Cycle help please. I think I posted in wrong place

[90addict]

So over the past month or so I've gotten so much info/guidance, and trying to establish a plan for my first saltwater tank has been semi stressful lol. I'll give you a run down on my tank so far and what I've done, then I'll ask the question lol...

55gl, 40lb caribsea live sand, 40lb live rock strait from LFS tanks, 20-30lb dry rock, reef crystals salt.

I started with a fishless cycle by adding Dr tims one and only and also adding ammonium chloride per the bottle. My ammonia jumped to around 5ppm. After posting another post, I was suggested to do a water change. It came down to about 2-3ppm. I also learned that with the amount of live rock I put in, I could of skipped the cycle process and I should of never added ammonium chloride. Should of just added fish. Since then, ammonia has came down to zero. Stalled for a few days at .5ppm but did come down to zero. Against some people's advice but advice from my lfs, I added 2 damsels about a week ago while ammonia was at .5ppm.

So here's my question... Am I on my way to cycling or did I skip. I've never seen nitrites. Nitrates have been between 5-10ppm the entire time. My main question would be, is there a way to "test" if I'm cycled? I know with fishless cycle, you can add 2ppm ammonia and you want it gone in 24hrs. How do you do that with 2 damsels in the tank? I'm waiting for cycle so I can add paired clowns

 

[KrisReef]

If you never saw nitrites then your testing missed them. The fact that nitrites were converted, and now you have NITRATES means that the bacteria that handle nitrite are present and working.

COngratulations, your tank is cycled! ADD fishes slowly, the system will do better if you make changes slowly!

Good Luck

 

[Fish Fan]

I say you’re fine where you are. I think I’ve seen most of your other posts. With all the live rock you added, I'm sure your tank survived the overdose in ammonia.

You just added a couple a damsels, which way back in the day was a fish considered hardy enough to use for a fish-in cycle. They should hold up well even if your tank is like 90% fully cycled. I would personally stop there with fish for now, and give the tank at least a week or two and see how the Damsels do. After that, maybe proceed with a little more of your stocking plan.

Good luck!

 

[90addict]

I say you’re fine where you are. I think I’ve seen most of your other posts. With all the live rock you added, I'm sure your tank survived the overdose in ammonia.

You just added a couple a damsels, which way back in the day was a fish considered hardy enough to use for a fish-in cycle. They should hold up well even if your tank is like 90% fully cycled. I would personally stop there with fish for now, and give the tank at least a week or two and see how the Damsels do. After that, maybe proceed with a little more of your stocking plan.

Good luck!

Yes, you've been a valuable help along my rocky journey lol. I thank you kindly! I will wait a couple more weeks to add the 2 clowns I've been eyeing that are in quarantine. Tsm aquatics

 

[Fish Fan]

Yes, you've been a valuable help along my rocky journey lol. I thank you kindly! I will wait a couple more weeks to add the 2 clowns I've been eyeing that are in quarantine. Tsm aquatics

I think that's a good plan. The Clowns are pretty hardy too, but I think it's best not to rush it too much. But you're almost certainly doing just fine. I'm happy to try and help; best of luck!!

 

[90addict]

I think that's a good plan. The Clowns are pretty hardy too, but I think it's best not to rush it too much. But you're almost certainly doing just fine. I'm happy to try and help; best of luck!!

One last thing I forgot... Protein skimmer has been off... Can turn that on now?

 

[Fish Fan]

One last thing I forgot... Protein skimmer has been off... Can turn that on now?

You can at this time, not going to hurt anything now. But I say, watch your nitrates, and if you see them starting to rise, then you can turn your skimmer on. Your skimmer just helps to remove organic waste before it breaks down and ultimately becomes nitrates (and phosphates). So you can use your skimmer like another nitrate reduction tool.

 

[90addict]

You can at this time, not going to hurt anything now. But I say, watch your nitrates, and if you see them starting to rise, then you can turn your skimmer on. Your skimmer just helps to remove organic waste before it breaks down and ultimately becomes nitrates (and phosphates). So you can use your skimmer like another nitrate reduction tool.

Sounds good! Thank you again for all your guidance

 

[Fish Fan]

Sounds good! Thank you again for all your guidance

No problem at all! I'm not an expert reefer, but very glad to help you where I can!