|
02/01/2011, 02:03 AM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
Question about cycling
I have a 55 gallon that i set up about two weeks ago. i bought 15 lbs of live rock from my local fish store and let it cycle for a few days then i bought just under 80 lbs from a guy whos tank was pretty nasty (couldnt see through his white cloudy water. He was on his way out of the hobby and just wanted to get rid of his stuff. i brushed the live rock off and threw it in my tank. I've been testing the water the past couple days and im getting 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and about 10 ppm nitrate. Is it possible that my cycle is complete in such a little time?
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
02/01/2011, 07:55 AM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,799
|
If there is nothing in the tank to produce ammonia there is nothing to start your cycle.
Drop a raw shrimp in your tank and leave it there until you get an ammonia spike. Then just monitor nitrites until they are undetectable. When all of your nitrite have been converted to nitrate your cycle is complete. This does not mean you can go hog wild adding livestock. Go slow, ad one or two small fish at a time and monitor ammonia and nitrite to know when it is safe to add more.
__________________
In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank. |
02/01/2011, 08:04 AM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,877
|
If you drop in a raw shrimp, put it in the leg of panty hose or knee high, or you'll struggle getting it back out. Same can be accomplished with a small pinch of fish food everyday...
__________________
I'm new to this saltwater thing, all comments should be taken with a BUCKET of salt! :-) -Stacey |
02/01/2011, 08:17 AM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,799
|
A raw shrimp with the shell still intact will not deteriorate that badly in just a few days. The shrimp can be removed completely, a pinch of fish food everyday is in there to stay.
__________________
In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank. |
02/01/2011, 08:38 AM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,877
|
Not about to fight about this, but the pinch that is left in there actually continues to feed, where as ripping out the shrimp leaves no food. I've had better luck with "Big" cycles in regards to adding fish later..just my opinion though, hundreds of ways to do this. The point being the tank must be fed.
__________________
I'm new to this saltwater thing, all comments should be taken with a BUCKET of salt! :-) -Stacey |
02/01/2011, 09:09 AM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,799
|
Not be adversarial at all, just my experience.
That is what the introduction of livestock after the cycle is complete does. It continues to feed the bacterial colonies established by the initial ammonia spike.
__________________
In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank. |
02/01/2011, 09:48 AM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Garden Grove, Ca
Posts: 17,023
|
There is a good chance you will not see a cycle at all with 80 pounds of rock from an established tank. I would go the raw shrimp route (I like to blend them and pour it into the tank for a fast result). If you don't see an ammonia spike after a week you are okay to add your clean up crew and then fish (slowly).
|
02/01/2011, 11:53 AM | #8 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
Quote:
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
|
02/01/2011, 04:24 PM | #9 | |
cats and large squashes
|
Quote:
__________________
Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
|
02/01/2011, 07:22 PM | #10 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
I threw the shrimp in earlier today, prolly just to be on the safe side. I've been testing twice a day. Is that not necessary? Not enough?
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
02/01/2011, 09:18 PM | #11 |
cats and large squashes
|
How big was it? If it was really huge, testing twice a day might not be a bad idea Otherwise it's not needed.
__________________
Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
02/01/2011, 10:34 PM | #12 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
A really huge shrimp... That's funny!! It was medium in size... for a shrimp. I will wait and see!
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
02/02/2011, 07:35 AM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,799
|
Every other day is fine.
No need to burn through your test kits to check a process that can take weeks.
__________________
In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank. |
02/02/2011, 10:00 AM | #14 |
cats and large squashes
|
I think your tank was already cycled. You had 80 lb of rock from an established tank for a total of 95 lb, you were feeding fish food and having some die off from moving the rocks and everything was zero but nitrates. You could make sure by continuing feeding the fish food and if observing nothing but nitrates increasing, you're cycled. With dry rock and a shrimp, it might take 40 days to get to that point, but you started ahead of the game.
The fact that the tank you got the rock from was neglected may have meant the rock was extra full of good bacteria. Depending on the size, this shrimp may or may not pollute things enough to give you another cycle. Here's another way to look at it, if you're upgrading and move the rock from your established tank to a different glass box, it doesn't change the fact that you're cycled. You wouldn't add a shrimp in with your fish and corals when upgrading. This is very similar. With this shrimp if somehow you don't see an ammonia spike or only a small one, don't add another shrimp and keep trying - it will be positive proof you were already well cycled. The reason you don't want to over cycle is that you may be killing off good life on that established rock, depending on it's condition. Lots goes on on established rock that helps keep your tank free of algae, if you've got that stuff going you don't want to destroy it. It takes a long time to get to that point, so you don't want to set it back.
__________________
Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums Last edited by Angel*Fish; 02/02/2011 at 10:10 AM. |
02/02/2011, 06:34 PM | #15 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
I took some water to get tested today. He said ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 20 ppm. He also said my phosphate levels were a lil up there. Would it be ok to try a small fish or do I still have reason to wait?
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
02/02/2011, 08:23 PM | #16 |
cats and large squashes
|
I apologize, but I don't know the exact answer. If you put a shrimp in there, you should definitely wait until the shrimp has completely deteriorated as it's continuing to pollute until it's gone and then see what the results are ---if the nitrates go up some more while the other params continue to stay at zero then you'll know it's done.
If you didn't, I would continue to feed as if there's a fish in there and watch the nitrates go up some more while the other params continue to stay at zero. Somebody else would know how to tell you exactly what day - according to the chart above you'd want to see the nitrates at 50, then do a water change. But if that shrimp is dissolved and all you see is nitrates go up after about a week ( zero nitrate and ammonia) then in my opinion your tank has clearly shown it can handle a fish Here's a good article to ponder - skip down to Myth 14. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.php
__________________
Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
02/02/2011, 08:44 PM | #17 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Canada/England
Posts: 114
|
Nice article puts things in simple terms for beginers.Im not sure many people can wait 3 -6 months before getting fish though.
|
02/02/2011, 11:19 PM | #18 | |
cats and large squashes
|
I meant Myth 15, btw
Quote:
The first thing so many new hobbyists do is buy fish or other creatures which work against the purpose of "establishing" the tank. The popularity of crabs boggles my mind. I just read a post where someone has a 5 in dsb with 2 sand sifting stars in it - I can't even wrap my brain around that. Reading on this board, I'm constantly seeing little or no concern for the infauna and microfauna in the tank when they are practically the backbone of your tank.
__________________
Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums |
|
02/03/2011, 01:18 AM | #19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 8
|
I figured it was myth 15. Very informationable! Thanks for alll the help I really appreciate it. I'll try to exercise some patience!!
__________________
"...fish are our friends not food...except stinkin' dolphins...oh look at me im a flippin little dolphin..." Current Tank Info: 55 gallons of saltwater! |
02/03/2011, 07:59 AM | #20 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 3,345
|
|
03/06/2011, 06:45 PM | #21 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 231
|
I added two medium raw shrimps since two days in my 80 gal system (Aquarium + sump). Is it possible to have an augmentation in Total Ammonia in this short period of time? from 0 to 0,2 mg/L? How much ammonia is a "good" spike for the cycle if I'm beginning only with dry rock?
Oh! and now my tank smells really bad... |
03/06/2011, 06:49 PM | #22 |
Fish Advisor
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,604
|
Wait until your ammonia reaches it's spike, then when it declines to 0, you can take your shrimp out. I also used a raw shrimp and my tank smelled really bad too. The smell will go away on it's on.
|
Tags |
cycling, cycling questions, nitrogen cycle |
Thread Tools | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Best way to cycle your tank? | rolikesfish | New to the Hobby | 5 | 10/27/2013 06:01 AM |
tank cycled? | evitug | New to the Hobby | 12 | 08/09/2011 07:39 AM |
Can i cycle a 20g with water from another tank? | Northern Sensei | The Reef Chemistry Forum | 7 | 01/21/2011 07:54 AM |
cycling a 10g tank | Koralyn | New to the Hobby | 3 | 12/23/2010 05:14 AM |
Bare Bones of Cycling -questions | velfamily | New to the Hobby | 11 | 11/30/2009 12:29 PM |