Here is what ive started with...

jmbrettler · 10-19-2007, 10:28 PM

Im very excited that I came across this site! This is my first post.

Here is a list of my First Ever saltwater setup

16 Gallon Tall aquarium
Aquaclear powerhead 50
Fluval 205 Canister Filter
50 watt heater (temps 80)
protein skimmer (no name, apparently rated to 30 gallon)
16 Lbs of Live rock (75% dead, 25% cured live)
substrate is aragonite
salinity 1.023

2 x 25watt Compact Floro's

Anyways I have had the water "cycling" in here for almost 50 days!! I had the parameters checked and had ammonia 5-6 nitrite 0 nitrate 0. What does this mean? How can I speed the process up? From here, what can I do, and what can't I do. What should i be doing that maybe I am not ??

Any and all help is appreciated !! Thank you in advanced..

-jb

Duffee · 10-19-2007, 10:37 PM

Hey jmbrettler welcome to the forum! Ammonia 5-6 are you serious? My test only goes up to 5. This has been like this for 2 months. Maybe look into a few more pounds of live rock that comes from an established tank. I'd beg the LFS. BYW how much sand?

reefboy · 10-19-2007, 10:47 PM

yes i agree with duffee but if your nitrite goes up, be prepared to do some water changes because live rock absorbs nitrites and releases them in 2-3 days. the only way to get rid of nitrites is to add that red bottle of prime that removes them and change 20% of the water. duffee please correct me if i am wrong.

jmbrettler · 10-20-2007, 12:17 AM

ok well I have in any given spot 2-2.5 inches of substrate. Yes well I guess another option would be to steal some water from an established tank from a LFS, maybe from a coral only tank, to reduce the risk of disease and contaminents. I added some nitrate bacteria to the water and plan to test again soon. There is a polyp on one of the tanks and it has yet to die. Its open sometimes and closed some other times. With spikes going straight out, and sometimes up and sometimes down. Maybe I should consider doing a 50% water change and starting again? The canister filter I bought was brand new...do you suggest cleaning out the media yet? thank you for the reply's. Ill need to check my levels again in a couple days.

Duffee · 10-20-2007, 12:45 AM

Rock from an established tank not water. You really should never use water from the LFS. A water change couldn't really hurt if your ammonia is really that high. I would do 2 25% changes over a few days.

chadf · 10-20-2007, 01:47 AM

I am baffled at this high of an ammonia reading. With this high of a number I'm not surprised there is yet 0 nitrites or nitrates.

Did you use any live sand? Where did your live rock come from? It seems as though you have 0 denitrifying bacteria.

The only thing water changes will do is dillute the ammonia, not eliminate the problem. So all it will do is maybe help to save your polyps. It will have no effect on your cycle.

Chitown1 · 10-20-2007, 11:39 AM

I agree,changing the water will not solve the problem. I would check for decay on your rock, see if it is "mushy". I would also take your rock out, use a brush to scrub it down under water in a bucket then if it is not decaying put it back.
What kind of rock is it? If it is not aquarium rock it may not suitable for aquarium use, I have seen where people use rock from their yards or lava rock that is not meant or safe for aquariums and had similar issues.

jmbrettler · 10-20-2007, 03:18 PM

Ok i think i realized what the problem may be. I did get one of the rocks which was apparently cleaned with bleach. Before I put it in my tank tho I spent hours bathing it in boiling hot water to make sure it was clean.
Could this be part of the reason why ??

If this is screwing everything up will I need a new tank and all new rocks etc... ?