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Hey there! I just set up my 2.5 Gallon tank with lava rocks, barnacles, a dead sea fan, calcium carbonate rocks, and a 2 inch macroalgae ball. I noticed in one video I watched during my research that one individual used stability to help kickstart the bacterial community in the tank.

https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Stabilit ... 971&sr=8-1

Is this necessary? I believe the macroalgae which I bought should help with this but I just wanted to see how you guys kickstart off a brand new tank. Thank you!

Hey there! Lights on tank for 12 hours on then 12 off, keep the lid off the tank and and keep the water at around 22degC if you are using a heater.

It should start to get algae in weeks to a month hopefully.


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odin wrote:Hey there! Lights on tank for 12 hours on then 12 off, keep the lid off the tank and and keep the water at around 22degC if you are using a heater.

It should start to get algae in weeks to a month hopefully.


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Hey there! I do not plan to use a light or heater, but I do have my tank close to a window that receives a good amount of indirect light. Do you think this will be sufficient? Thanks for the help :)!

Absolutely, I wouldn’t bother with QuickStart or anything like that, just let the tank do it’s thing. Good luck!


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Hey there! I just tested my water and it has been about a week since I have started to cycle my tank with macroalgae in it. Nitrates and nitrites level seem to be 0 which is good, however, the pH is registering roughly around a 7. I have calcium carbonate stones and a sea barnacle shell present in the tank, will the pH be expected to rise over time? Also, I have an increase in chlorine, what can I do about this?

EDIT: I also have a dead sea fan in the water if that matters. Doesn't seem to be affecting ammonia since I am not noticing a color change in my test strip

What water source did you use to fill your tank up?

odin wrote:What water source did you use to fill your tank up?

I used distilled water and everything was rinsed with either distilled water or RO water

Ok, thought you maybe used tap water as ours has chlorine in it, you need to figure out where that came from because there shouldn’t be any really.


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Will the chlorine disappear on its own? Not sure where else it could have come from :( I mean I did wipe down the tank on the inside with a diluted rubbing alcohol mixture but I highly doubt that it would leave a detectable tract. Maybe my testing strip isn't so good D:

I agree, I always find that liquid test kits are way more accurate. I’m not sure if it will go on it’s own but you can do water changes to reduce it.. did you try testing the water you brought?


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