Coral Hobby Rookie

[mbrown4726]

When I start my tank, how do I know it has been cycled enough to start adding things to the tank?

 

[Coral reefer]

Hey I’m m brown! Are you also a mike?

 

[Klatzy]

You can measure ammonia (and nitrite and nitrate) and see if gets "cycled", i.e. ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate by bacteria. Depending on how you cycle a tank, you can either measure ammonia that you added directly to the tank or after adding fish food. It really kinda depends on what method you're using; some call for 3-4 months and some for about 1 month. I'd recommend measuring ammonia and seeing if it disappears after a day or so (and seeing if nitrate builds up at the same time).
How long has your tank been cycling? And are you using live rock/sand and adding in bacteria and ammonia?

 

[mbrown4726]

Thanks for replying. It has been cycling for 2 weeks. I put shrimp in the tank, have live rock and sand. I will measure the ammonia/nitrites/nitrates after a month.

 

[mbrown4726]

Hey I’m m brown! Are you also a mike?

Yes, I m Mike too

 

[Klatzy]

2 weeks is likely too soon to be cycled.

 

[Coral reefer]

Yes, I m Mike too

Damnit. Looks like you were mike brown first as well. I’m only 41. Welcome

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

Welcome to the club!

You can measure ammonia (and nitrite and nitrate) and see if gets "cycled", i.e. ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate by bacteria. Depending on how you cycle a tank, you can either measure ammonia that you added directly to the tank or after adding fish food. It really kinda depends on what method you're using; some call for 3-4 months and some for about 1 month. I'd recommend measuring ammonia and seeing if it disappears after a day or so (and seeing if nitrate builds up at the same time).
How long has your tank been cycling? And are you using live rock/sand and adding in bacteria and ammonia?

I'd agree with this, but I'd also caution that some nitrate tests convert nitrite into nitrate first and then measure it, so you'll likely want to measure nitrite simultaneously. Similarly, nitrite is the bottleneck, since the bacteria that convert it to nitrate grow pretty slowly.

If you're interested, Dr. Tim (of Dr. Tim's Aquatics) gave a MACNA talk a few years ago on tank cycling that was pretty informative and comprehensive. You should be able to find it on YouTube

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

Damnit. Looks like you were mike brown first as well. I’m only 41. Welcome

You've been supplanted, Mike #2.

 

[Coral reefer]

You've been supplanted, Mike #2.

F

 

[Turkeysammich]

Welcome. My advice would be watch a lot of YouTube videos on beginner reef keeping. Go super slow on adding stuff. Ask lots of questions on here when you don’t understand.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Wise move joining our place in space
And thank you for becoming a $upporting member
It shows your dedication to the hobby and us
We will be a wealth of information, tools, parts, frags

 

[JVU]

Welcome!

Just adding a shrimp and waiting for spontaneous colonization with correct bacteria is out of favor now for several reasons. Using a starter culture with Dr Tim’s One and Only or others on the market is much better and you can add it now after the fact as long as your ammonia isn’t too high.

 

[Darkxerox]

Welcome to the club!


I'd agree with this, but I'd also caution that some nitrate tests convert nitrite into nitrate first and then measure it, so you'll likely want to measure nitrite simultaneously. Similarly, nitrite is the bottleneck, since the bacteria that convert it to nitrate grow pretty slowly.

If you're interested, Dr. Tim (of Dr. Tim's Aquatics) gave a MACNA talk a few years ago on tank cycling that was pretty informative and comprehensive. You should be able to find it on YouTube

Welcome @mbrown4726 ! Here's the video:

 

[Bolo156]

Welcome, many people find the BRS TV videos helped them a lo. I even watched a few after being out of the hobby for years.

 

[mbrown4726]

Damnit. Looks like you were mike brown first as well. I’m only 41. Welcome

Yes I’m old. Thanks

 

[mbrown4726]

Welcome, many people find the BRS TV videos helped them a lo. I even watched a few after being out of the hobby for years.

Where do I find them?

 

[mbrown4726]

Where do I find them?

I see it

 

[Meshmez]

Damnit. Looks like you were mike brown first as well. I’m only 41. Welcome

Imposter!

Welcome to the real mbrown!

 

[dioworld]

Welcome Mike, I'm new here as well. definitely check out brs channel on youtube.