Am I ready for crabs/snails?

[michaelp]

ph: 8.3
NO2: 0
NO3: 25ppm
NH4: 0

Nitrates were around 50+ and yesterday I did a major water change so that looks about correct. Only question is whether I should do one more major change first and get that down to ~12ppm.

 

[digitalreefer]

When I set up my tank, the guy I got the live rock from gave me a bunch of snails, so I put them in at the same time... since the rock had almost no transport time, my tank was nearly cycled right away. My nitrates did spike a bit, however and the snails seemed to do fine.

I'm not saying it's the proper way to do it, but it seemed to work ok for me.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Wait it out. Don't do another water change IMO, if your tank is still cycling let it drop on its own.

 

[michaelp]

It's NOT cycling though. NH4 and NO2 have dropped to 0. Cycle is finished.

I'm just wondering about the NO3 numbers.

 

[nanoreefer22]

It's NOT cycling though. NH4 and NO2 have dropped to 0. Cycle is finished.

I'm just wondering about the NO3 numbers.

No3 is the last thing to spike in your cycle, once that drops your cycle is over.

Someone else chime in if I'm wrong.:help:

 

[michaelp]

Nitrates do not spike, they continue to grow until you do a water change (nothing "eats" nitrates NO3, so the only removal method is a water change).

The cycle is over when NH4 and NO2 are 0 and nitrates are present.

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

 

[nanoreefer22]

Actually clams eat No3 , not helpful for post-cycle but they do

 

[michaelp]

So does cheato I guess and a refugium.