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  #1  
Old 04-05-2013, 05:49 AM
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ckmullin ckmullin is offline
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Test kits can go bad... Is it expired? I'd suggest to grab a nice water sample and go down to your favorite local reef store and ask them to test it.

From what you've said it seems to me like the tank isn't 100% cycled. OR at least not a high enough bacteria population. Ammonia-->nitrite-->nitrate when cycled should basically be seamless. A basic test to see if your NEW tank is coming along is by a zero ammonia reading.

IMO...wait. Wait and read. Read till your eyes bleed. Then use toothpicks and read more. Check your readings again in one week and then after another week. In 2 weeks you've read enough to answer your 2 questions.

Regarding your two questions.

A baker/mechanic/web programmer/etc takes needed methodical steps to achieve a final desired product. Suggest to do the same in regards to this hobby. Take your time and add things slowly.

Your second question is the same as above. Take your time...no rush. If you do go out and spend big $ on stock for a brand new/not mature (possibly not fully cycled) tank it's just asking for a headache.


Just trying to help.
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  #2  
Old 04-05-2013, 06:07 PM
reefwars reefwars is offline
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whats hes saying is he cycled the rock outside the display , he had high everything and used all new water when putting his rock into the display except for about 10% of the water that was in his rock bin , this is why theres no nitrates and very little amonia.

by moving the rock to the new tank a mini cycle is happening again , let a week or two go by it should even out....no chems needed.

the fish and coral can stay in a bin for now provided water quality is very good and other needs are met like food,nutrtient export,flow,proper parameters, lights etc...


cheers

denny
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Old 04-05-2013, 06:09 PM
jason604 jason604 is offline
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Thx Denny for telling me about the mini cycle. Was my English retarded or something that ppl couldn understand me? Lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefwars View Post
whats hes saying is he cycled the rock outside the display , he had high everything and used all new water when putting his rock into the display except for about 10% of the water that was in his rock bin , this is why theres no nitrates and very little amonia.

by moving the rock to the new tank a mini cycle is happening again , let a week or two go by it should even out....no chems needed.

the fish and coral can stay in a bin for now provided water quality is very good and other needs are met like food,nutrtient export,flow,proper parameters, lights etc...


cheers

denny
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Old 04-06-2013, 03:32 PM
slakker slakker is offline
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To your original question, I would put in the additional LR now and let that cycle again... even though the rock may be "cured", some life will likely still die off during transport unless is transported with water and all (but even then). Things like sponges on the rock will die very quickly once exposed to air, and when put into you tank, it'll likely start a new cycle.
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Old 04-06-2013, 05:45 PM
jason604 jason604 is offline
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Yea I've decided I'm going to go slow and just get a clean up crew and some nice live rock with coral line on it first so I don't end up killing everything when purchased as a bundle deal even tho the price is amazing lol. I did some research and I think the reason why my tank still shows 0.25 ppm of ammonia is because I used tap water with a declorinator that I made instead of RO water. Other forums say the use of prime will show some ammonia but it actually is harmless
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Old 04-06-2013, 06:10 PM
slakker slakker is offline
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I notice you're in Vancouver, not sure which water shed you're fed from but I'm in the Coquitlam area and our water is pretty good (still not as good as RO/DI). You can pick up a system from eBay pretty cheap if you want, but with the water meters being installed, it may be pretty costly. Some systems use 3 to 4 times the water to make a gallon of RO/DI.

My buddy uses a simple carbon block and DI resin in series with good results and doesn't waste any water.
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Old 04-06-2013, 06:36 PM
jason604 jason604 is offline
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Is just leaving the water out for few hours good enough?
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Old 04-07-2013, 12:25 AM
slakker slakker is offline
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Not sure if it's good enough, but what I would do at minimum is make the salt water and throw a power head/pump and heater in it and run it 24 hours, the circulation and aeration will make the water better for sure...
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Old 04-07-2013, 01:26 AM
jason604 jason604 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slakker View Post
Not sure if it's good enough, but what I would do at minimum is make the salt water and throw a power head/pump and heater in it and run it 24 hours, the circulation and aeration will make the water better for sure...
Yup I do that but just for few hrs. Also I went to the lfs and got my water tested and it had 0 ammonia. They told me the API test kit I got is ****ty and gave me wrong readings.
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