So I started up a new 50 gal cube a week ago. I put a couple handfuls of sand from my established tank in it along with quite a bit of water from the established tank. I also used a decen amount of live rock. Probably 30 lbs which is about 1/4 of the total amount. I tested for amonia every day and never saw any. I did however get nitrates. I added fish and now,a week later, am at a steady 10 ppm nitrates. My question is this. is it bad I never saw ammonia? Do I lose out by cycling the way I did in any way?
Cycling help
- Thread starter EpicWin
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fjpod
Community Member
I never have luck with cycling. Even if I use live rock, live sand, old filter media, I always get a spike when I add a fish or two. I would work under the assumption that you will get an ammonia spike when you add some livestock.
Aquaph8
Love The Fish
No its not bad that your test never showed ammonia but its still a new system and I would add stuff cautiously. As long as you go slow, you may never see ammonia but if you push it to more than your system can handle at this point thats when you'll start having problems. I would assume that 30 lbs of established rock is pretty much your biological filtration at this point.
Dowtish
5000 Club Member
Fully Agree +1
shovelrider
Active Member
Agree, Whenever you add critters that add to the bio load, the bacteria adjust to compensate and then water chem levels back out. Cycling is very misunderstood for the most part. Most reefers seem to think if you set up a new tank that it must go through all three stages of the cycle wich is not true. If you seed the new tank with live sand, live rock, and/or filter pad/sock from est. tank you are bypassing some of the cycle processes. You can also add bacteria from a bottle to reach the same result. If you add enough "live" rock/sand you have added the bacteria that is needed and as long as that bacteria has food, you are golden.
There is alot of information out there about cycling, good and bad, but if you research alot you will get the big picture and the truth.
There is alot of information out there about cycling, good and bad, but if you research alot you will get the big picture and the truth.
Kiefer
New Member
When I started my setup I added a raw shrimp with base rock. I allowed the shrimp to rot for a couple of weeks and got one heck of a spike. After a few weeks, I began adding L.R. It took me a couple of months but well worth it.
The Live material you added did die off but your ammonia spike was short and sweet.
As with the above statements, I would too use caution when adding new critters as you may experience another spike. I personally would check your water parameters atleat two times a week.
Got pics?
The Live material you added did die off but your ammonia spike was short and sweet.
As with the above statements, I would too use caution when adding new critters as you may experience another spike. I personally would check your water parameters atleat two times a week.
Got pics?
