Cycle or No Cycle????

SPotter · Sep 8, 2014

My 360g tank officially started running 10 days ago. 6 weeks ago I picked up 350lbs of live rock from a guy that was breaking down his tank that had been running for about 5 yrs. The rocks were out of the water for no more than 6 hours and were wrapped in towels to keep them moist. Rocks were placed in a 180g tank with a heater and several power heads. My DT has 250lbs of dry rock in it and the system was completely tied together with everything being brought online 10 days. I placed 1lb of fresh raw shrimp in a sock in my sump, it is now mush and I have yet to register any ammonia or nitrites but I do have 2.5-5ppm nitrates. I am leaning towards no cycle but a friend of mine is saying that I didnt put enough shrimp in.

What do you think????

Waters · Sep 8, 2014

The live rock most likely already has enough beneficial bacteria to avoid the initial cycle. My tank never experienced the initial cycle and I had my live rock shipped. The purpose of adding the shrimp is to supply a source of ammonia so that the cycle can begin and bacterial will start to grow and multiply. If you already have the bacteria, than the cycle progresses as normal eventually converting the ammonia into nitrates like you are experiencing.

mrcoffee2 · Sep 8, 2014

hmm, I think I need a little more info to help. I guess I don't understand why you want to know if you have it cycled? Are you going to be adding something? Perhaps if you tell me what you want to add, I can help you decide if you might be ready for it…

If you want me to comment on if you are cycled or not. Well then… Lets talk in 8 months then I will say your cycled

. I personally am still new to salt water, i have done 5 tanks now… I truly feel that the cycle time for a tank is 8 months… 1-8 months your tank is going to do some FUNKY things… I believe a tank is "cycled" once that funky stuff stops 0.o I hope this helps...

Longnose Hawkfish · Sep 9, 2014

I believe you tank is past the cycle. It would be safe to add some clean up crew, and see how they do.

JOKER · Sep 9, 2014

I was in the same situation but I had an emergency. Tank was leaking and had to do something. I built the current tank I have with all dry rock in a hurry and stacked the sump with rock from old tank. Never saw any spike and tested like 3 times every day. Moved fish and coral over with no troubles. I would just monitor