Latest Water Parameters

[Yuri De Lima]

Well I did some water testing this morning and here are the results.
Tank is 24G AP cycling.

Ammonia= 0ppm
Nitrite= 3.0

Wouls this mean that I am half way through my cycle?

[Reefscape]

yes, i would say your about half way through...are you showing any nitrates yet?

Niko

[Yuri De Lima]

I haven't checked it yet, thanks for reminding me Niko. I'll check and post results.

Thanks,
Yuri.

[Yuri De Lima]

Got the test done, result:
Nitrate= 10 ppm

So where in the line of the cycle am I? Halfway there?

[Reefscape]

i would say your a little over half way through.....you know when your on the last leg when nitrITES are zero...then your just waiting for nitrATEs to peak and fall back down again....

Niko

[Yuri De Lima]

Cool.

So Nitrites should lower soon and the nitrates should go up and fall back?
After that the cycle is done? I've read somewhere that at that time I should do a 50% or 100% water change? I don't quite remember which quantity.

After that I would be able to add live stock?

[Reefscape]

yes, thats correct...your nitrates should fall down to around 10ppm...then do a 50% water change to replenish trace elements...

Yes, when the system has stayed stable for about 2 weeks with ammonia and nitrite at zero, and nitrate at about 10, you can can slowly introduce you fish. I would get the clenup crew in as soon as the cycle has finished.....

Niko

[Yuri De Lima]

That's nice.

Now I was reading a thread, can't remember which one or if it was recent, but someone said you hate clean up crew with a passion..something to do with what's in the tank, not the size of the tank.

What would you recommend I get? I really like shrimps and hermit crabs. All I have in the tank right now is about 1" of regular sand and 22lbs of Liver Rock. I plan on getting some live rock from a local aquarists, he is selling is 1lb for $4.0o0, seems to have a lot of coraline on them.

As for algae and such I don't think I have any algae in the tank for them to clean up. I have kept the light mostly off, which recommendation from www.liveaquaria.com (where I got the rock from).

Tanks,
Yuri.

[Grins]

I believe it is the clean up crew packages Niko dislikes not clean up crews themselves.

Many of us recommend you instead get clean up crew to suit whatever algea you're trying to fight. For instance in a new tank you might start with something that will eat diatoms.

[Yuri De Lima]

Yea, sorry that's what I meant. The packages. And I see his reasoning. Looking at it from a retail point of view, it is a fantastic way to break those estimated sales figures. I mean instead of selling 2 snails, in the package, you are getting the buyer to buy 10-15 of them (even though) they might not (like in most cases) need them.

It is very efficient.

What eats diatoms? What exactly are diatoms? Are they visible to the "naked" eye?

[Reefscape]

astrea snails are good for diatoms, and yes, the brown coverings you see in an aquarium are usually diatoms, which could be seen better under a microscope....

[Yuri De Lima]

Today, July 13th, 2007.
Test Results
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite .25ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
Phosphate 0ppm
Carbonate Hardness 11 *dKH

Does that mean I am just about riding out the cycle? Should I do my 50% water change today?

Thanks,
Yuri.

[SigPiPup]

From what I have read and have been told, the water change after cycling should be done once the cycle is complete. Nitrites= 0ppm

[severum mama]

Wait until the nitrite hits 0.