Advise needed for apollo's new marine tank

[BFG]

Can't see the pics! You need the ANN testkit-Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

[apollo]

Hi Bfg

I also dunno why the pictures are like tht. Am using imagestation to host the pictures. Any other suggestion? Everytime i tried with preview b4 i post is ok leh.

Another way to view the picture is to copy and paste it on ur word program like WORD or NOTEBOOK. Sry for the inconvenience caused.

Got bck this evening and the damsels are still in gd shape. Playing around the LR !

Took out my Sera NO2 test kit to try and the test indicated my Nitrite was just 0.3mg/l

Still hv to get the other 2 test kits?

[kelstorm]

U testing for nitrite or Nitrate?? two different things leh...

Both NH3 and NO2 will cause fishs to and should be at zero!!!

fishes belonging to Damsel family are extremely hardy...and can withstand such spike in NO2 and NH3

[BFG]

I was told Salifert testkit are better. Yup, the ANN testkit are a must.

[apollo]

Hi Guys

Finally found time to buy some test kits. Got myself Ammonia and calcium test kits from Tropic Marin. Wanted to get the more sensitive NO2 and NO3 kit as well but those presents are goin to be expired in Nov 2005.

Did the ammonia test but wud say its vry difficult to gauge against the color chart provided in the night.

Can only say my ammonia lvl is within the range of 0.05 to 0.2 mg/l (ppm).

With this reading, is it safe for me to add LS?? Wud also add tht my tank is into the 3wk of cycling.

Is my tank ready for more LS ???

[BFG]

Relax bro, patience is the key.

[apollo]

Hi BFG

Took out the test sample tis mrg and compare it with the color chart. It look more like less than 0.05ppm.

Am i ready?

If so, if i were to add corals and LS, how many can i buy at one go??

When shud i add kalkwasser?

Thanks

[kelstorm]

U should be considering adding LS when both NO2 and NH3 ARE ZERO!!!

after the readings are zero, u might want to give it another 1-2 more days to confirm the readings before adding LS slowly.. to give your tank a chance to cope with the new bio-load.. if u dump everything in, it might cause a sudden surge in NH3 coz the tank could not cope with it and the tank might still crash...

in short, timing and spreading out your stocking in phases...

It took me 6-8 weeks to maturing my tank, another 2-3 months to stock up my tank...

[apollo]

OK tks

Think i hv to stop surfing and visiting LFS

Just cant resist it !!

[apollo]

Hi Guys

I am bck in business.

This evening i tested my water perimeters. Ammonia <0.02mg, NO2 - 0 and NO3 - 0.

Will start my shopping aft wrk !

[kelstorm]

Hi Guys

I am bck in business.

This evening i tested my water perimeters. Ammonia <0.02mg, NO2 - 0 and NO3 - 0.

Will start my shopping aft wrk !

Bro,
Ammonia and Nitrite MUST be zero.. ur nitrogen cycle aint really started yet.. coz if it does, u should be able to see NO2 having some readings..

Be patient...

[apollo]

Hi Kelstorm

Too late. Haha...

Got myself a mushroom, frogspawn and something i dont know how to name.

Honestly i dont think the test kits can be 100% correct. Since its base on color chart, i can nvr deduce which is the correct shade.

Anyway, wud say the ammonia and NO2 is close to zero or abit. Am sure NO3 is clear.

Will keep you guys posted.


Thanks

[mordrake]

apollo

you need to be patient in this hobby or else you'll run the risk of your livestock dieing on you.
a cycle is only complete when the ammonia and nitrites are ZERO with a spike in nitrates.
right now your nitrates are zero with readings for ammonia and nitrites.
so do you think the cycling is finished?

even for cycled tanks, whenever you put livestock in, there may be a mini-cycle as the bacteria in the tank may be not able to handle the new load. but bacteria multiplies real fast so this mini-cycle may not be obvious.

patience is the key in both FW or SW setups or else you'll end up wasting lives and money