Got aquarium ready for fish and stalled- bacteria growing. Advice?

[AKreef14]

Hi guys,

I'm starting my first tank. I got my tank, dry rock, live rock, live sand, heater, power head, filter. And I was planning on getting a clown fish and adding API quick start to start my cycle. However I got busy and put it off for about 2 months, not really thinking that it would cause a problem. However I had some growth of bacteria on my dry rock and my nitrate went to somewhere between 5-10ppm. I cleaned off most of the growth and replaced some of my dry rock with extra I had. I did about a 50% water change and threw out most of my live rock thinking it may have started to die. There is still a bit of growth coming back. I'd love to start my cycling and get fish as soon as possible to get it rolling but I'm wondering if starting in it's current condition is asking for trouble down the line. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[gbru316]

@brandon429

 

[ReefSlice]

If it's been running for 2 months with flow and heat, you're absolutely without a doubt cycled and ready for a fish or two. Bacterial blooms and algae blooms are all part of the biome of your tank balancing out for the first year or so. Just keep up on maintenance and let it ride unless a persistent issue pops up.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Don’t throw things out or wash them or replace them. All you are doing is killing off the good bacteria. You may have to recycle your tank now. You can cycle it with some ammonia. If you want to speed things along you can buy bacteria in a bottle. As mentioned the “uglies” are part of the process. Let it run it’s course. Once your ammonia and nitrite are zero you are ready to add a hardy fish.

 

[AKreef14]

Thank you both for your responses, much appreciated!

I did end up throwing out a couple hunks of live rock. My chemistry has been relatively stable at the parameters below for a while now. as you can see my ammonia is 0.25.

Is there a way to test if I have to 'recycle' my tank like you mentioned TastesLikeChicken? Or should I just keep monitoring until I see ammonia go to 0?

 

[ReefSlice]

API test is notorious for showing .25 in mature tanks. You have 0 nitrite and some nitrate, I'm nearly 100% sure you're all set for a small fish or some sort of bioload!

 

[Cali Reef Life]

I have a question what are you doing for oxygen at the surface. I don't see a sump or a filter/skimmer not saying you are required to have them just know it means you will have to be exporting majority of nutrients you put in by water changes until tank hits maturity. If you don't have any of those id get another power head and put it pointing at surface so you make sure you have a lot of surface ripples which increase oxygen levels in the tank. Also you have a light correct?

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you both for your responses, much appreciated!

I did end up throwing out a couple hunks of live rock. My chemistry has been relatively stable at the parameters below for a while now. as you can see my ammonia is 0.25.

Is there a way to test if I have to 'recycle' my tank like you mentioned TastesLikeChicken? Or should I just keep monitoring until I see ammonia go to 0?

To my reading - and based on the lighting - your ammonia is 0, not 0.25. The way to read this test is to look at the shade of the liquid - if it's more 'yellowish' than 'green' the result is 0. It it is more greenish than yellow its 0.25. If I squint - and look at the card - the level is 0 (to me). Additionally - the yellow standard on your card is off to me as well - which is why I said it's likely a lighting or photographic issue. Plus the reflection on the tube also makes a difference in how it's viewed, as does the way you're holding the tube makes a difference.

API tests - when studied - are not a lot less or more accurate than others - but they have to be done correctly. I would say based on your history alone - your tank is cycled. Also agree with the others - your live rock will not 'die'. You should be fine to add fish. Now we can start the debate about quarantine or not.

Having said all - if you're concerned about the possibility of ammonia - get a Seachem alert badge - and see what the 'free' (toxic) ammonia is. If you don't want to do that - you can safely add a bottled bacteria product - such as Fritz 900 or 9000 - and add fish the next day. Hope this helps.

EDIT - PS - Welcome to R2R. Second - can you say on a percentage (more surface-area-wise, not weight) - exactly how much of your rock you threw out? In one post you say you threw out a couple hunks of live rock - in another post you said most of it? I don't think this will make a difference - But given that - I would consider adding bacteria with fish. Note - that with Fritz - you do not need to add ammonia - and while I wouldn't necessarily add 10 fish, you can add a low-medium bio load on day 1.

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you both for your responses, much appreciated!

I did end up throwing out a couple hunks of live rock. My chemistry has been relatively stable at the parameters below for a while now. as you can see my ammonia is 0.25.

Is there a way to test if I have to 'recycle' my tank like you mentioned TastesLikeChicken? Or should I just keep monitoring until I see ammonia go to 0?

PS - If you look in the experiment section - I did an experiment merely leaving a tank with rock and nothing else. (this was mature rock) - after 2 months - there was a slight drop in the time to reduce ammonia - but it was very little changed.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Get a better test kit and know that the ugly stage is unavoidable but there are ways to manage it. Through snails, tangs, filtration, etc. and you haven’t seen REALLY BAD yet so brace yourself.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi guys,

I'm starting my first tank. I got my tank, dry rock, live rock, live sand, heater, power head, filter. And I was planning on getting a clown fish and adding API quick start to start my cycle. However I got busy and put it off for about 2 months, not really thinking that it would cause a problem. However I had some growth of bacteria on my dry rock and my nitrate went to somewhere between 5-10ppm. I cleaned off most of the growth and replaced some of my dry rock with extra I had. I did about a 50% water change and threw out most of my live rock thinking it may have started to die. There is still a bit of growth coming back. I'd love to start my cycling and get fish as soon as possible to get it rolling but I'm wondering if starting in it's current condition is asking for trouble down the line. Any advice would be appreciated.

Instead of quick start, go with Micro Bacter XLM or Dr Tim One and Only. A cycle is often completed within 21 days and you will see zero ammonia and nitrate up to 20 but will comedown once a bioload is added with fish and feedings. Stock slowly and feed sparingly the first few weeks