90 Restart question

This I'd like to hear more about ^. So your tank has been going 3 weeks? That's about long enough to get the bacterial population up to speed. If you want to do this right, get salifert tests. API is inaccurate. Not even close enough.

 

I only used API for Ammonia and Nitrite when i cycled my tank. I have enough rock to make sure there is no problem with those. Everything else i have is Salifert, Nitrate Phosphate Alk Cal Mg. I didn't find it worth my cash to buy Salifert Ammonia and nitrite kits. Just have your LFS check those to find out when your cycle is fully completed.

 

What do you want me to tell you about it? Here you can see some on the maps
https://www.google.com/maps/place/H...2!3m1!1s0x88fe71cb110ab89b:0xc7b6165f16ac5e06

 

It's brackish water I believe not salt. The salt concentration will vary depending on the tide. Why in the world would you go to all the trouble of using dry base rock to avoid pest and then collect wild snails and hermits? You should have just used some live rock and called it a day.

 

Its full salt. Didn't think of the little crabs and snails as pests.. My main thing I wanted to avoid with dry rock was aptasia

 

I've got .5 nitrite and 0 nitrate now

 

That's to be expected. You're seeing the cycle happen right before your eyes. You're almost there.

 

This must be a great project for your family. I hope you take the advice people are offering. Many on here have been doing this for decades.

 

Yes. I've been doing this since I was 12 myself. Salt for the last 20 years.. but I always just either put mollys in... or last time left the big shrimp in... and waiting. I'm not sure why I'm making it so complicated this time around LOL. I think I got in a little bit of a rush from the excitement!

 

I hope your little critters make it. It's great that your kids are involved!