Truckie
Reefing newb
Hello all,
I just began to stock my first saltwater aquarium. It's a 55 gal. with approximately 60lbs of rock (50lbs dry rock, 10 lbs live rock).
I cycled the tank with a raw table shrimp. I noted an ammonia spike and a nitrite spike. Both returned to 0 without any indication of nitrates. After about a month I took a water sample to the LFS to confirm, and they said all my parameters looked good. I decided to add some live stock to the tank and all levels remain at 0 over a week later.
I was wondering why I never saw a rise in nitrates in my tank? Is it fully cycled? At what point should I conduct my first water change?
I did not test for nitrates until I noticed a nitrite spike. Is there a chance that I missed the nitrates all together? I was under the impression that the only way to get rid of them was through a water change.
I'm running my tank with an 850gph powerhead and a HOB fluval filter with charcoal/filter sponge.
Here's some highlights from my log since starting the aquarium:
4/15 - tank established with 50lbs dry rock, shrimp added
4/21 - ammonia 2.0, NO2 0.0
4/22 - one 5lb piece of live rock added. (from Petco, not the best quality)
4/28 - ammonia 4.0, NO2 1.0
4/30 - ammonia 2.0, NO2 2.0
5/6 - ammonia 0.0, NO2 5.0
5/7 - added 6lbs of live rock from LFS (much better quality)
5/10 - ammonia 0.0, NO2 0.0, NO3 0.0 (confirmed water test with LFS)
5/10 - added 2 clowns, emerald crab, 6 hermits, 6 snails
5/12 - all levels 0
5/18 - all levels 0
Can someone help me out with this? I'm not worried, just confused. Everyone in the tank seems happy so far!
I just began to stock my first saltwater aquarium. It's a 55 gal. with approximately 60lbs of rock (50lbs dry rock, 10 lbs live rock).
I cycled the tank with a raw table shrimp. I noted an ammonia spike and a nitrite spike. Both returned to 0 without any indication of nitrates. After about a month I took a water sample to the LFS to confirm, and they said all my parameters looked good. I decided to add some live stock to the tank and all levels remain at 0 over a week later.
I was wondering why I never saw a rise in nitrates in my tank? Is it fully cycled? At what point should I conduct my first water change?
I did not test for nitrates until I noticed a nitrite spike. Is there a chance that I missed the nitrates all together? I was under the impression that the only way to get rid of them was through a water change.
I'm running my tank with an 850gph powerhead and a HOB fluval filter with charcoal/filter sponge.
Here's some highlights from my log since starting the aquarium:
4/15 - tank established with 50lbs dry rock, shrimp added
4/21 - ammonia 2.0, NO2 0.0
4/22 - one 5lb piece of live rock added. (from Petco, not the best quality)
4/28 - ammonia 4.0, NO2 1.0
4/30 - ammonia 2.0, NO2 2.0
5/6 - ammonia 0.0, NO2 5.0
5/7 - added 6lbs of live rock from LFS (much better quality)
5/10 - ammonia 0.0, NO2 0.0, NO3 0.0 (confirmed water test with LFS)
5/10 - added 2 clowns, emerald crab, 6 hermits, 6 snails
5/12 - all levels 0
5/18 - all levels 0
Can someone help me out with this? I'm not worried, just confused. Everyone in the tank seems happy so far!
