So I am new to the saltwater tank Hobbie and I'm starting a 40g saltwater FOWLR tank. I have 40 lbs of dry rock from BRS curing in a brute trash can with saltwater, powerhead, heater, and started it with bacteria. I tested the water after a week and still have ammonia showing at 8ppm. Is there something else I should do or is it just a waiting game? I'm new to this so any help is appreciated.
8ppm ammonia is really high... did you add liquid ammonia? Also what kind of bacteria did you add? Like Swiss said, it's a waiting game... a cycle can take a few weeks to a couple months.
I didn't add any liquid ammonia just rock saltwater made from rodi water and I put in biospira for bacteria. I did have the lid on the trashcan to keep light out. Not sure if that starved the good bacteria of oxygen so I took it off. Will check water again tonight and see. Should I do a water change if still high?
Update** just tested my ammonia and I'm now down to between .25 and .5ppm and am also seeing the nitrite spike in the water. Would you guys recommend putting the rock with live sand and fresh saltwater in the DT now amd starting my tank cycle or wait til nitrites drop from the rock? Thanks again for any help or advice.
If you wait for the Nitrite to drop, your tank won't need cycling. The cured rock and live sand will sustain your first 1 or 2 fish without any problems.
Sounds good I'll wait for the nitrites to drop then set the DT up and start with a clown pair. Will update with pictures when finished.
Ok just a little update. I tested the water and ammonia was .25ppm nitrite was .25ppm and nitrate was between 0-5ppm. Think it's good to move on to set up in the DT? If so I was wondering how long the rocks can be out of water before the good bacteria dies. I only have two 20 gallon cans for making rodi water and it'll take around 6 hours to make new rodi water. Or can I use the water that's in the rocks trash can already?
I would wait till you have zero readings on both Nh4 and No2 as Mr B said, then I would transfer to DT with NEW saltwater. the rocks can sit with wet towels or newspaper over them for a few hours, but I dont see why you cant leave them in a container with the current water the time you set up your DT.
I have them in another tub with the saltwater while I'm making more rodi water. Checked levels again nh4 looked like .25 and no2 was 1ppm this time - should I continue to keep them separate from the DT or get it all set up with new saltwater and live sand and let the system run without fish and check levels then? This is also the impatient part of me coming out lol but if you think waiting and keeping rocks separate until they stabilize and drop to 0 I'll do that.