danielcassar

Hi all, ive read your information comments about the nitrogen cycle but i still need some help and advice. i have a marine setup which is in its 2 week cycle...my water chemistry were these :
first week * 8.4 pH * 0.2mg/l ammonia* 0.30mg/l nitrites (NO2)and * 80mg/l nitrates (NO3-)

and now the readings (2 weeks) are * 8.4 pH *0.5mg/l ammonia *>0.50mg/l nitrites (NO2) * and over 100mg/l nitrates (NO3-)

what is happening? and what i can do to lower these results.
Thanks
daniel

beachcomber

If it's only the second week of cycle, then just relax and give it time. It could easily take thirty days or more. How much live rock is in the tank? Are you using a substrate ( live sand) on the bottom? What kind of filtration are you using? All these things will determine how fast the tank can establish itself. It's also important to maintain proper salinity and temperature, with lots of water movement.

danielcassar

hi thanks for your reply...yes im using live sand which is around 1inch deep..regards filtration im using 2 types trickle and canister..trickle by a overflow system with bioballs and carbon with a protein skimmer in it and canister im using eheim pro 3 with 1250l/h. salinity is 1.026s and temperature is 27 degrees Celsius and pH is 8.1. regards to rocks im using rocks from our sea which already have some life in it like feather type worms and small clams. pics of my setup are included.

Thanks
daniel

danielcassar

pic now included

sry
daniel

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iloveengl

ooooo Cool! I can't wait to see more pictures as it progresses. Best of wishes for everything.

aquarist48

Hello Daniel! Welcome to Fish Lore! Wow! It's going to be a beautiful tank. Please share your progress with us.
Ken

danielcassar

hi thanks for your comments....its my first time to start a marine setup alone cause before my brother used to have one so i have an idea but never been that much into it...so im experiencing new things about nitrogen cycle etc. as u read already its in the cycle and curing of the rocks so i cant put fish in it yet...but i have some life in it which where in the rocks and im exploring new things as well...attached u will find some of it...

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	feather tube worm 2.jpg (140.2 KB, 90 views)
	small crab.jpg (126.0 KB, 87 views)
	Snakelocks Anemone.jpg (353.7 KB, 86 views)
	rock clam.jpg (397.5 KB, 82 views)
	kwert snail.jpg (283.6 KB, 18 views)

locoyo386

Hi there,
Judging by the pictures you are using live rock only to cycle? or are you using another form of ammonia to cycle the tank? If you are using the rocks only, than I would suggest that you put some food there every so often to continue to provide the ammonia. When cycling with rocks only, you are relying on the living things to die to provide your ammonia. This can take a some time since you have lots of rock in there.

danielcassar

hi thanks for your comment

yes im using live rock but sometimes i feed my snails and the snakelook anemones with pieces of raw fish so im adding ammonia as well. but now the reading of ammonia is 0 but still have high nitrites and nitrates.

N.B here are some pics with the new lightning installed

thanks
daniel

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	atnic blue.jpg (322.5 KB, 23 views)

pepetj

That's good news: zero ammonia and readings of nitrite and nitrates. That means you already have in your tank enough beneficial bacteria to brake down ammonia. I suggest you figure out the species of life you have. I noticed the anemona you have there (looks like haitian species to me but I'm no expert) so you rule out any possible pest gaining ground in your tank (if they conquer your tank it will be harder to erradicate/control).

I love your long marine tank. Have you considered upgrading the sand substrate so you end up with a deep sand bed? I believe at least 4" will do the work.

One comment on your set-up. Consider removing the canister filter. The use of these type of filters in marine set-up requires an insanely frequent maintenance routine or you end up with a genuine nitrate factory. Low nitrate levels are more critical than with FW.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

danielcassar

hi pepetj

thanks for your reply...regards to the nitrogen cycle im still waiting to get ride of the nitrites level...and im reading alot of this cylce and always learn something new.. this nitrobacter starts as soon as ammonia level is 0 so im at a good start but it takes quiet time to reproduce ....but im keen to wait.
regarding the species they where in rocks i didnt noticed that they were there. (my fault was that i didnt cure rocks before i placed them in the aquarium..so i will keep it in mind for my next set up)

i have turbo snails and 2 hermit crabs (very small)
some crabs
feather like tube worms (alot)
and 6 snakelocks anemones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakelocks_anemone

thats what i can able to see

thanks
daniel

danielcassar

Great NEWS!!!! after 1 month of my marine setup...finally my nitrites are getting down and hopefully in 1 week time they will be 0 ..

i noticed that the pH is going down a bit from 8.2 to 7.8...any considerations or suggestions!?

Thanks
daniel

locoyo386

That's great

Well all I can tell you is that all my tanks (fish only) are running at 7.8. I just can't seem to bring it up without adding buffers.

danielcassar

thanks for that comment...im planning to do a water change soon as my nitrites wil go down nearly 0...and than i will start to add shrimps.

thanks

danielcassar

hi all....

im glad to say that after 1 month the cycle is nearly finished..

Readings after 1 month = pH 8.2
NO2 nearly 0
NO3 around 80mg/l

and today i went to catch some life for my aquarium ..... i ended with some shrimps and 2 small fishes. next try i want to catch black damsel and ornate wrasse which has beautiful colors.

pics of the shrimps are included

Thanks

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	shrimps.jpg (381.2 KB, 17 views)
	shrimps and crab.jpg (393.6 KB, 18 views)

danielcassar

new update..... fish introduced pics are included

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Lucy

The shrimp are so pretty,
In post #15, the second picture the crab really blends in.

danielcassar

thanks for your comments

unfortunately i had to remove the crabs cause they were doing harm to my marine life ( they ate 2 of my snakelook anemones)...i released them back to the sea from where they are caught.

nemo addict

Hi and welcome to the unforgiving world of salt water,, tank is looking good but may i just point out that for live rock to work effectivly you have to have a a good flow in and around the rocks , your rocks are to tightly together for your rock to work effectively , you will end up with to many dead spots and will have problems when fully stocked with nitrates , and also trying to eradicate any unwanted algae your tank will cycle through.
Good luck with your tank

danielcassar

hi nemo addict...

thanks for your information....i read alot that its important that u will need good circulation in the tank....i have 3 ways of circualtion in my tank...

1st the outflow from the filter (nearly from the corner aiming to the centre of the aqurium)
2nd the return water from the sump (which is situated on the other corner)
and 3rd i have a power head in the middle of the tank at the back....aiming slightly up.

i am considering a wave maker (6000l/h) from ebay to postion it behind the rocks.

as regards to the rocks it looks like that, but to let you know that its in the middle of the aquarium and there are no other rocks behind what u are seeing...there is space behind the rocks (the pics are from the front view so u cant see much better.

thanks
daniel