cycling complete?

[jreefier]

So, I have a 55 with 2-3” yellow tang, a 4” maroon clown, and 3” royal gramma that is well established. I have a 40 gallon QT with 3”+ powder brown tang and small 1” maroon. I have set up a 280 gallon plywood/pond liner build recently that all will go into soon. I’d like to introduce both of the tangs, gramma, and small maroon all at once so neither tang gets a head start on territory, and will keep the large clown and her anemones in the established 55 for a few more months to let the new tank become well established . When I add the large clown and anemones I plan to encircle them all with a mesh small enough to keep the large maroon within it and let the small one pass through.

The new 280 tank has run with freshwater for a couple weeks before adding salt. And then about two more weeks with salt, dry live rock ,new sand, and some small established live rock pieces from my display. I am using a jebao 10000 inside the tank which runs about 2000 gph. I have a gravity fed diy wet/dry trickle filter sump and refugium connected that runs another 500 gph through and together are about 30 gallons total. I’ve used maybe 15-20 gallons of water in this new setup from water changes on the display.

I’ve been so busy that I’ve not had time to monitor my ammonia, so I’m not sure if cycling is complete. I measured 0 ammonia yesterday but I’m unsure, short of just waiting another month, that it has cycled. If I measure ammonia, nitrite and get zero can I assume it has cycled? My head is telling me to wait another month, but I’d really like to get them in there since my maroon and yellow tang are starting to get cramped in the 55, and my 72 day QT finishes this weekend. I’m also wanting to get a filefish to help control aiptasia and have seen others that had one in with a bta without issue. Considering the size of my maroon I think she will protect them. I need to get the QT empty first though for the filefish but don’t want to rush my beautiful powder brown into a system that may not be ready. Is there a sure fire way to know if it has cycled at this point or would it be best to give it more time?

 

[Quietman]

I didn't see where you added ammonia. Are you just relying on the live rock decaying? If you added ammonia or food source, then measure nitrate...if you have nitrate and no ammonia it is likely cycled. If you didn't add food source, it gets iffy to tell. It may not have been enough existing to cycle fully to support livestock.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

The simple test is to pump a shrimp or fish food into the test and see if ammonia is processed.

 

[jreefier]

I didn't see where you added ammonia. Are you just relying on the live rock decaying? If you added ammonia or food source, then measure nitrate...if you have nitrate and no ammonia it is likely cycled. If you didn't add food source, it gets iffy to tell. It may not have been enough existing to cycle fully to support livestock.

I've added frozen omnivore food mix for ammonia but fairly recently. I know I should just wait. Just needed to hear it from someone else. I use my well water (I've had it tested for copper, heavy metals, coliform, etc. and used it for 5 years plus with no issues except more hair algae than I'd like) but it does have small nitrates from the tap so nitrates won't be a good indicator.

 

[jreefier]

The simple test is to pump a shrimp or fish food into the test and see if ammonia is processed.

Not sure I understand. Can you elaborate?

 

[Quietman]

I've added frozen omnivore food mix for ammonia but fairly recently. I know I should just wait. Just needed to hear it from someone else. I use my well water (I've had it tested for copper, heavy metals, coliform, etc. and used it for 5 years plus with no issues except more hair algae than I'd like) but it does have small nitrates from the tap so nitrates won't be a good indicator.

Ah...then yup. You know what your doing then. With an ammonia source and a few weeks time testing probably isn't needed at all really. Nature is pretty consistent with her nitrogen cycle. Good luck.

 

[Quietman]

I would still check for higher nitrates than your tap.

Also...and you probably know this...nitrates from tap are not ideal and you might want to run through some DI media. But if low enough it's manageable.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Not sure I understand. Can you elaborate?

Missed an above post. If you have been putting fish food into the tank then that is your ammonia source. If you have no measurable ammonia I would say that you are likely fine. What I was trying to say is if you put a large ammonia source into the water and test ammonia levels at a 2 ppm and the following day test an find 0 ppm you are fully cycled.

 

[jreefier]

Missed an above post. If you have been putting fish food into the tank then that is your ammonia source. If you have no measurable ammonia I would say that you are likely fine. What I was trying to say is if you put a large ammonia source into the water and test ammonia levels at a 2 ppm and the following day test an find 0 ppm you are fully cycled.

Ok. Makes sense. Thanks

 

[jreefier]

I would still check for higher nitrates than your tap.

Also...and you probably know this...nitrates from tap are not ideal and you might want to run through some DI media. But if low enough it's manageable.

I've been considering a RO/DI system for a while. I will check my nitrates to compare. My nitrates have been manageable though so not in a big hurry to change. The nice thing about my well water is that the ph is 8.3 and my tank stays always around 8.4 with zero additives.

 

[jreefier]

"Missed an above post. If you have been putting fish food into the tank then that is your ammonia source. If you have no measurable ammonia I would say that you are likely fine. What I was trying to say is if you put a large ammonia source into the water and test ammonia levels at a 2 ppm and the following day test an find 0 ppm you are fully cycled. "


I wonder what it would take to get 2ppm ammonia in a 300 gallon setup? Do you think a single shrimp from the deli would be enough?

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

For my first couple tanks I used Ammonia Chloride to dose it a specific amount. After reading up on cycling I think it is more important for a tank to show that it has an ability to process ammonia. If you added any established live rock, fed it some with food and it has been over two week I would just take the plunge... I would go for two shrimp atleast in a tank that size. Let them rot for 24 hours before testing for ammonia and then again 24 hours later to make sure it dropped a significant amount.

 

[brandon429]

Connecting Established Reef To New Tank

EDIT: In conclusion, if using the method I did - connecting an established reef to a new system with dry rock (clean), I recommend the following: 1. Dose your new tank prior to connecting to your old tank with NO3 and PO4 enough to raise to your established tank levels. 2. Take your skimmer...

www.reef2reef.com

jferrier
those are the steps you are contemplating, already done. Time frames are revealed. The effects of sharing water, revealed

 

[jreefier]

Connecting Established Reef To New Tank

EDIT: In conclusion, if using the method I did - connecting an established reef to a new system with dry rock (clean), I recommend the following: 1. Dose your new tank prior to connecting to your old tank with NO3 and PO4 enough to raise to your established tank levels. 2. Take your skimmer...

www.reef2reef.com

jferrier
those are the steps you are contemplating, already done. Time frames are revealed. The effects of sharing water, revealed

Thanks. Interesting thread. Don't have time to read it all. Wondering what the results were ? Was there significant bacteria in the water column? Hadn't thought about linking the two systems.