Discussion on cycling the reef aquarium

NITRATE LEVELS / Cycling

it along its been a week and the level should start to drop shouldn't it? Will/is something causing it to slow its cycle? No, nothing is slowing it done (other than the lack of nitrobacter) which will occur naturally.Your first cycle is ammonia...then nitrite...and nitrate last Usually ammonia takes the longest, nitrite in less time in about 1/3 less time than the ammonia. This is common just let it happen! However, Don't add any more livestock untill you get a zero reading.

I have a Wet / Dry filter with bio balls I have heard they produce Nitrate how do I remove them?

Providing you have enough rock 1.5 lb per gal or the equivalent in sand and all parameters are OK ammonia and nitrite and the tank is fairly stable...remove approx 15% every week until they are all removed. This will give the nitrifying bacteria a good chance to relocate to the live rock or sand in relation to the tanks current bio load

We are cycling for the first time, do we need to get a zero ammonia, nitrite and nitrate reading before adding creatures?

You want to add ALL the live rock and then get a zero Ammonia and zero Nitrite reading. Depending on how much die-of is on the rock will determine how long the cycle takes.

Usually, you will go from low ammonia to an extremely high reading...then zero.
Then the nitrite begins again from zero to extremely high... then zero.
You will then get a faint nitrate reading indicating a complete cycle, that's when you can add your livestock.
Providing you have enough liverock and or sand something like 1.5 lbs. per gallon you should experience near complete denitrification on a regular basis.

My question is should I keep the biological media in the wet/dry filter during the break period for the live rock then gradually remove the bio-balls or when I add the live rock remove the bio-balls from the start?? It just seemed to me that there would be some benefit to using the available bacteria that is well established in the wet/dry filter.

You don't say if this is an active tank i.e.: existing fish, existing water...that you may be thinking about reusing also If you have any fish...they should be removed when you add the liverock and complete the cycling process. From there, I would question the suitability or history of the water. Has it ever been treated with medication? Has it had problems with algae? High Nitrate? My thoughts would be start off right... use ro/di water with a HQ salt mix Ditch the bioballs same with any existing sand, rock, decorations (existing liverock) add *ALL* the liverock go through the complete cycle then add inverts all or most then add fish.. all or most IME it doesn't pay to cut a corner or get a short cut here or there. Its best to start with a *known* and build from there. and finally...I don't see any real benefit from using the bioballs.

I have another tank that I have been cycling with live rock for two weeks. Its a 30 gallon with a plenum. 1" of crushed coral, 1" inch of sand and 1" of live sand. I have 25 lbs of live rock. My question is on one side the crushed coral has this brownish green almost algae like stuff growing.. What is it is it normal??? Yes, I mean its not like its supposed to happen but I wouldn't be surprised at a small algae outbreak sounds like a typical cyano bacteria caused by cycling. Are you using purified tap water? If not that will cause algae..

I have not turned on the lights..Well its been 2 weeks so I would think its probably about time

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