Is my tank cycled???

[ReefMonkey13]

Here are the test results I have gather in the past couple of weeks. I seem to have seen the ammonia and nitrite peak then go to zero. Cycling started on Sept. 26, 2013.

See the following link for details on the tank:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/154100-rm13-elos-mini.html#post1407387

10/16/2013:
Temp: 79.8 F (via apex)
pH: 8.12 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

==> Ghost Feeding everyday(2 times since last test)

10/14/2013:
Temp: 80.0 F (via apex)
pH: 8.13 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

==> Ghost Feeding every other day.
==> Water change on 10/10

10/09/2013:
Temp: 80.1 F (via apex)
pH: 8.15 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.023
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm

==> Performed a 5 gallon water change

10/04/2013: (Test result in first image of this post)
Temp: 80.1 F (via apex)
pH: 8.05 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.020
Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrite: 2.0 ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm

==> "Ghost Fed" some pellets

10/01/2013:
Temp: 79.1 F (via apex)
pH: 8.05 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.018
Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: undetectable

 

[KathyC]

Looking good.
Time for a small clean up crew.

Do NOT add any spur of the moment purchases (please!).
Do you have a plan for what fish you'd like to keep? If so, which ones? We can help guide you in the order to put them in the tank.
Corals?

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Looking good.
Time for a small clean up crew.

Do NOT add any spur of the moment purchases (please!).
Do you have a plan for what fish you'd like to keep? If so, which ones? We can help guide you in the order to put them in the tank.
Corals?

From a live stock list . . since this is a really small tank, was thinking the following:

- pair of clowns
- Yasha Goby with a pistol shrimp
- possum wrasse (or something like it)
- sea urchin (tuxedo)
- cleaner shrimp

For corals it will me a mixed reef but I will not be adding any corals until I know I can sustain fish.

Thanks for guidance.

 

[lskywalker5]

I'd say add a yellow tailed Damsel, there good fish to help with making it ready for the other fish; and there not a aggressive as other Damsels. Im no expert but i think the clowns would come after the Damsels, but I dont know when

 

[lskywalker5]

Also where do you buy your fish?

 

[pkane11384]

Iskywalker5, where in NY are you located?

Also I would rethink the tuxedo urchin if your planning on keeping corals. Everything gets stuck very easily to them

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Iskywalker5, where in NY are you located?

Also I would rethink the tuxedo urchin if your planning on keeping corals. Everything gets stuck very easily to them

The Urchin is actually low on my list. I just want this tank to have some different creatures in it and liked the look of that little thing.

lskywalker5 - I typically get fish from many of the vendors in this site. There isn't a good local fish store around me so I need to drive or order folk vendors who are more local to me. I'm in Queens btw.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I would not add a damsel or ANY other fish to make the tank ready for other fish as stated above, but especially a damsel. He'd wind up being the bully of the tank. You're feelings about it would most likely change from its such a pretty shade of blue to why did I ever put that darn thing in my tank.

Of the tank is properly cycled none of those fish on your list will have any issues. I'm also a rim believer in not torturing ANY fish to cycle a tank. Just my opinion.

After the tank is fully cycled you could do as big of a water change as you wanted before adding livestock to immediately drop your nitrates and you'd be ready for your first additions at that point.

Good luck.

 

[ReefMonkey13]

Thanks all for the continued guidance.

But it looks like the tank is not quite ready for life stock. I added a table shrimp to provide a more potent ammonia source. There is a "spike" in Ammonia and Nitrite but the readings are still fairly low.

Here are the test results:

10/18/2013:
Temp: 79.9 F (via apex)
pH: 8.13 (via apex)
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25 ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm

==> Added table shrimp on 10/16 for a more potent ammonia source.

I will leave the shrimp for another couple of days and retest.

 

[ReefMonkey13]

I would not add a damsel or ANY other fish to make the tank ready for other fish as stated above, but especially a damsel. He'd wind up being the bully of the tank. You're feelings about it would most likely change from its such a pretty shade of blue to why did I ever put that darn thing in my tank.

Of the tank is properly cycled none of those fish on your list will have any issues. I'm also a rim believer in not torturing ANY fish to cycle a tank. Just my opinion.

After the tank is fully cycled you could do as big of a water change as you wanted before adding livestock to immediately drop your nitrates and you'd be ready for your first additions at that point.

Good luck.

I would have to agree. I made the damsel mistake on my old 90G. I nearly had to tear down my entire tank to get that guy out.

I have always found clown fish to be very resilient and was thinking of having them as the first inhabitants. I dont really like all the "designer" clowns the plain clowns look great to my eyes (just as nature intended lol).

 

[lnevo]

i would have to agree. I made the damsel mistake on my old 90g. I nearly had to tear down my entire tank to get that guy out.

I have always found clown fish to be very resilient and was thinking of having them as the first inhabitants. I dont really like all the "designer" clowns the plain clowns look great to my eyes (just as nature intended lol).

+1

 

[da2145r]

A great fish store in queens is kissena aquariums never had a problem with anything I baught also fair prices

 

[chris koci]

the damsel mistake brings back memories lol