185g cycling

[jhorrocks]

185g with 40g sump
- no live rock
- fresh live sand
- 4 liters of matrix bio filtration (half in reactor and had in media bag sitting in sump)
- large skimmer (currently off)
- Dosing bioculture twice a day

So I have a handful of small cocktail shrimp
In the sump and have been ghost feeding. I had the ammonia spike to 2.0ppm but has been sitting at .5ppm (test daily). Tank has had water in it for 10 days. Fully running for 6 days.

Did I get enough of a spike? I have not shown any signs of diatoms or algae.

My other thought is that at 225g of volume and the heavy filtration. Am I safer by adding a fish than someone starting out a 20g nano? I have shrimp rotting in there and can’t get over .5ppm ammonia. My thought is that a fish can’t have as much bio load as rotting shrimp and I’m showing only .5ppm.

Thanks for any advice. I’m patient. I just feel like I’m stalling the cycle....

 

[Flippers4pups]

185g with 40g sump
- no live rock
- fresh live sand
- 4 liters of matrix bio filtration (half in reactor and had in media bag sitting in sump)
- large skimmer (currently off)
- Dosing bioculture twice a day

So I have a handful of small cocktail shrimp
In the sump and have been ghost feeding. I had the ammonia spike to 2.0ppm but has been sitting at .5ppm (test daily). Tank has had water in it for 10 days. Fully running for 6 days.

Did I get enough of a spike? I have not shown any signs of diatoms or algae.

My other thought is that at 225g of volume and the heavy filtration. Am I safer by adding a fish than someone starting out a 20g nano? I have shrimp rotting in there and can’t get over .5ppm ammonia. My thought is that a fish can’t have as much bio load as rotting shrimp and I’m showing only .5ppm.

Thanks for any advice. I’m patient. I just feel like I’m stalling the cycle....

Don't add fish. Even small amounts of ammonia is deadly.

Cycling can take weeks to complete. When your ammonia is zero and your reading nitrate, that's when you can add some fish. Be patient.

 

[jhorrocks]

Will the ammonia ever get to zero with the shrimp in there?

Thanks

 

[jhorrocks]

Will the ammonia ever get to zero with the shrimp in there?

Thanks

 

[Flippers4pups]

Will the ammonia ever get to zero with the shrimp in there?

Thanks

Yes it will.

Here's a good read:

https://reefbuilders.com/2018/03/17/beginners-guide-to-cycling-a-saltwater-aquarium/

 

[Sparkymarc]

I used ammonia and kept ammonia levels at 2ppm because higher ammonia levels should encourage bacteria growth

 

[Matt Carden]

Welcome to R2R!

I'm doing my second cycle now so I won't give advice. Why no rock though? Need area for fish to hide.

 

[jhorrocks]

Should have plenty of places to hide... just no actual live rock. I did add two pieces of cured live rock to the sump. Having a little diatom bloom now. Nitrites and ammonia below .25 after a second dose of ammonia. I’m thinking of a water change and seeing where I’m at. Should I turn skimmer on yet?

Nitrates 25
Nitrites .25
Ammonia .25
PH 7.9

 

[Matt Carden]

What is that structure made of? Unless it's plastic, it will need to cycle I would think.

That's a really cool tank!