Softie reef on a student budget

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

I didn't add too much ammonia. 2ppm was dosed according to the instructions on the Dr Tim's ammonia chloride, I think it just looks darker in the pics.

 

[seabass]

On 8/31/2021 at 6:07 AM, InAtTheDeepEnd said:

IDK, I read this as closer to 8ppm (again, due to the blueish tint).  Not sure if the concentration was off in your bottle or what the cause might be.  However, I'd try using maybe half the recommended dose and then see what your test reports.

[seabass]

Overlapping the color chart over your sample.  Seems like a pretty close match.

 

Maybe you need to try 1/4 of the dose.

[gena]

That would be my guess too, added too much ammonia.  To be honest, I've never cycled this way before.  When I had ammonia/nitrite registering with the addition of live rock (shipped) with lots of die-off....I just waited for those numbers to come down to zero, did a water-change, and then started slowly stocking.  Usually with coral first and then one or two fish.  Always worked.  I don't have experience in cycling by adding ammonia.  I would have already started slowly stocking after your results on Sunday.  But that's just how I've always done it.

 

 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

Yeah tbh I was going to but I'm seriously doubting my ability as an aquarist right now. Lost two fish yesterday and really torn up about it.

So I want to be able to keep this tank cycled without needing to add any livestock/corals whilst I decide what I'm doing. I was going to do as gena suggested until the deaths.

[seabass]

18 minutes ago, InAtTheDeepEnd said:

I was going to do as gena suggested until the deaths.

The whole idea of fishless cycling is to build up the biofilter to support a larger initial bioload.  With live rock, the bacteria populations are usually well established and we just need to wait until ammonia becomes undetectable.

 

However, at this point, as soon as ammonia reaches a safe level, I believe you should be able to start slowly stocking this tank.  Although verifying that it can process 2ppm down to 0.25ppm within 24 hours would just take (obviously) one extra day.

 

My posts were mostly to explain why I felt things were taking longer than you expected, as well as to clarify/restate the fishless cycling process.

[Murphs_Reef]

Personally? I would stop dosing ammonia now. Leave it 24 hrs and test. 

Come back with the results.  I'm with @brandon429 on his thinking with cycling. 

[Murphs_Reef]

Doing a test today? 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

Ouch.

 

It's processing it TBF.... But I did put way too much ammonia in 

[Murphs_Reef]

Yeah it's clouded the reality a bit that's for sure. 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

My fault there...

Cycle isn't completely dead though. Note to self to wait before doing these things. 🤦 Lesson learned anyway. 

[Murphs_Reef]

The ammonia will process. Don't worry.

 

See my tank journal, I made a great bugger up this week! And am still waiting to see if I lost my SPS or not...

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

It's getting there 

 

 

When this has sorted itself out I'm going to get corals asap before I change my mind again 🤣 there's been a copepod explosion which has devoured the algae, so I'm thinking coral-fish-invert(s) for stocking order because the fish wouldn't be happy/feel safe without corals and without organic waste there won't be enough food for the inverts. Still thinking just 1 snail for now with the potential to add more cuc if needed later on. 

 

 

 

[Murphs_Reef]

You know. You might have to water change that to level it. The amount of ammonia has just saturated the water column. What you think @seabass? 

[seabass]

A water change wouldn't hurt anything and would reduce the nitrate level.  But I might just wait it out and see.  I read the current ammonia level to be 2ppm.  If there is enough nitrifying bacteria, I'd expect a very noticeable reduction on its own by tomorrow.  Might be interesting to see what it does.

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

I was going to just leave it but do a water change to reduce nitrates once this has finished processing because they will be very high. 

[Murphs_Reef]

Apart from the sore head. 😂 How's it going?

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

Ammonia 1ppm

Nitrites 2ppm

Nitrates 40ppm

 

Going to lfs to get RODI to do a water change if needed

 

 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

Lfs trip pics. Gobies galore. 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

& some of their other fish.  psychedelic dragonets, Basslets, & the yellow tangs favourites.  

My pics don't do this shop justice but it's cool. They have a whole room for corals. The dry goods are kind of expensive though. 

[Murphs_Reef]

What store is that? Looks great btw..

[Murphs_Reef]

Just reading through the thread and looking at timeline.

I am convinced that this tank is cycled and willing to wager. Large 60+% water change and test.. if it's not cycled I pay for your first fish! 

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

1 hour ago, Murphych said:

What store is that? Looks great btw..

https://www.thegoldfishbowl.co.uk/

 

[Murphs_Reef]

Up early!

[InAtTheDeepEnd]

8 minutes ago, Murphych said:

Up early!

 

I have the most cursed sleep schedule known to man.  

 

I'll leave this tank one more day and WC tomorrow I think.... bearing in mind I put too much ammonia in it's still dealt with it. I'm actually hoping I'll be understocking enough that I should have ample bacteria to process what the fish will produce.