New Tank Day 5

[Rick]

After checking my water, I have

Salt 1.023
Temp 80-want high so bacteria growes faster
ammonia 1.5mg has been on the rise
Nitrite 1.6
Nitrate 25-50mg- Getting High

I have been adding nitromax to speed up the Ammonia-Nitrate cycle
process

My question is
1.Isnt this to soon to have such high levels

2.Should I do nothing and just continue checking the water?

3.How long can I expect this to take? Im not in a rush but all the
test levels seem high for such a newly setup tank

4.When Should I be alarmed?- I guess all this is normal

[BiG_Orange]

> After checking my water, I have
>
> Salt 1.023
> Temp 80-want high so bacteria growes faster
> ammonia 1.5mg has been on the rise
> Nitrite 1.6
> Nitrate 25-50mg- Getting High
>
> I have been adding nitromax to speed up the Ammonia-Nitrate cycle

How much live rock and live sand do you have?

[Rick]

Hello BO,

I do not have any live rock. This tank will be a fish only. No live
sand. I put aproxx 2-3 inch fine crushed coral almost a sand.

> How much live rock and live sand do you have?

[BiG_Orange]

"Rick" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello BO,
>
> I do not have any live rock. This tank will be a fish only. No live
> sand. I put aproxx 2-3 inch fine crushed coral almost a sand.
>
> > How much live rock and live sand do you have?

I went down that road, finally after 5 years, I broke the tank down and took
all of the crushed coral out. Crushed coral is not good for anything. Also,
live rock is really really good for your tank almost a necessity, I was
afraid of it too, but it's easy to keep even with basic lighting.

Do yourself a favor and get live rock and live sand.

[Rick]

You wrote,

Do yourself a favor and get live rock and live sand.

Can this be added to the tank anytime or does it need to be added
during the cycle?

I think it should be safe to add anytime once the cycle has drop to
zero ammonia-nitrite test results if I introduce live rock little by
little. Example: 5-10lbs now then 5-10lb every couple of weeks.
THANKS for your replys, Rick

[Richard Reynolds]

>> Do yourself a favor and get live rock and live sand.
>
> Can this be added to the tank anytime or does it need to be added
> during the cycle?

this group is supposed to target SW tanks that are not reefs :D and you have no need for
LR in a FO, however if you would like to add it, you can, if your cycle is underway you
can buy uncured LR and add it directly, if (or once) your tank is cycled you either need
to buy cured or LR that doesnt require a real cure time (many florda aquaculture places
ship in water allowing near instant use) also adding cured LR will speed up your cycle
time, depending on your target bio load, and amount of LR you add. if its MY FO then
there is nothing you can do as My FO is heavily stocked.

> I think it should be safe to add anytime once the cycle has drop to
> zero ammonia-nitrite test results if I introduce live rock little by
> little. Example: 5-10lbs now then 5-10lb every couple of weeks.
> THANKS for your replys, Rick

a little now and a little later works ok.

--
Richard Reynolds