2 & 1/2 weeks fully cycled?? Is this possible?

[AP_Reefing]

I was told to have patience that it takes 4-6 weeks to get through the cycle.
I tested for the 3rd time and am Soo excited!! I attached a pic of the test results using the API tester kit (order is ammonia - nitrite - nitrate - high range ph). It's almost too good to be true but am an optimist

Could this be true?

- July 19th tank was delivered and added water & live rock/ sand.

- July 27th , 1st reading:
Phos: .13 , Nitrate: 5-10 , Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 , Nitrite: .25

- July 29th was a little better

- August 6th first picture (with 4 test tubes) water seems cycled

- August 9th (just in case because I couldn't believe it - picture with 3 test tubes)..

Is this possible? Seems fast.. Tonight is the completion of the 3rd week.

 

[Old Fritz]

There are a variety of factors that can increase the amount of time to cycle a tank. Personally I've always used dr tims one and only and I'd typically add 1 or 2 smaller fish after 2 weeks of adding fish food to increase ammonia, it has always worked for me and I've never had cycling issues.

I will say though api kits are not super accurate but typically ime they read higher than what is actually in the tank.

Just in case see if the water parameters hold steady and if they do you can start to stock your tank

 

[Anubisxii]

Did you use any additives for the cycle like a starter bacteria?

I used a starter and took about 3 weeks to cycle, my word of advise is it can't hurt to wait. Sometimes you think it's cycled and then a new phase of spikes. I would keep testing and keep an eye on it.

If I could redo my cycling I would have waited another week or 2, nothing bad happened in my case but better safe than dealing with issues.

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

I was told to have patience that it takes 4-6 weeks to get through the cycle.
I tested for the 3rd time and am Soo excited!! I attached a pic of the test results using the API tester kit (order is ammonia - nitrite - nitrate - high range ph). It's almost too good to be true but am an optimist

Could this be true?

- July 19th tank was delivered and added water & live rock/ sand.

- July 27th , 1st reading:
Phos: .13 , Nitrate: 5-10 , Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 , Nitrite: .25

- July 29th was a little better

- August 6th first picture (with 4 test tubes) water seems cycled

- August 9th (just in case because I couldn't believe it - picture with 3 test tubes)..

Is this possible? Seems fast.. Tonight is the completion of the 3rd week.

Was it true live rock? Did you cure it?
Did you use a bottle bacteria?
What’s your ammonia source (fish, etc)?

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

But simple answer is yes, it’s possible.

 

[Glass Algae]

I used bio spira and my tank cycled within a week. Some people swear 5 days some say 6 weeks

 

[AP_Reefing]

The day after it was fully set up I added 4 clowns & 4 chromis's and added a fritz-cyme turbo start. 5 days later I added another turbo start (as suggested by the place that set me up).
Ok this makes things better now that I know that 3 weeks is not so uncommon. I plan on adding a few tangs and an anemone & torch on Thursday but I will keep testing to make sure that the water remains stable.
Excited to get working on this tank. Now it begins....

 

[AP_Reefing]

Thank you all

 

[Anubisxii]

Just going to add my 2 cents and I could be wrong, if someone disagrees please let me know, pick up some seachem prime if you ammonia spike at any point you can use that as a temp fix. I always have some on standby if needed. Again I'm no expert but I have had a lot of people tell me it's a tank saver.

 

[Glass Algae]

The day after it was fully set up I added 4 clowns & 4 chromis's and added a fritz-cyme turbo start. 5 days later I added another turbo start (as suggested by the place that set me up).
Ok this makes things better now that I know that 3 weeks is not so uncommon. I plan on adding a few tangs and an anemone & torch on Thursday but I will keep testing to make sure that the water remains stable.
Excited to get working on this tank. Now it begins....

Pics of tank out of curiosity? ☺

 

[AP_Reefing]

Just going to add my 2 cents and I could be wrong, if someone disagrees please let me know, pick up some seachem prime if you ammonia spike at any point you can use that as a temp fix. I always have some on standby if needed. Again I'm no expert but I have had a lot of people tell me it's a tank saver.

Thank you! I will look into this

 

[AP_Reefing]

Pics of tank out of curiosity? ☺

 

[Old Fritz]

Just going to add my 2 cents and I could be wrong, if someone disagrees please let me know, pick up some seachem prime if you ammonia spike at any point you can use that as a temp fix. I always have some on standby if needed. Again I'm no expert but I have had a lot of people tell me it's a tank saver.

It's a good thing to have on hand. It changes the type of ammonia for 48 hours I believe to a nontoxic form of ammonia which gives you time to do a water change and/or time for your bacteria to process it

 

[AP_Reefing]

It's a good thing to have on hand. It changes the type of ammonia for 48 hours I believe to a nontoxic form of ammonia which gives you time to do a water change and/or time for your bacteria to process it

Is this a nontoxic temporary remedy? and I know this may seem like a silly question but if there is an ammonia spike, how will this affect the corals and in what time frame? as well, how long does it take to fix? I'm brand new to this and am still learning

 

[SonyaBAZ]

The day after it was fully set up I added 4 clowns & 4 chromis's and added a fritz-cyme turbo start. 5 days later I added another turbo start (as suggested by the place that set me up).
Ok this makes things better now that I know that 3 weeks is not so uncommon. I plan on adding a few tangs and an anemone & torch on Thursday but I will keep testing to make sure that the water remains stable.
Excited to get working on this tank. Now it begins....

So there is cycled and then there is handling the bio-load you add to the tank. I would second @Anubisxii suggestion have some prime on hand and maybe an ammonia alert badge if you add a lot of fish at once. If you add too many fish at once you can overload the bacteria you have and it won't be able to a process dangerous ammonia fast enough. Just my thoughts...been there done that got the t-shirt. It wasn't fun.

 

[AP_Reefing]

So there is cycled and then there is handling the bio-load you add to the tank. I would second @Anubisxii suggestion have some prime on hand and maybe an ammonia alert badge if you add a lot of fish at once. If you add too many fish at once you can overload the bacteria you have and it won't be able to a process dangerous ammonia fast enough. Just my thoughts...been there done that got the t-shirt. It wasn't fun.

Seems like this is like having a first aid kit. I will pick one up. I am adding 5 baby tangs & 2 corals hopefully Thursday.
Thank you all for this recommendation

 

[Glass Algae]

Seems like this is like having a first aid kit. I will pick one up. I am adding 5 baby tangs & 2 corals hopefully Thursday.
Thank you all for this recommendation

Make sure you do a build thread if you havnt! I wanna keep up with this beautiful tank!

 

[AP_Reefing]

Make sure you do a build thread if you havnt! I wanna keep up with this beautiful tank!

Thank you! I haven't but thought that it was too late because it was built & put together in a shop and then delivered..?

 

[Old Fritz]

Is this a nontoxic temporary remedy? and I know this may seem like a silly question but if there is an ammonia spike, how will this affect the corals and in what time frame? as well, how long does it take to fix? I'm brand new to this and am still learning

It is infact temporary. Like I said it only changes the ammonia for about 48 hours (again can't remember the exact time) but you can always add more

 

[Glass Algae]

Thank you! I haven't but thought that it was too late because it was built & put together in a shop and then delivered..?

Nah! I just made mine today. Give a Lil pretext post pics and update as you go from now on! Pm me if /when you do so I can follow the thread!