[sgarron]

sg 1.025
ammonia 0.0
nitrite 0.0
nitrate <10
ph 8.0
alk 2.5
temp 79.2
cal 440

The only thing I've added is Kent buffer for the ph and alk. Seems to have come a long way in a very short time?


took the shrimp out today after the numbers all went down.

[swinginbeef]

did the shrimp make the numbers go up??

[sgarron]

a little. also made a mess in the tank.

[lynnvangsnes]

What brand of test kits are you currently using? Define a little, as far as your numbers. A large raw shrimp in your tank for two weeks should have seen a considerable and very measureable (and probably chartable) spike.

[reefdaddy725]

Your numbers are fine. Sometimes when you use live rock and sand cycle times differ. I have seen tanks cycle in 2 weeks usually with a good skimmer and like I said before live rock/sand some never see rises in water parimiters.

[jimw369]

Are you adding buffer while your tank is cycling?

[Tonz of fun]

Did you use cured LR. I cycled in 11 days because i used cured LR

[sgarron]

The rock was supposed to be cured. I had it and the sand in the tank for 8 days before everything zeroed out. Then added the 2 cocktail shrim. Never saw the ammonia go up but after 3 or 4 days trites and trates were off the chart. 3 days later the trites were zero and trates less than 20. That's when I started adding the buffer, my ph was below 7.5, now it's at 8.1 with the pinpoint monitor.

[reefdaddy725]

Like I said before some never see any spikes at all. Decaying shrimp will bring nitrates up. Not unlikely that you didn't see the amonia go up. I woulld put a snail or 2 in there and see that they live then your home free. You can slowly add fish. BTW You should be happy you didn't see large spikes it means that you got good fresh rock. Good job!

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by reefdaddy725

Like I said before some never see any spikes at all. Decaying shrimp will bring nitrates up. Not unlikely that you didn't see the amonia go up. I woulld put a snail or 2 in there and see that they live then your home free. You can slowly add fish. BTW You should be happy you didn't see large spikes it means that you got good fresh rock. Good job!

Well said. If your levels are zero for a little I dont see any reason why you cant add a cleaner crew. See what happens...

[sgarron]

Already did. 2 large elec. blue hermits, 2 emerald crabs, 10 nass. snails, 2 cleaner shrimp. Also couldn't resist 2 clowns (false percs.). Did that on Sunday, everyone seems to be happy. Checking the water twice a day it is stable so far.

[Tonz of fun]

O man. I have heard that the cleaner shrimp you should of waited on. I also did 2 clownfish myself but there in my QT TANK! I highly recomend QTing especially on brand new tanks...

[Marc Smith]

Just make sure you are feeding the cleaners some meat pieces of clam, or mysis shrimp. You will be fine. Also your Params are fine. Most times you wouldn't see a Ammo. Spike because it happens so quickly, and it is gone. Just go slow from here, and keep the Bio-load down. All should be fine! Good luck.