Help needed on Cycling Issue

[bonjour2]

:?: Hi there,
I have a 2 feet tank that undergoing cycling in its 3rd week with live rock and substrate. On the 4th week, I noticed water level dropped so I added Water mixed with Nutrafin Water Conditioner and kaboom , my 3 in 1 Filter with skimmer (Via Aqua ) skimmed like mad that I have to off my entire filtration system. Next day I checked water is slightly cloudy and that the Nitrite has rise. What has happened?
I have 300g of BioHome in the filter by the way. and have since restart the filter and changed 15% of the water. Can anyone advise anything further to be done???

 

[Len]

I'm guessing what you've witnessed are seperate events. The skimmer probably went nuts because the Nutrafin conditioner is a suffocant which causes bubble walls to be stronger then normal (and hence the over-activity of the skimmer). It's my advice that such conditioners are not necessary and I'd recommend not using it in the future. A good reverse osmosis filter for your tapwater is a lot healthier for your reef tank and will save you money in the long run.

The cloudiness might be a bacterial bloom caused by the water you just added. Again, a RO filter will help you get better quality water to your tank.

Right now, I recommend waiting for the cycle to complete (when NO2 hits zero). After that point, do a large water change (40-50%) and let the tank stablize again for a couple more weeks. Test the water and if everything checks out, you're good to go.

Let us know how the tank comes along.

 

[bonjour2]

Hi Len,
Thanks for your valuable advice. Guess now I will heed your advice and let the water stabalize by itself till the Nitrite reaches zero and then perform the water changes. Will Kepp you updated of the tank condition in weeks to come..

 

[J.Howard]

Just a quick note...zero nitrite and nitrate doesn't always mean it's totally cycled. It can go back up so make sure it stays that way for a week or two before proceeding. Not taking anything from Len... I have never seen him give bad advice, just making sure you don't jump the gun.

 

[hdtran]

Len,

I'm not the spelling police, but you surely mean "surfactant" and not "suffocant"...

Right on the effects of the surfactant in water conditioners on foam fractionators (aka protein skimmers).

Hy

 

[Anonymous]

Mr. Tran, you, sir, are the bloody Spanish Inquisition!

Len, watch out for this one, he's a real cheeky one he is.