Cycling question...

Phinsfan333 · Sep 14, 2018

Hello

New to the game. Setup a new 75 gallon this past Saturday with 80lbs of live sand beneath some crushed coral, 40lbs of dry rock and about 10 pounds of live rock. Live rock came from an LPS, was well kept and transported wet to my house, two large pieces, one with coralline algae all over it and the other more of a brownish color. Water cleared in less than24 hours. Sunday salinity was good, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0, ph 8.2. That day started adding nitrifying bacteria and added three small green chromis damsels (yes added fish extremely early, earlier than probably should have, saying this so don't get 80 comments about adding fish too early lol). Since have been adding bacteria daily, checking water parameters, and feeding damsels generously. This morning ammonia still 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0, salinity and ph good. Fish look happy, healthy and noticed some star shaped growths popping up on brown live rock. So my question, is this tank cycled and good to go? Thank you in advance for thoughts, comments, and advice...

BedrockIOMC · Sep 14, 2018

Phinsfan333 said:
so don't get 80 comments about adding fish too early lol

lol very very true

BedrockIOMC · Sep 14, 2018

Phinsfan333 said:
Hello

New to the game. Setup a new 75 gallon this past Saturday with 80lbs of live sand beneath some crushed coral, 40lbs of dry rock and about 10 pounds of live rock. Live rock came from an LPS, was well kept and transported wet to my house, two large pieces, one with coralline algae all over it and the other more of a brownish color. Water cleared in less than24 hours. Sunday salinity was good, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0, ph 8.2. That day started adding nitrifying bacteria and added three small green chromis damsels (yes added fish extremely early, earlier than probably should have, saying this so don't get 80 comments about adding fish too early lol). Since have been adding bacteria daily, checking water parameters, and feeding damsels generously. This morning ammonia still 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0, salinity and ph good. Fish look happy, healthy and noticed some star shaped growths popping up on brown live rock. So my question, is this tank cycled and good to go? Thank you in advance for thoughts, comments, and advice...

It will take a few days before ammonia starts coming up in the tank. the food that he doesn't eat starts to put some off and he starts putting some off his self. Your tank isn't go to go until you can have 2PPM of ammonia and get rid of it in a 24hr period. This will take weeks. It will get turned into nitrites and then into nitrates. Its easier to add liquid Ammonia to bring it up to 2PPM and see how long it takes to get rid of it then add fish in my opinion. But everyone does it different.

dutch27 · Sep 14, 2018

If it was already cycled at the LFS, it may be. However, I wouldn't consider it cycled until you detect nitrates, and then stick with the tried and true method of adding new livestock a little at a time.

Phinsfan333 · Sep 14, 2018

BedrockIOMC said:
It will take a few days before ammonia starts coming up in the tank. the food that he doesn't eat starts to put some off and he starts putting some off his self. Your tank isn't go to go until you can have 2PPM of ammonia and get rid of it in a 24hr period. This will take weeks. It will get turned into nitrites and then into nitrates. Its easier to add liquid Ammonia to bring it up to 2PPM and see how long it takes to get rid of it then add fish in my opinion. But everyone does it different.

Thank you for the advice, will add some ammonia and see how long it stays present

Phinsfan333 · Sep 14, 2018

dutch27 said:
If it was already cycled at the LFS, it may be. However, I wouldn't consider it cycled until you detect nitrates, and then stick with the tried and true method of adding new livestock a little at a time.

Thank you for the info

Ruben's Reef · Sep 14, 2018

!!! Welcome to R2R @Phinsfan333 !!! Live rock may help to the cycling process but I will get a bottle of Dr. Tim bacteria or Bio-spira so you can create a good bacteria population.

cjd · Sep 14, 2018

I wouldn't add any ammonia to the tank , your fish are doing that already. I would just leave it and have my fingers crossed and hope the nitrifying bacteria on the 1o lbs. of live rock from the fish store is enough to keep up and multiply fast enough . If anything I stick an ammonia badge on the front of the glass and have a bottle of prime ready and fresh saltwater on the ready incase you have to do an emergency water change to bring ammonia down. Go slow from here on out adding something ever couple of weeks even after you feel the tank is cycled . A fresh newly cycled tank is fragile and still needs time to mature .

BedrockIOMC · Sep 14, 2018

Phinsfan333 said:
Thank you for the advice, will add some ammonia and see how long it stays present

You don't need to do that with your fish in there now. If you get it to high it could kill him.

Phinsfan333 · Sep 14, 2018

spyder813 said:
!!! Welcome to R2R @Phinsfan333 !!! Live rock may help to the cycling process but I will get a bottle of Dr. Tim bacteria or Bio-spira so you can create a good bacteria population.

Thank you for the advice Spyder. I have been using Microbacter and that seems to be working well.

Phinsfan333 · Sep 14, 2018

cjd said:
I wouldn't add any ammonia to the tank , your fish are doing that already. I would just leave it and have my fingers crossed and hope the nitrifying bacteria on the 1o lbs. of live rock from the fish store is enough to keep up and multiply fast enough . If anything I stick an ammonia badge on the front of the glass and have a bottle of prime ready and fresh saltwater on the ready incase you have to do an emergency water change to bring ammonia down. Go slow from here on out adding something ever couple of weeks even after you feel the tank is cycled . A fresh newly cycled tank is fragile and still needs time to mature .

Thank you for the advice Cjd. I have had an ammonia badge in the tank since setup and been monitoring it. Also have water on hand for any emergencies. I will go slow as recommended and see how things progress