Cycling

saltylife123 · May 1, 2014

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the hobby and I am cycling a 40 breeder! I added live sand and all pukani dry rock from BRS. My water became pretty cloudy and still is cloudy 5 days later. I also threw a shrimp in that same day to aid with production of ammonia to get the cycle started.

My questions are:

How long before I get an ammonia reading?

Why won't my sand settle?

My salinity is at 1.025 I have a reactor running with GFO and Carbon and 2 powerheads (650gph and 800gph) I turned those off hoping the sand would settle but nothing happened.

Sn4k33Y3z · May 1, 2014

Hello,

I think there re several things to address. First, stop running the GFO. IMO it's a waste for you this early at this stage of the game. Far as your sand goes, what did you buy i.e fine sand, crushed coral etc.? More then likely your power heads (especially if i's fine sand) are pushing the flow in a direction causing the sand cloud.

I attempted to start my tank this this method as well. However, the ammonia reading I got was too low. I opted for some "Ace Hardware janitorial strength" ammonia in a bottle. I did 2ml's and tested. Good to go. Right after my ammonia dropped and my nitrites level increased, I dosed a recommended amount of "biospira". One week later my cycle was complete. I'm afraid with the shrimp method you'll not raise your ammonia level to a good desirable amount... Plus, it smells like something out of a horror movie.

Good luck!

saltylife123 · May 1, 2014

No power heads running (to let the sand settle) and still cloudy as can be! And I'm very close to pulling the shrimp and start dosing

Small triggers · May 1, 2014

Pull the shrimp...
NO DOSING OR RUNNING GFO OR CARBON WHILE CYCLING
These things are all counter productive to trying to induce a nitrate cycle and start up beneficial bacteria...
You could buy some bottled bacteria and add that ...

It's most likely cloudy from the carbon, GFO, and powerheads stirring up the sand...

So, what I would do is take everything offline except one powerhead (I know you've turned them both off but you need some flow in the tank for oxygenation...)

saltylife123 · May 1, 2014

So if I pull the shrimp how would I introduce ammonia?

Small triggers · May 1, 2014

If you've had the shrimp in for a few days decomp has started...that is the introduction of the ammonia cycle...
You then, a few days later start lightly ghost feeding the tank, with flakes or pellets....this is what helps continue the cycle and moves the nitrites turning to nitrates as the bacteria starts breaking down the food and building up in the tank....