I'm Sorry.. I need to ask a noob question..

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 08:12 AM

My tank is 3 weeks old and I had ammonia spike during the 1st week after I added several grocery shrimps in the tank. Then the Nitrate gone up to 30+ PPM and Ammonia, Nitrite went back to zero. So I was so happy that the cycle was over.(noob thoughts) I did a 50% w/c.

I went ahead added two corals and two shrimps in the tank during the 2nd week. Feeding the shrimps and corals with Mysis. All the parameters were in check. During the 3rd week, the ammonia started to show less than 0.15 ppm couple days ago, I thought it should go away over night since I have enough nitrification bacteria to take care of ammonia.

Today is the last day of this 3 weeks period and tested water this morning. The ammonia is at 0.25 ppm, nitrate is at 15 ppm.

I was going to do a 50% w/c today but worry the w/c will prolong the cycle and the tank will never going to be cycled. On the other hand, I am worry about the live stocks in the tank, so far they are all seem to be fine, corals are open and shrimps are active looking for food.

What should I do? do a w/c now or wait until the Ammonia goes down to 0? What are the coral n shrimps nitrate tolerance at this point?

I would appreciate some advices and sorry about the stupid mistake I made.

JY13131 · 02-03-2007, 08:15 AM

I think you have enough critters to continue your cycle without adding any more extra. It seems to be stretched already. Do you have live rock? I will however humbly defer to a more experienced reefer!

JY13131 · 02-03-2007, 08:17 AM

So I meant no more grocery shrimp! As far as water change....maybe a 15-20%? Check with the experts!

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 08:22 AM

Here is my tank set up:

20g tank
20lbs of Live Sands
27lbs of Fiji Live Rocks (Cured when I bought them)
Remora HOB 1200 Protein Skimmer

Two corals (Cup and Frogspawn) both small
one fire shrimp, one cleaner shrimp

My question is when should I see the Ammonia goes to zero again?

Thanks

JY13131 · 02-03-2007, 08:26 AM

When I first started my tank (nano) I used a similar set up but I had absolutely NO cycle. I did have an algae cycle but no ammonia. Who told you to add the shrimp (grocery)? I think a tank can cycle on the LR alone.

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 09:14 AM

I believe we need ammonia to cycle a tank. There would be no bacteria if there is no ammonia in the water.

well, there might be another way of doing this, I dont know then.

betamed · 02-03-2007, 10:11 AM

Can you post pics of the tank/corals? We can tell if they are doing well. The frog should be expanded and the tentecles should be clearish. You should not be able to see any or the top skeleton on the frog either. You might want to return them (the corals) and wait a few more weeks. Changing the water will help keep everthing alive, but will delay your tank in cycling. I would do smaller more frequent water changes. You will be seeing a lot of brown-green algae growth soon too.

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 10:28 AM

The corals are doing fine. I don't see the top part of the skeleton of the frogspawn and all the tentacles are extended widely with clearish color.

I had diatom broom before and I get green algae on the tank wall now.

One thing that confuses me is we need live stocks to generate ammonia to cycle the tank, but we shouldn't have any live stocks in the tank while cycling..

There will be mini cycles whenever people add a live stock in the tank regardless the tank age?
This is very confusing.. hopefully someone can shed some light on this.

leveldrummer · 02-03-2007, 10:38 AM

your live rock is what is coated in the beneficial bacteria, when you move it, you have die off of all the organizms that live inside it, that die off will cycle your tank, when you add a critter, your tank will need more bacteria to handle the extra waste, but unless your throwing a huge fish in, you really shouldnt notice any ammonia. the bacteria will catch up in a week or so and level out.

pyron88 · 02-03-2007, 10:42 AM

Correct. Anytime you add livestock, live rock you change the balance in the tank. Minni cycle. I have read that you should not add over ten lbs. of LR at a time after the tank cycles. Hope that helps. I would do small WC with well settled water. Keep your eye on the pars. Just MO

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 10:57 AM

Thanks for clarify things out for me.

I didn't add additional LRs after the initial cycle. I set up the tank with 27lbs of LRs and 20lbs of LS since day one.

The thing that I dont understand is why ammonia is still present in my tank.. I know I added two shrimps, but the bacteria should take care the bioloads.. The ammonia should of be at zero now.

leveldrummer · 02-03-2007, 11:18 AM

sometimes cycles take longer than 3 weeks, thats why alot of people advise to wait a couple more weeks after you think the cycle is finished. i would just do a small water change, maybe take the livestock back to the lfs and ask them to hold it for you and let your tank finish cycling. are the 2 shrimp you put in still rotting in the tank? can you still see flesh from them?

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

sometimes cycles take longer than 3 weeks, thats why alot of people advise to wait a couple more weeks after you think the cycle is finished. i would just do a small water change, maybe take the livestock back to the lfs and ask them to hold it for you and let your tank finish cycling. are the 2 shrimp you put in still rotting in the tank? can you still see flesh from them?

Oh, you are talking about grocery shrimps I dumped in to kick off the cycle. I removed them next day cuz the water got very very cloudy. That was three weeks ago. I have one cleaner shrimp and one fire shrimp in my tank right now.

I don't think my lfs will take back my live stocks. They are very business oriented people. I have 10g of R.O water on the side prepare to do w/c if any problems occur.

Let me take a pic for you guys.

JY13131 · 02-03-2007, 11:41 AM

Pics!!!!!!!!

NemoReefer · 02-03-2007, 12:04 PM

Sorry about the algae on the glass.. I am waiting for some cleaning crew to do the job for me, hopefully after the ammonia goes to zero.

What type of algae are these? with air bubbles on it. I blown them away with a turkey baster yesterday. And they come back again today.

The fire shrimp is kinda harrassing the cleaner shrimp, try to get him off his territory. I thought fire shrimp is peaceful.

Are the corals look fine to you guys? I'm a noob, so I dont know..

I would appreciate some comments.

I'm Sorry.. I need to ask a noob question..

Pics..