Am I doing something wrong??

[thirty5]

My 28g nano has been running for a while. I started with about 25 lbs live sand and I would say about 25-30 lbs of live rock cured already and RO water that I purchased.

Here is the thing.

Water Temp is a little high, but that is because I just got a new thermometer.

Salinity is 1.022 (i hate hydrometer, I don't trust it, one tiny air bubble on the float kills the reading)
Ammonia is 0 (or just over, hard to tell)
Nitrate is 0
Nitrite is 0
PH is 8.4


Ammonia was up at about 1 at one point, and dropped every day.

I have not gotten algae bloom or anything. Did I miss anything? Do I have to get algae bloom?

I don't want to rush anything but just want to make sure I didn't miss a step. I had also added Bacter Vital to help with cycle.

Can anyone also recommend a place to get a refractometer for cheap. I don't want a "cheap" one, I just don't want to pay a lot for it! :usa1::usa1:

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

tell us the steps to did to start of the tank

 

[thirty5]

tell us the steps to did to start of the tank

RO Water (added salt)
Added Live sand (took day or so to fully settle)
Added all live rock (not dry)
Added Bacter Vital (dosed each day)

Tank running for about a week.

Ammonia Levels rose, and settle back down, all other levels 0

 

[Bryceandmandy]

Lack of nitrate is common with well cured rock, if theres nothing to die off theres nothing to feed your cycle. Get a starter fish which will naturally release ammonia and get things going. Temp in those all-in-one tanks is usually a problem but 80-81 isnt the end of the world. GENTLY knock the hydrometer against something solid to knock off the bubbles, i know of refractometers that retail around 50-60. Id get one if i were you, they have the ability to be recalibrated periodically unlike hydrometers.
Also, if you top off with RO be sure to buffer it! The pH of RO is in the low 6's with no dissolved mineral content ( aka low dkh).

 

[thirty5]

Lack of nitrate is common with well cured rock, if theres nothing to die off theres nothing to feed your cycle. Get a starter fish which will naturally release ammonia and get things going. Temp in those all-in-one tanks is usually a problem but 80-81 isnt the end of the world. GENTLY knock the hydrometer against something solid to knock off the bubbles, i know of refractometers that retail around 50-60. Id get one if i were you, they have the ability to be recalibrated periodically unlike hydrometers.
Also, if you top off with RO be sure to buffer it! The pH of RO is in the low 6's with no dissolved mineral content ( aka low dkh).

I really don't want to start with fish. Maybe I will throw a shrimp in.

I am topping off with RO, i have buffer to add.

Can you let me know where to get the refractometer???

 

[Og Drogon]

I really don't want to start with fish. Maybe I will throw a shrimp in.

I am topping off with RO, i have buffer to add.

Can you let me know where to get the refractometer???

I wouldn't put a fish thru that either maybe you can get some water from somebody ......if you started with live rock you can take one out and after 3-6hrs it will have die-off on it to start of the cycle too, there's countless ways,
BTW: Tito from Gotham Aquatics has them he's a vendor here. Check with him...


Fix Your Fin Or Get Your Fin Fixed!

 

[thirty5]

I wouldn't put a fish thru that either maybe you can get some water from somebody ......if you started with live rock you can take one out and after 3-6hrs it will have die-off on it to start of the cycle too, there's countless ways,
BTW: Tito from Gotham Aquatics has them he's a vendor here. Check with him...


Fix Your Fin Or Get Your Fin Fixed!

I also started with live sand. So it not like I didn't start with any Bio load

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

I really don't want to start with fish. Maybe I will throw a shrimp in.

I am topping off with RO, i have buffer to add.

Can you let me know where to get the refractometer???

I left a cock tail shrimp in my tank 1-2 weeks to boost up the cycle a lil bit and my level rised up like crazy then they settled down.


Additected To MR =D Lol

 

[Bryceandmandy]

Shrimp and other inverts are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, id say a tank bred ocellaris clown or two just avoid damsels. Unless you want one, they tend to get aggressive though. Hardier fish with higher tolerances to elevated levels of ammonia and nitrite will be absolutely fine so long as you dont stock the tank too quickly or dont overfeed. Take things slowly and cautiously and youll have nothing to worry about, the proper fish can handle it.