new tank parameters

[ChrisCartwright]

Hi i am on the 3rd week of tank cycling I have had all levels spike as they do, I've done a test today and ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, nitrate is less than 0.1 nearly undetectable.
All other levels are spot on.
When would you say it would be safe to add my CUC I have been cycling with no lights so have very little diatoms on the rock and little algae on the rock but that's slowly reducing.
I'm going to do another test in a couple of days and a water change next weekend.
What do you guys think?

[scooter31707]

Was the rock dry or live. I said it is possible that you might be cycle, but IMO, I would give it about another week or 2 before adding the CUC.

[cleverbs]

Id say you are safe to add cuc, my tank cycled in 3 weeks with dry rock so it is possible. also dont do a water change unless you need to because of high nitrates, if your nitrates are at .1 theres no need at all to do a water change. If you want to be sure your tank is cycled just add some ammonia to the tank and see if its removed in 24hrs into nitrate.

[ChrisCartwright]

The rock was all live rock and I've got live sand it's a 850l tank lol

[REEFBUILDER1]

Hi i am on the 3rd week of tank cycling I have had all levels spike as they do, I've done a test today and ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, nitrate is less than 0.1 nearly undetectable.
All other levels are spot on.
When would you say it would be safe to add my CUC I have been cycling with no lights so have very little diatoms on the rock and little algae on the rock but that's slowly reducing.
I'm going to do another test in a couple of days and a water change next weekend.
What do you guys think?

What are your phosphates?

[ChrisCartwright]

I did a water change 48hrs ago.
I have monitored the ammonia nitrite nitrate spikes over the past couple of weeks it has been setup.
I have done 3 test I has been 4 weeks tomorrow.

[ChrisCartwright]

Before I was running rowa phos it was 0.5-0 that was the first test I did about 3-4 days after setting the tank up

[cleverbs]

you are good to go now then

[ChrisCartwright]

Ok I will give it a couple of more days to be safe and should i get some CUC or should I add 2 chromis first as they are hardy?

[cleverbs]

chromis are hardy to water but not to eachother, I dont think chromis are ever good test fish because they tend to fight eachother a lot and can possibly kill eachother just from fighting and you wont know why it died

I would just add some fish you want. add 1 or 2 fish. you will be fine, no need to wait. its not going to get any better without adding fish.

[ChrisCartwright]

Ok I will add the CUC as a start as i've got little algae.
Was thinking of an emerald and a couple of snails I'm planning on a goby in the future for the sand

[ChrisCartwright]

Would you add CUC or 2 fish first?

[cleverbs]

I'd add both

[ChrisCartwright]

I want to take it slow I will add the CUC first then I will add the fish thinking of 4 chromis it's a 850l tank and don't want to spike anything if I add both
Will the CUC use and of my bio load?

[scooter31707]

Please quarantine everything first

[ChrisCartwright]

I always quarantine everything.

[adova]

I always quarantine everything.

Then you probably have another 5 - 8 weeks to let the tank cycle / stablize :eek1:. CUC and a little ghost feeding for them perhaps until then?

[ChrisCartwright]

Brought some CUC today one fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, 5x turbo snails, 5 hermit crabs that's so far.