andrem

Aclimatized them for about 1 hours. There is nothing else in the tank apart from those two clowns (now dead) and the polyps. I have now done about a 99% w/c with NSW from Takapuna Boat ramp, was about 70degress so should affect the bacteria too much, removed most of the rock and kept in a large container with the original water while the tank heaps up along with the polyps. Should be abother couple of hours and will then put it all back in. Will run some tests again on the water tomorrow but dont expect to find anything. At least this would have reduced my nitrates and phosphates to a very low level.

steve (jet ski steve) had lots and all other fine. Using refractometer, 1.025 sg, tested his water (that the fish came in) and mine wiht my test kits before adding fish alll the same readings. You cant screw up the testing with those kits as the result of nitrite and ammonia is clear if you have nothing. I have just collected enough water to do about a 90% change which I think could be a good idea.

My tank finsihed cycling early this week, added 2 baby ocelaris and some star polyps have been testing ammonia nitirite and nitrate the whole time with salifert test kits with follwoign readings Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Ph 8 - 8.3 Nitrate 10ppm Temp sites between 24 - 27degrees Both the clowns had whitespot last night when I cam home, went back to work last night after deciding to monitor them, came home today and both are dead. Polyps are absolutely fine, all levels as per above. Any ideas on what could have caused this?. I am now doing another water change of about 80 litres (system including sump about 350) and will do another tomorrow. Will use NSW from takapuna which about to go and get. Until now have been using ASW with RODI water from my partners work (hort research). Anyones ideas or similar experiences / solutions greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the help guys, nitirte dropped overnight yesterday, have done a big waterchange and nitrate now very low also, added my first fish (pair of clowns) tonight!. Nice to have something swimming in there!

I did have however have been doing a bit of research and apparently nitrosomonas do not multiply as quickly in lit conditions and do not like blue light. Turned them off. Will leave for another week i think and see what happens. Also have a lower sg should help but i think i read the presence of phosphate restricts there rate of multiplication also.

I was wondering if the water change would help. I did actually start with a muscle in there, but removed after a few days once the ammonia peaked...maybe not so wise but then forums I have been reading say the dead matter in the rock would be enough anway. I kind of figure changing the water cant hurt and because my nitrate is so high I must have nitrosomonas bacteria present to be converting the nitrite. My last tank (years ago) cycled in about a month but guess you get that. There are also no fish in there.

I have had my tank cycling for 7 weeks, Took about 2.5 weeks for the ammonia to peak and drop and have had high nitirte levels since about the 1st week. These are still high (off the scale on a salifert test kit) as is my Nitrate which I have just started testing. Wondering how longs other tanks have taken and also if any point in doing a water change at this point to get the nitirte down or just to leave the tank and keep on waiting. Other thing I have also considered is adding some cycled rock but have had differing opinions on wether this is going to help/hinder the process. Unfortunately I hadnt read about "cooking" rock before I setup the tank otherwise that would have been a better option....still learnt something for next time!