Cycling tank

[chris0412]

Hi so I have been cycling a new tank for about a month and a half now, and I added fritz nitrifying bacteria and have also added some fish food over this time and even some frozen mysis and I have not seen any spikes in any of the levels and they have been at 0 the whole time. Does this mean my tank is ready to add livestock ??

 

[stAlphonzo]

Have you seen any Nitrates?

I think, even if the ammonia and nitrite were converting too fast to detect, you would still have nitrates building up.

 

[chris0412]

Have you seen any Nitrates?

I think, even if the ammonia and nitrite were converting too fast to detect, you would still have nitrates building up.

No not at all

 

[stAlphonzo]

Have you done anything else, water changes, any other additives? Also assuming, but you have rock and sand in the tank too?

There is a likelihood that you test kit is wrong it inaccurate. Otherwise, I can't see how it's cycled. You should have nitrates unless you've expired then in some way.

 

[stAlphonzo]

At this point, I would take a water sample to you LFS and have them test it for you butj to be sure you test kit is working.

 

[chris0412]

Have you done anything else, water changes, any other additives? Also assuming, but you have rock and sand in the tank too?

There is a likelihood that you test kit is wrong it inaccurate. Otherwise, I can't see how it's cycled. You should have nitrates unless you've expired then in some way.

The only things I’ve added to this tank were some filter media from an established tank and nitrifying bacteria from fritz

 

[stAlphonzo]

The only things I’ve added to this tank were some filter media from an established tank and nitrifying bacteria from fritz

Does that mean, no rock it sand? Just water and bacteria and filter media?

 

[chris0412]

Does that mean, no rock it sand? Just water and bacteria and filter media?

Sorry about that i also added caribsea live sand and dry reef saver rock from brs

 

[stAlphonzo]

No worries. I did assume so, but it was worth clarifying

I would for sure get the water tested at LFS.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Hi so I have been cycling a new tank for about a month and a half now, and I added fritz nitrifying bacteria and have also added some fish food over this time and even some frozen mysis and I have not seen any spikes in any of the levels and they have been at 0 the whole time. Does this mean my tank is ready to add livestock ??

The only things I’ve added to this tank were some filter media from an established tank and nitrifying bacteria from fritz

Because you added Fritz, and even more so, filter media from an already established tank, your tank should be cycled. I would consider verifying this by dosing 2 ppm of ammonia to the tank and see if it drops to 0 ppm in 24 hours. If it does, bring on the fish! Dr. Tim's sells ammonia for <$10 a bottle. Thought you won't use very much of it, it may be worth you peace of mind to have a definite answer.

 

[chris0412]

Because you added Fritz, and even more so, filter media from an already established tank, your tank should be cycled. I would consider verifying this by dosing 2 ppm of ammonia to the tank and see if it drops to 0 ppm in 24 hours. If it does, bring on the fish! Dr. Tim's sells ammonia for <$10 a bottle. Thought you won't use very much of it, it may be worth you peace of mind to have a definite answer.

Thanks so much for the advice

 

[BestMomEver]

Get someone else to test your water. I put 25 pounds of KP Aquatics live rock (straight out off the Gulf of Mexico) and some live sand. I had virtually no cycle. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Geebs19]

I second dosing to 2ppm ammonia and seeing if it goes to 0ppm in 24 hours.

 

[chris0412]

I second dosing to 2ppm ammonia and seeing if it goes to 0ppm in 24 hours.

Thank you will do

 

[chris0412]

Just ordered a bottle of dr tims ammonium chloride!

 

[stAlphonzo]

I have been using that to cycle my tank as well. It works pretty well and I have found that the directions do seem to add the 2 ppm they promise. I put some in last night, waited about an hour for it to circulate and took a reading just to verify. Good luck, hope you can get your fish in there soon!

 

[chris0412]

I have been using that to cycle my tank as well. It works pretty well and I have found that the directions do seem to add the 2 ppm they promise. I put some in last night, waited about an hour for it to circulate and took a reading just to verify. Good luck, hope you can get your fish in there soon!

Thank you!!

 

[michael giordano]

Be careful when people tell you your tank has cycled already. You are using dry rock and used filter media. Tanks take a long time to run through the initial first year cycles. Dry rock escpecaially will have a couple cycles of algae which will swing the parameters. Take your time, for at least six months don’t add any hard corals in the tank. I would do a water change with a friends or lfs used water that will help. But take your time you definitely have various cycles to go the first year of a tank

 

[chris0412]

So I tried the ammonia test and it stayed at 2 ppm does this mean my tank is not ready yet?

 

[stAlphonzo]

Correct, not yet ready. Measure until it goes to 0.

From what I read, you should dose ammonia again at that point, wait until it hits 0 and repeat until it does that quickly, like within 24 hours. At that point it's ready for small additions. Others may disagree. I'm in the middle of that cycle now so my experience is limited but the bulk of what I've read suggests that's the best approach.