someone pls school me on cycling!

[RY@N]

Ok, so my tank has been up and cycling for the past 10 days. I started off with just dry rock and was going to add a couple of pieces of live rock to seed with, but I'm very impatient. So on day 4 I started dosing Microbacter7, added a couple of chromes (as recommended by the LFS), and also added a few pieces of uncured live rock (I figured since the tank is new I would take the opportunity to cure while cycling and the die off would help with the ammonia build up). I have been dosing Microbacter7 since then and will do so for the next week, per the instructions and LFS.

I've tested my parameters and these are my results:

day 5: ammonia 0.50, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, pH 8.3
day 8: ammonia 0.50, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, pH 8.3
day 10: ammonia 0.50, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 0, pH 8.3

So, can anyone explain to me what's going on with my tank? Is it normal for ammonia to only reach 0.50 and have nitrite begin to show? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

[civicdemon]

as long as you see nitrite and nitrate go up as the ammonia disappears your good to go. Ones you only see nitrates you are then done cycling. Do a water change then add fish. As for cycling with fish, that is an old method and is actually pretty cruel to the fish. it is easier to just put in a piece of raw shrimp and let it decompose. But yeah just wait it out and be patient. This is the key in salt water. My tank took almost 2 months to cycle. If you have a buddy with an extablished tank, ask them for some of there water at water change and add it to your tank. this will help speed it along.

 

[RY@N]

thanks for the advice. Sorry for the rookie mistakes.

 

[civicdemon]

No big deal we have all made them, thats how we grow in the hobby.

 

[BigDaddyStar]

Yeah big difference between fresh and salt is you can skip right over the cycle. Find someone nearby and collect their water change..The rock uncured can mess up everything. It leaches toxins. So a water change is recommended now after 2 weeks. But if it wasn't to much you should be ok.

 

[Scout]

Just give it some more time, and wait for an algea bloom.. Sense you used more dry rock it should take roughly 2-3 weeks.

 

[RY@N]

thanks for the help, guys.

 

[zigginit]

I would use fish as you did myself to cycle. that stuff does not hurt fish so much as it does corals. your cycle is going as it should. id say from here on out just let the tank ride as is, no more dosing stuff. your tank will build its own equilibrium to what you have in it. if you dose it will throw it off. the thing with any tank is add slowly and let the tank catch up. adding to many fish can crash even a cycled tank because its a huge addition of poop to filter out that your system is not ready for.

 

[LAreefguy]

I would use fish as you did myself to cycle. that stuff does not hurt fish so much as it does corals. your cycle is going as it should. id say from here on out just let the tank ride as is, no more dosing stuff. your tank will build its own equilibrium to what you have in it. if you dose it will throw it off. the thing with any tank is add slowly and let the tank catch up. adding to many fish can crash even a cycled tank because its a huge addition of poop to filter out that your system is not ready for.

I'm curious as to why you think it's ok to use living creatures to cycle a tank . Like Stated in previous posts, raw shrimp is just as affective. Why put anything in a situation that's harmful? It's old school and cruel as our hobby grows we should as well. Plus if u don't care about the "tester fish" why even care for a reef?


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[zigginit]

I'm curious as to why you think it's ok to use living creatures to cycle a tank . Like Stated in previous posts, raw shrimp is just as affective. Why put anything in a situation that's harmful? It's old school and cruel as our hobby grows we should as well. Plus if u don't care about the "tester fish" why even care for a reef?


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well lets put it in context here, 1 or 2 hardy fish in a big tank will not make enough ammonia to hurt them but will get the cycle going. a shrimp can work too but I don't like to look at dead shrimp. when I started my tank those starter fish were there for a long time after with no ill effects. im not saying do something to hurt them either, im saying take is slow and let nature catch up to your stock.

 

[LAreefguy]

well lets put it in context here, 1 or 2 hardy fish in a big tank will not make enough ammonia to hurt them but will get the cycle going. a shrimp can work too but I don't like to look at dead shrimp. when I started my tank those starter fish were there for a long time after with no ill effects. im not saying do something to hurt them either, im saying take is slow and let nature catch up to your stock.

I hear ya, but still fish die via the whole starter fish concept. All your trying to do is create a cycle there are far more creative ways to get it done. Iv used starter fish years ago and thought nothing of it at the time. But it's Deff not a humane situation. Just my 2 cents though.


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[zigginit]

I hear ya, but still fish die via the whole starter fish concept. All your trying to do is create a cycle there are far more creative ways to get it done. Iv used starter fish years ago and thought nothing of it at the time. But it's Deff not a humane situation. Just my 2 cents though.


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To each his own I guess. I do not believe its inhumane in the slightest. adding 10 fish would be not so smart but 1 or 2 is within natures limits. and with the seeder LR it will break the cycle in smoothly and the fish will never know it.

 

[RY@N]

thank you all for the eye opening and helpful insight. Much appreciated!

 

[exray]

I would Dr, Tim's one&only starter kit and let it do what it needs to do.

 

[waterman78]

I say purchase a book on reef aquariums or nano tanks.

 

[RY@N]

that would be nice, if all info provided everywhere stayed consistent.

I say purchase a book on reef aquariums or nano tanks.

 

[jessesoto33]

try nitrifying bacteria it speeds up the process, my last 5 tank I've used nite out 2 and had added fish and corals in 3 days. so it does work, also the reason I use the nite out 2, is because cheaper cost wise and easy to get Petco good luck

 

[RY@N]

I am currently dosing Microbacter7, so would it be bad to dose something else into the mix?

try nitrifying bacteria it speeds up the process, my last 5 tank I've used nite out 2 and had added fish and corals in 3 days. so it does work, also the reason I use the nite out 2, is because cheaper cost wise and easy to get Petco good luck

 

[jessesoto33]

I am currently dosing Microbacter7, so would it be bad to dose something else into the mix?

to be honest I dont know but if you dont have any live stock then it wont hurt anything and you can check it out by testing

 

[waterman78]

If not purchased books, you can always go to a local library for the research.