Cycling questions!

[EdsonFOWLR]

I was using a shrimp to cycle the tank out and there probily is still some in the tank is what I am thinking.

[Magickiwi]

I cycle with Vittoria tires, 700x23 but I have a set of 25's I use occasionally. My carbon wheels like the 23's but my aluminum wheels can use either. Obviously a road bike with race geometry but I'm thinking of a long distance frame some day.

Oh.... wrong cycling....

[Myka]

Originally Posted by EdsonFOWLR

So to reduce the nitrates even during the cycle I should just do a water change or is there something else I should do?

First, I would suggest you take a sample of your water to your LFS for them to double check your readings. It doesn't make sense to me that it would be so high. Did you buy used rock from another tank or new rock from the LFS?

Originally Posted by EdsonFOWLR

I was using a shrimp to cycle the tank out and there probily is still some in the tank is what I am thinking.

When you use live rock you do not need to use a shrimp to cycle it. The live rock cycles the tank itself. How big was this shrimp?

[EdsonFOWLR]

I used a big shrimp when I only had the base rock in the tank to start the cycle and only added the liverock on sunday. Should I chuck the filterfloss in my sump and add some carbon?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by EdsonFOWLR

I used a big shrimp when I only had the base rock in the tank to start the cycle and only added the liverock on sunday. Should I chuck the filterfloss in my sump and add some carbon?

Ah, I see. Is the live rock cured? You might see another ammonia spike since adding the new live rock. Where did the base rock come from? Is it dried live rock from someone's tank? Or did you buy it at the LFS?

I would still suggest getting someone to double check the nitrate for you to make sure your kit isn't faulty or maybe you mis-read or something. That is unbelievably high for a new tank.

I suggest changing filter floss out once to twice per week. I like to use carbon at a rate of about 1-3 mL carbon per gallon of water. Carbon won't get rid of the nitrate though. Get it double checked before you worry too much about anything else at this point.

[EdsonFOWLR]

I bought a new nitrate and nitrite kit. The local pet store here doe sent offer water tests and only deals in freshwater. The base rock is tulfa.

[EdsonFOWLR]

Well I think I figuredout my nitrate source, which looks like the tulfa I used for base rock. I pulled all 78lbs and did a 60% water change and my nitrates have droped to 20. Now all I have for bio filtration in my tank is 95lbs of live sand, 10lbs of actual base rock and 20lbs of live rock, as well as 2gallons of bio balls and 1-2 gallons of coral rubble like what you would find in a calcium reactor. Well I guess I get to learn these lessions the hard way, now I need more and/or live/baserock.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by EdsonFOWLR

The base rock is tulfa.

let me guess, you bought it from the store that doen't deal in salt water, tuffa is not good for salt tanks as it has all kinds of nasty things it will leach into the water. but its good you found the issue and removed it.

Steve

[EdsonFOWLR]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

let me guess, you bought it from the store that doen't deal in salt water, tuffa is not good for salt tanks as it has all kinds of nasty things it will leach into the water. but its good you found the issue and removed it.

Steve

Yep, saw it mentioned in a saltwater book and though sounds good. Add more water to tank and sump and got nitrates down to 5.