Cycle opinions!?

[Mandrew]

I put some rock in my 20g long that was in my buddies sump for a month. Started with live sand as well. The rest of my rock was old live rock from a 10g nano I had running and it had soaked in warm circulated salt water for 2 weeks before I added it. Started with all fresh saltwater and tested 2ppm ammonia for a few days. I just tested for ammonia again between 0-0.25ppm (with API test kit so ammonia is 0...) and I think I missed the nitrite spike because they're still at 0. But I'm reading 10-20ppm nitrate, it's hard to read for me lol. So is my cycle done? Am I ready for a small fish or maybe even an easy coral to start my bioload? I appreciate your help!!

 

[brandon429]

the undeniable way to tell is to multi digest test it. the tank needs to spike up to 3 ish ppm ammonia, say for example cleaning ammonia or actual dr tims A chloride, and then show ability to go back down to zero in 24 hours multiple times.

the live sand brought in, if the typical caribsea stuff or something similar, has a massive ability to digest so any good readings might indeed be just the sand pulling the weight and the rocks will catch up in time. 2 weeks in warm circulated already has some bac on them, even if you added none. the multiple digestion test is great because it shows consistency vs 1 off events, before adding animals who are depending on this digestion ability, and because once you can get a week or two digesting solid 3ppm down to zero, no other parameters need testing like nitrite. by order of operations in cycling, nitrite groups are there once digestion testing can be repeated. nitrite is already not harmful anyway, its the ammonia portion that needs to be assessed here to be sure.

Whatever entry level bioloading you have, as long as its under the repeated digestion abilities for the tank you cant go wrong. I think your live sand is doing the bulk of the initial work so start slowly.

 

[Mandrew]

Now would it be a good or bad idea to add a hardy coral first instead of a fish? Since fish put off a lot of waste compared to smaller hardy corals?

 

[brandon429]

we aren't able to tell if its safe without the repeated digestion test, where you spike it on purpose and then measure in 24 hours. can known live sand carry the filtration needs for a fish or some coral> sure can. but, people jump on us for speed cycling heh and the only way to calm them and still break the "you must wait two mos" old school rule is to show them that your tank can process a loading well above what you are risking in early start. do you have tank pics, lemme get an idea since we are about to break some rulz


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

 

[Tru REEF]

How long has the tank been up? I put my first two fish in on month 2 (4weeks even) and 4 soft corals at the same time. My cycle was fast on the 3rd week my nitrates were at 10ppm. So yes u could've missed it and i think, but not sure about livestock yet.

 

[Mandrew]

I'll take one without blues on!

 

[brandon429]

and to add to your post True reef, your tank might have even been ready on day 1 ! that's the fascinating part of group a vs group b rocks, the cycle timeframe.

 

[Mandrew]

The tank has been up for only 1.5-2 weeks but I had the rocks "curing" for two weeks and other rocks in my buddies established tank sump for a month. And I started with carab sea live sand Arag-alive 20lbs

 

[Mandrew]

Here is a pic without blues on.

 

[brandon429]

what kind of sand was that, caribsea Fiji pink? we would base any assumption on the known history of the live sand here, those are clearly group A rocks.

 

[Mandrew]

Pretty sure or standard grade or something like that.

 

[brandon429]

but did it come wet packed, in a sealed bag>? whats its submersion history

 

[Mandrew]

It's the kind that they wash and then add bacteria to the package and shipped in a small amount of water. It's Arag-alive not the ocean direct.

 

[Mandrew]

Group A rocks?

 

[Mandrew]

I'm itching to get something in there and I wanna go to the LFS tomorrow is why I'm asking lol [emoji31]

 

[brandon429]

See post #4 check out that whole thread I linked, it tells the start times avail

 

[Justiful]

Mandrew... Buy a small cheap fish. Throw it in. Do not get an expensive one. Do not add anything else for 30 days. The fish may die... but it will probably live and help start your cycle if it didn't happen already.

 

[Mandrew]

That's what I was thinking. But that makes people mad lol

 

[KPhilly]

To me it sounds like you had a large enough bacteria colony to go from ammonia to nitrates fairly quickly. I mean, this is your opinion. I know nobody wants to kill a fish, but I can understand your wait too. I say get a hardy fish and go for it. To me, it sounds like you already had a bacteria colony established.

 

[Justiful]

That's what I was thinking. But that makes people mad lol

Don't worry as long as it isn't a tang no one is going to do more than grumble... If you do decide to use a Tang in a 20 gallon tank to cycle it though... make sure to make a video about how well it worked out. I can assure you many people will watch said video on youtube. (warning I am not liable for any personal injuries you sustain should you go this route)