Saltwater Aquarium Setup

Currently have a 20 gallon saltwater but am moving over to a 65. Its been up and running for 4 days and for the heck of it, I used my API test kit and checked my ammonia, ph, nitrite and nitrate. All my numbers are good. I'm using sand and no live rock (at this time). When I set up this tank I used Prime and Fluval (for the live bacteria). Question: Can I move my fish now? Do I need to wait longer?
4 clown fish
3 green chromis
watchman goby
pistol shrimp
2 purple firefish
2 mexican snails
1 conch
black urchin

 

what ammonia source did you add to the tank to start the cycle process?

 

I did not use a separate ammonia source, but used Prime by Seachem.

 

prime removes ammonia it doesn't add it to start a cycle. In order to kick start the cycle process you need to add a source of ammonia to feed/establish the beneficial bacteria. You can buy a product like Dr. Tim's ammonia chloride additive for aquariums, use PURE ammonia or and I don't recommend this method a hardy fish to use as a guinea pig. So I'm not surprised you have no test readings.

 

Pure ammonia? You mean like what I use to clean around the house? Never heard of this method.

I did add Fluval Cycle Concentrated Biological Booster per their instructions for setting up a new tank.

 

Pure ammonia? You mean like what I use to clean around the house? Never heard of this method.

Yes and no. You want to make sure its pure ammonia unscented and no other additives that are toxic to fish. Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle? Fish produce waste (ammonia) bacteria grows that eats the ammonia and produces nitrite. Another bacteria grow that eats nitrite and produces nitrate which is manually removed by water changes. This is why when starting a new tank we add ammonia one way or the other to start the cycle. A tank is considered cycled when it can convert 2ppm ammonia to nitrate within 24hrs. Until then its not really safe for fish. Its here that many new comers quit the hobby because they add fish they all die and they don't know why and give up. I'm not sure what your experience level is so if you're familiar then my apologies.

 

I guess I'm still considered a newbie-currently have a 20 gallon saltwater that I haven't had too much problem with, not willing to give up at this point LOL I know there are cycles to deal with but any help at all is much appreciated. And as you said, using a healthy fish as a guinea pig, in my opinion, is not an option. So what you are saying is that I need an ammonia additive (uncomfortable with using household ammonia). I need to look for an ammonia additive, correct?

Is API Quick Start an option?

 

I have used many different varieties of bacteria bottles and to be honest none have ever helped speed up the cycling process. We can't get pure ammonia here in Australia. I have never had a cycle complete in less than 4 weeks. The best one I have used was stability but as I said it didn't speed up the process, just gave me a starting point.

 

Dr. Tim’s Ammonium Chloride is what you want it’s formulated for aquariums for this purpose.
Dr. Tim's Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for Cycling Aquariums, 2-oz bottle

As far as the bacteria additives I’ve never used them I’ve heard great things about Instand Ocean Bio spira.

 

prime removes ammonia it doesn't add it to start a cycle. In order to kick start the cycle process you need to add a source of ammonia to feed/establish the beneficial bacteria. You can buy a product like Dr. Tim's ammonia chloride additive for aquariums, use PURE ammonia or and I don't recommend this method a hardy fish to use as a guinea pig. So I'm not surprised you have no test readings.

Prime doesn't actually remove ammonia, it just detoxifies it (as well as Nitrites). I agree though that the OP is trying use Prime like SafeStart and that simply isn't it's function. Prime is there in case there is an emergency, not to be used as a safe method for quickly adding fish.

@ the OP you need live rock in there or at least dry rock that can be seeded or there is nothing to cycle.