Cycle question

[strange33w]

I am in the process of cycling my new tank and am wondering can a tank cycle without a diatom bloom. I started with dry rock with a few pieces of live rock from my established tank, and live sand (about 3 weeks ago). 10 days ago my levels were as follows: ammonia .25; nitrite was at the top of my test kits chart (4ppm); nitrate was at 75 ppm. about 5 days ago they were at: ammonia 0; nitrite 1; and nitrite 25. Today they are ammonia 0; nitrite; .005; and nitrate 2. But i don't see any signs of a diatom bloom. I have not done a water change yet as I planned on waiting a month before I started those. So would you consider this tank cycled? Also I have not had my lights on at all, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Pete polyp]

Yes its definitely cycled with the ammonia and nitrite being that low and the drastic reduction in nitrate. Diatom bloom is caused my silica, and has nothing to do with the nitrificaction cycle.

You're good to go on adding livestock.

 

[fishroomlady]

yep

 

[jimbau]

+1, good to go.

 

[Zallman125]

If you use live rock and water and even few cups of sand from your established tank cycling will make things go a lot faster in your new tank also putting food I'm the tank or a few hardy fish like damsels or chromis. Lights on or off don't matter need good flow and some heat if everything reads zero and ammonia reads lil over zero should be good...my cycle was done in a week but make sure everything reads zero ammonia can be tad over

 

[SCHMUSTIN]

Cycle complete. Get a couple fish in there then sit back and enjoy.

 

[Pete polyp]

If you use live rock and water and even few cups of sand from your established tank cycling will make things go a lot faster in your new tank also putting food I'm the tank or a few hardy fish like damsels or chromis. Lights on or off don't matter need good flow and some heat if everything reads zero and ammonia reads lil over zero should be good...my cycle was done in a week but make sure everything reads zero ammonia can be tad over

I disagree completely. The presence of ammonia means the cycle is not finished. Even in very small amounts ammonia is toxic and will hurt any livestock you put in there. The livestock may not die, but it is harming them.

If everything reads 0 but ammonia it means the cycle hasn't really started at all.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I disagree completely. The presence of ammonia means the cycle is not finished. Even in very small amounts ammonia is toxic and will hurt any livestock you put in there. The livestock may not die, but it is harming them.

If everything reads 0 but ammonia it means the cycle hasn't really started at all.

I would agree with this also. Although I see no Ammonia, I did see Nitrites in the tank, which means the cycle is not compete as of yet.

 

[DSP]

I disagree completely. The presence of ammonia means the cycle is not finished. Even in very small amounts ammonia is toxic and will hurt any livestock you put in there. The livestock may not die, but it is harming them.

If everything reads 0 but ammonia it means the cycle hasn't really started at all.

I agree with this as well

 

[Pete polyp]

That is true as well, but its not at a level that would be an issue, and its falling. Cycle complete maybe not, but it should be more than safe to add fish.

 

[SCHMUSTIN]

I disagree completely. The presence of ammonia means the cycle is not finished. Even in very small amounts ammonia is toxic and will hurt any livestock you put in there. The livestock may not die, but it is harming them.

If everything reads 0 but ammonia it means the cycle hasn't really started at all.

So if you were to test your water and found a trace ofammonia you would pull all your livestock?

 

[Pete polyp]

If I had any detectable ammonia present in my system it would be from a major tank crash and yes I would be removing all livestock to try and salvage what is left.