new tank doin the cycle....i hope

[ctownmangler]

Hi all

I recieved 70lbs of liverock and started my new tank cycle last fri. My amonia was off the charts in the first couple of days and is now almost gone (.25 or less)...tank parameters:

Amonia .25 (now more towards 0)
pH 8.1
Nitrite 5.0
Nitrate 10
Temp 79 degrees
running actinics 4-6 hrs a day, just added daytime for 6 hrs

I have done 2x20% water changes...and this is just a test done tonite, but Nitrate and Nitrite are the same as of 5 days ago...

This is my first cycle ever and was wondering what to expect from here.....Is that it for my amonia spike, or am I going to see more?? Do I just reduce N levels by doing water changes and waiting?? I'm gearing up for another water change tomorrow, good idea??

equipment: 75 gal AGA, Remora Pro, Fluval 404 (carbon only)--tank has been extremely clear the whole time...Is this bad?--2xpowerheads, 260w PC lighting.....RO/DI....

new nasty brown stuff on parts of rock, but not many hitchhikers to speak of so just wondering if i killed them all, or if it takes longer...

Any help would be appreciated...Thanks!
Daryn

 

[NaH2O]

Hang in there! What has to happen for the nitrites to come down is the bacteria that breaks the nitrites down to nitrates need to populate (this is after the bacteria that break ammonia down and turn it into nitrites). Once the population is high enough to eliminate all the nitrites, you will see it drop to zero, and the end product is the nitrates. At that point another water change. You might be surprised by the live rock...once the cycle is complete and you have a normal photoperiod....it is exciting to see all that is living there!

 

[jasontatro]

Welcome to the obsession Daryn. Sounds like everyting is progressing nicely on your tank. Ditto everything Nikki said. The brown stuff is probably just a diatom bloom... it is a normal part of NTS (new tank syndrome) and will go away.

Don't worry about the hitchhikers. You probably didnt kill all of them LOL. After 5 months I still see new things emerge from the rocks. Your patience will be rewarded soon enough.

Good luck,

Jason

 

[ctownmangler]

thanks for the reinforcement....it helps!

 

[Ray Pollett]

I agree, looks like a normal cycle so far.

As for the live rock. I still see new things pop out every once in a while on rock that has been in the tank for years.

Ray

 

[mojoreef]

Its all good ctown. Just keep it on course and all will be well.

Congratulations

Mike