Cycling tank

[jacobj]

I recently set up my tank and have been testing the water everyday. I currently have no ammonia or nitrites even after putting in fish food multiple times over a few days. I have a tiny bit of nitrates. I bought the live rock pre cured from petco and i have 4 hermit crabs and 2 snails living in there that i got from the beach. the hermit crab and snail have been in there for 4 days only because the levels were good. The levels still havent spiked other than when i initially put in the fish food. The snails and hermits seem to be doing good in there and have been eating the hair algae that came with the live rock. I also used api quick start. Is my tank cycled?

 

[lazycouch]

i wouldn't risk it. if i were you i'd remove the livestock and dose pure ammonia, that will give you the answer!

 

[SifuMemphis]

Dosing pure ammonia works well. When I cycled my tank, I just dropped two pieces of frozen shrimp in the sump and called it a day. Over time the shrimp will decay and release ammonia into the tank.

 

[Keen4]

We can take live stock from the beach? If thats the case theres a ton of anemones over here at El Matador beach. You also put a live rock in there with hair algae on it? wont that give you so many issues down the road like more algae?