverts.

 

Microbacter isn't great for cycling, you want something like biospira. 

 

Horseshoe crabs have no business in a nano. 

[Obzidian]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

Will follow up the next few days with water tests and watch.

 

On the horseshoe crab, why not in a "nano"??