Cycle almost over? Start skimming and adding CUC?

[Achapman]

Started my 28G nanocube Oct. 26 2007. All live rock and sand came from an established tank.

Is the cycle coming to an end? Should I start skimming?

I added 3 astrea snails today. I also had 2 blue legged hermits that were hitchhikers that I noticed.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1016.jpg

Are my snails retarded? They just sit at the top all the time.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1013.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1012.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1011.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1010.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/Achapman26/Nanocube/11-7-2007/IMG_1009.jpg

[Avi]

Well...I'd say that the cycle isn't over yet. From those photos of your test solution results that you've posted, there are clearly traces of ammonia and also, less critically, of nitrates. The ammonia is cause for concern and it means you have to address that. Since you've already put livestock into the tank, you have to be very careful that their waste doesn't contribute further to continued traces of ammonia. That, by the way is one possible reason why the snails are seemingly attempting to escape from their environment by staying up on top of the waterline.

The thing to do now is more water-changes. Increase the frequency and the volume of water that you remove and then replace when you do the water changes.

[poppin_fresh]

Change some water, start skimming, keep testing. Your patience will be rewarded.

[Achapman]

Alright, it was only the 3 snails, the hermits came with the rock. I'll go ahead and remove the snails and wait.

[daven]

Just test ammonia till it is at 0. Then test nitrites till 0. Then test nitrates. Saves time and tests.

My experience (admittedly on only two tanks) is that ammonia will go fairly quick, nitrites quicker and nitrates will drag on longer.

[Avi]

I'd agree with all of the above and since you're able to take the snails and hermits out for the time being so they don't exacerbate the ammonia problem, your cycle should go through quickly.

[HABS#1]

Wow the glass looks like I am looking into my tank same with the bottom. My ammonia spiked over teh last couple days to 0.50 but it is down under 0.25 now and dropping everything else is at 0.

[dileggi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11140630#post11140630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by daven
Just test ammonia till it is at 0. Then test nitrites till 0. Then test nitrates. Saves time and tests.

My experience (admittedly on only two tanks) is that ammonia will go fairly quick, nitrites quicker and nitrates will drag on longer.

Dumb question here based on above statement. Is it not necessary to test for Amonia, Nitrites and Nitrates every single time? When I test my water, I usually check everything at once. Is that incorrect?

thanks!

[bertoni]

It's really not necessary to test much at all. Nitrite isn't worth testing in general, in my opinion, since it's not toxic. You could test ammonia every few days, and when that has been zero for a few weeks, then add a cleanup crew. I'd watch the nitrate if I were adding stony corals, but testing can wait for a month or so, in my opinion, since new tanks shouldn't get touchy corals, anyway.

[Thunk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11143985#post11143985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dileggi
Dumb question here based on above statement. Is it not necessary to test for Amonia, Nitrites and Nitrates every single time? When I test my water, I usually check everything at once. Is that incorrect?

thanks!

Not really incorrect jsut not nessesary.

Ammonia turns in to nitrite
Nitrite turns into nitrate

So you could jsut save time and tests by checking for ammonia first when thats 0 then watch the nitrites. then after they 0 then your nitrate. Now once your tankis established and up and running you are gonna want to test everything so you can catch say an ammonia spike or whatever.

There is certainly nothing wrong with testing all your parameters.

Based on your test results it could be that your tank is starting a mini cycle. It should be impossible to get a reading for ammonia on a cycled tank unless fish are pooping in the water ALOT. the cemical reaction from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate is instantaneous (sp?) .

[coast2coast7390]

i wouldnt add it yet...wait at least a year for the tank to be established for a while