Can anyone explain?Never seen ammonia spike during cycle?

snooked321 · Mar 11, 2016

I never seen an ammonia spike during the cycle, I dosed dr. tims ammonia and added the bacteria. Even right after dosing the ammonia I never seen any ammonia on the kit (salifert). But now after a couple weeks I have nitrate. Its a 40 breeder with a 20 long sump, has had live sand and live rock from the beginning. I added a dead shrimp a little less than a week ago and still no ammonia showing. I took a sample to the lfs and no ammonia with their kit either. They did see low nitites a few days ago. I tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate last night and the only thing that came up positive was nitrates, Could the cycle be done?

Pete polyp · Mar 11, 2016

Sounds like your rock was fully cured when you got it. I would say it's safe to add a fish and see what happens. I have used live rock and the cycle was finished within 7 days.

Retro Reefer · Mar 11, 2016

I had the same thing happen on my tank, I was using clean Aqua cultured rock.. Never saw ammonia, caught trites either going up or coming down a couple times then watched my nitrates go up to about .5 over about a 10 day cycle.. Stocked tank week 2 with coral, week 4 with fish and it has been doing great.

brandon429 · Mar 11, 2016

http://reef2reef.com/threads/new-ta...d-cocktail-shrimp-live-rock-no-shrimp.214618/

I set up my frags on the same day I brought home my live rock and sand

By skipping the cycle, I'm meaning it literally. Group b rocks do not have to recycle, it's an option. Dry rocks need the cycle

It's not reef anarchy

it's just the same biology when people upgrade tanks in their home and just move stuff over

Go slow on adding fish they should be QT anyway

I just moved stuff from the pet store to my house. Rocks can't tell

DeniseAndy · Mar 11, 2016

The live rock is what kept you from the normal spike. It was already seeded with enough bacteria to handle the load. I would say start adding, but slowly! Give the bacteria time to adjust for each new bioload added.

Salty1962 · Mar 11, 2016

LR and live sand expedites the cycling process. You should be safe to add livestock SLOWLY. Then test after you have the livestock in to see how your tanks responds. You could still see some small bumps an ammonia.