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#1
02-23-2009, 03:19 PM
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Setting up my 150 gallon tank....question re: cycling and is my tank 'ready'
Had my tank running (live rock with bacterboost initially) since Dec 1. It is a 150 gallon setup and just wondering....at waht point do I know it has definitively cucled (ie: ready for fish, etc). Still having a bit of an algae bloom as it is tough to get rid of it all at once, but have started using RO-DI water in my WC's. I have a few pieces of coral that seem to be doing ok - they are in my profile simmary. So, what tests that I run tell me it is ready to introduce a fish or two?
many thanks 
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#2
02-23-2009, 03:35 PM
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sounds like someone needs to do some readin up on the nitrogen cycle.
You should be testing for ammonia and nitrite (both should be 0) but you should def read up on why and what your are testing.... heres a decent start http://www.reefcorner.com/Manual/nitrogen_cycle.htm
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#3
02-23-2009, 05:33 PM
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Quote:
If you are asking what to test for you're probably lucky your corals are still alive 
__________________
Calvin --- Planning a 29 gallon mixed reef...
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#4
02-23-2009, 07:00 PM
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o
Last edited by alfredshouse; 02-23-2009 at 10:08 PM. Reason: NA
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#5
02-23-2009, 07:13 PM
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You need to get a nitrite, ammonia and nitrate test kit at the minimum.
If the nitrite and ammonia test zero your tank has cycled. Adding fish: We all get excited at the idea of adding livestock in our tanks. To be safe and avoid problems only add one fish per month. Check about the suitability of the fish you are planning to purchase by checking here and by careful review of www.wetwebmedia.com which is a good source of info. Make sure YOU see the fish you are planning to buy eating at the LFS and that there are no spots, tears or redness. You can add a couple of hermit crabs. They are predators on some of the good stuff in your tank but are fun to watch and a couple won't hurt. Add no more than 10 snails as well. Acclimate them very slowly. Ask how if you don't know. Avoid bumblebee snails and astrea. To be successful and avoid most of the problems you read about here like fish death, cynobacteria and algae, you need patience. Go slow and good luck and thanks for posting. Last edited by naesco; 02-23-2009 at 07:25 PM.
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#6
02-23-2009, 07:16 PM
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Good advice !!!!!!!
*edit*
__________________
Reefer Last edited by Doug; 02-23-2009 at 10:15 PM.
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#7
02-23-2009, 07:17 PM
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Quote:
otherwise, it's just sort of hypocritical. I understand the point abyss was making and I doubt it was meant to be anything but facetious but too the point of this thread.... You really should get a good book on reef aquariums, you will find that they are a really good place to start and then go back to when you need info. you can pm me if you'd like a good suggestion or two on one. It will save you the hassle of asking a question on the board everytime you have one, not that we're not happy to help, some of us are too much so  but you will find that many of us see the same questions come up when individuals are first starting out in the hobby and they could all easily be answered much faster by almost any of the better saltwater/reef aquarium books out there....Last edited by Whatigot; 02-23-2009 at 07:20 PM.
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#9
02-23-2009, 07:30 PM
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Quote:
__________________
Reefer
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#10
02-23-2009, 07:35 PM
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I think its safe to say you could start researching different fish species to find out which ones you want and can keep, some are more aggressive then others and you want the least agressive to go in first. It's been nearly 3 months since you set up the tank so you can probably start adding fish soon, 1 at a time unless they are really small.
By all means get the above test kits mentioned but be aware you probably won't get any ammonia and nitrite readings and maybe even 0 nitrate readings if you haven't been putting any food in the tank
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