Cycling issues. Need advise!!

Adam10045 · Jan 1, 2014

About 2-1/2 weeks ago, I set up my 120gallon reef tank with base rock (left over from old reef) that had been stored dry in my garage for a year and new sand. The tank is up and running with lights,skimmer,and filter sock but I can't seem to get a cycle. I did add about 10lbs of live rubble rock to see if this would help. A week later The skimmer has been working great and is almost completely full but the tank is extremely clean with no detritus or anything. Out of curiosity, I added 3 frags to just see if they would do well and all are open and look great. BUT, as of right now, all levels are perfect and I haven't seen a cycle. I have been adding frozen food cubes to the tank to try and trigger the ammonia. But clearly this isn't helping.

Any suggestions on what I should do would be greatly appreciated!

mike007 · Jan 1, 2014

Have you tested water for ammonia? Also i have always used a bacterial additive it seems to speed things up. It could be that you went through a mini cycle and didn't know it. Skimmer being full is a concern. As long as there is no ammonia you could probaly add a fish or two but i would go slow it see how it goes. Test your water for nitrates and ammonia.

Adam10045 · Jan 1, 2014

I haven't checked it today but 2 days ago it was all clear of ammonia. I'm just worried about not getting a "good" cycle. I'll look into bacterial additives

Thanks!

Tphill · Jan 1, 2014

I'm not an expert, but I do not believe that 2 1/2 weeks is enough time for your tank to have completed a cycle with the method you have used. The way I cycle my tanks (6 saltwater tanks currently running in the house) is to use janitorial strength ammonia from ace hardware. I add enough ammonia to get the levels to approximately 4ppm and keep it there for a couple weeks, and wait for the nitrite levels to start to rise. I will usually only test after 1 week, then maybe a couple times during the second week just to make sure the level is still at 4ppm. Once nitrite shows up, I'll test ammonia every couple days to keep it at 4ppm. I continue keeping the ammonia at 4ppm until the point where when you add ammonia one day to 4ppm, and the next day the ammonia and nitrite level is 0ppm, then the cycle is done. Now you should have significant nitrates, so a large water change and your ready to go. That large water change is usually (for me) around 50%. This method usually takes around 4 weeks to complete. Again, I'm no expert, this is just the way I've done it. On the second tank and those after, I've had the benefit of having 'live' sand and rock to help kickstart the cycle. I will be setting my 120 up in a couple weeks, and I'll use this method again.

Did you do anything to the base rock before introducing it into your new tank.

Adam10045 · Jan 1, 2014

Thanks for your input tphill, that's a great idea! I've never used base rock to start a tank so this is all new to me. The rock was rinsed in fresh water and then added. I've always used live rock and sand to start a tank and it's always seemed to be a LOT easier. I'd like to hear from others who have used dried rock and sand starting tanks. Is ammonia the only way without adding live rock?

Tphill · Jan 1, 2014

No, it's not the only way, sorta. But consider this, when using food or raw shrimp or whatever, the goal is for it to decay and cause ammonia. If you start with ammonia, your not wasting that time and you don't have rotten raw shrimp smelling up your house. That's my thoughts about that.

bigfoot86 · Jan 1, 2014

I used a lot of dry rock from brs when I started my 90 gal, but I did seed it with about 15 lbs of lr and about 6 lbs of of lr rubble in the sump. You can cycle a tank in a 3 week period but if I were you I would've waited a couple more weeks to be safe. Your tank is probably goin to see a few different cycling symptoms for first few months.