Could It Have Cycled & I Missed It????

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

I have had my tank running for about 3 weeks now and have had live rock in and a deli shrimp since the start. It's a 55 gal with 53 lb of live rock. The rock is awesome and came with lots of hitch hikers feather dusters and coraline alge.

I have a 100 gal skimmer along with a Aqua Clear110. filter and have good new age growth on the rocks as well as the sand.

PH is 8.2
SG is 1.025 to 1.026
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Amonnia 0
Temp 78F

It ran for about 9 days before I started testing it cause I did not have a kit. I have been testing every day to every other day and all test are showing up perfect.

Is it possible that the tank could have cycled and I didn't even know it?

saltyfish · May 9, 2014

I have set up or moves around a dozen tanks, and I always seem to have missed the Ammonia and Nitrite spikes. I usually see the end result of a Nitrate spike though because of die off from the live rock and/or sand. If you used dry sand, then I could see it being totally plausible of not seeing any Ammonia, Nitrites, or Nitrates especially with the test kits available. Some test kits are not very sensitive to low levels, so it could still be cycling and you just aren't getting a reading on the Ammonia and Nitrates. Most tanks will get some sort of Diatom Bloom towards the end of the cycle.

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

saltyfish said:
I have set up or moves around a dozen tanks, and I always seem to have missed the Ammonia and Nitrite spikes. I usually see the end result of a Nitrate spike though because of die off from the live rock and/or sand. If you used dry sand, then I could see it being totally plausible of not seeing any Ammonia, Nitrites, or Nitrates especially with the test kits available. Some test kits are not very sensitive to low levels, so it could still be cycling and you just aren't getting a reading on the Ammonia and Nitrates. Most tanks will get some sort of Diatom Bloom towards the end of the cycle.

So ther is a good chance I misses it. What is a Diatom Bloom? How will I know if it is happening?

prsnlty · May 9, 2014

Looks like a brown dust or algae on everything. Then it goes away

Waters · May 9, 2014

With good live rock, your initial cycle may never happen. If the rock already has lots of established bacteria, it will start acting as the filter immediately. I never saw any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates from day one and my tank is now almost 8 months old. The diatom bloom is caused by excessive silicates....once those are used up, the diatoms go away. You could also add a CUC to help keep it in check.

Pete polyp · May 9, 2014

Get some fish!

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

That sounds awesome. I have the Diatum bloom now. Do you think it would be safe for fish, coral and anemones?

Bad Company · May 9, 2014

A few fish and hardy corals perhaps, I would stock gradually, mot people recommend not adding anemones for at least 6 months

Pete polyp · May 9, 2014

You should probably start with a fish and see how things go. If everything is looking good a few weeks later start with some easy to keep corals like button polyps. For the anemone it would probably be best to hold off for a while, like 6 months.

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

Awesome.... sounds good!!

Pete polyp · May 9, 2014

Bad Company said:
A few fish and hardy corals perhaps, I would stock gradually, mot people recommend not adding anemones for at least 6 months

We must have replied at the same time haha

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

Pete polyp said:
We must have replied at the same time haha

Great minds think alike LOL!!!

Lemony Lemons · May 9, 2014

SCHMUSTIN said:
That sounds awesome. I have the Diatum bloom now. Do you think it would be safe for fish, coral and anemones?

My 90g just finished cycling. I only know this because of my diatom bloom.. I never catch the spike, 3 tanks now - you may have missed yours too.

My advice, I learned the hard way on my first tank - patience is key. Don't spend your money on anything expensive or excessive..

You can always put ammonia in your tank from home depot or lowes, test it and make sure it spiked up and then wait 24 hours - if it drops back to 0 then your tanks ready.. If not I'd wait.

Once you're satisfied and sure, get a small CUC and one cheaper fish, that will be safe and happy with whatever you plan on doing in the future so you don't have to remove him.

I got some snails, a harlequin serpent sea star and a fighting conch. Waited 3 days and then added a diamond watchman goby. He's doing great and will be perfect for my future fish and corals.

Also, here's a super cool video of him (rock music and all).

http://youtu.be/Jy9qfdSh0dk

Best of luck!

Z06-Hec · May 9, 2014

Question, i have seen Fluval has Biological enhancers (good bacteria) out there, claiming add your fish immediately.... Are these any good?

captdav · May 9, 2014

New to site just checking if I can post

captdav · May 9, 2014

Hello my name is Dave I have a 75 gallon salt tank with a wet dry filter and a protein skimmer built into my sump I'm also using metal halieds I want to purchase a chiller but is out of my budget right now I was thinking about freezing r o water and letting it thaw over my sump I lose about a gallon a day due to evaporation any ideas would be helpfull thanks Dave

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

captdav said:
Hello my name is Dave I have a 75 gallon salt tank with a wet dry filter and a protein skimmer built into my sump I'm also using metal halieds I want to purchase a chiller but is out of my budget right now I was thinking about freezing r o water and letting it thaw over my sump I lose about a gallon a day due to evaporation any ideas would be helpfull thanks Dave

Ha ha ha good hijack...

You may get more answers it you start your own thread. Start in the new members area lots of people view that area and you should get some good responses pretty quick.

SCHMUSTIN · May 9, 2014

Z06-Hec said:
Question, i have seen Fluval has Biological enhancers (good bacteria) out there, claiming add your fish immediately.... Are these any good?

Even if you use it your tank will still has to cycle. I believe it just speeds up the process. If you have good live rock as I did you should cycle quick, naturally. I have choose to use no chemicals in my set up and keep it as natural as possible. That's just me. Lots of people on here use chemicals I believe and do well with it.