Cycling

[Klbertin]

Here's my question for the tank cycle experts.
I'll start by saying that I cured 90lbs of dry rock in a separate container for 4 weeks, with a spike of ammonia, and no2, keep at a temp. of 78°.
I then placed the rock in the tank, filled it with mixed salt using ro/di water, after 2 days of mixing at a temp of 78°
On day 1, I added bio-Spira, and started to test daily for ammonia, no2, and the PH.
I'm now on day 16, and have tested every day for these 3, all 16 days show 0ppm for ammonia and no2, my PH has gone from 7.8 to 8.0, then I started to test for no3 on about the 10th day, I wasent sure about the color on that day, but on the 11th day it was definitely showing a rise to 5ppm, and on the 13th, through the 16th day it is at 10ppm, but the ammonia and no2 are still at 0ppm.
Did my tank somehow cycle with no show of ammonia and no2, or did it cycle while I cured the rock, I did not use any of the water from the cure, it was all new. ( yes I put two Damsels in the tank on day 5 ) and they are very happy and hungry, and that brings up another point, the first 4 days I did phantom feed the tank, and have feed heavier than two little fish can eat every day, so are my readings of no3 just a result of this?
I'm at a loss, and thought I mite be able to get some thoughts from the group.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jason mack]

What size tank .. two little fish probably wont make an impact if its a big tank ..

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Adding nitrifying bacteria will make a tank fish safe immediately. You'll still have some of the cycle issues but you shouldn't see any ammonia or nitrite. The first three weeks of a new tank is spent trying to build nitrifying bacteria naturally, so when you add them in a bottle you skip that process. You'll still go thru the diatoms and ugly tank phases but your damsels should be perfectly fine.

 

[brandon429]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-microbiology-of-reef-tank-cycling.214618/


your cycling thread here is a great test for us there. that's supposed to be a one off cycling thread that will run both kinds of cycles we do in reefing (one type gets the ammonia, one type gets ammonia withheld, based on the type of rock used) and if it doesn't address your type of cycle then Ill edit it to do so.

comparing that thread to your question I see these repeating numbers: 30 days submersion, and an intial ammonia boost though it would have cycled without even that, but could have taken a couple weeks longer. adding that ammonia increased your cycle times likely under 30 days, and the nitrifying bacteria got in your tank anyway though you only added the bulk at the end of the 30 days, which is harmless to do.

your kind of rock gets the ammonia, we show. based on all descriptions here, my call is you added cycling bacteria to an already cycled tank and that's just fine to do. every time we stick our arms and hands into the tank, the same bac get in. we exchange bacteria with our tanks, and that's kind of grody but a fact.

 

[Klbertin]

What size tank .. two little fish probably wont make an impact if its a big tank ..

Sorry, I guess I did neglect to mention the size (my bad) it is a 75 gal tank, with a small sump that holds 3 gals during operation, and a small hang-on refugium that holds 2 gals.

 

[brandon429]

do you have a pic of the rocks

 

[Klbertin]

So all in all, is it safe to say my tank has thus been cycled, and can I start a water change routine.
Or should I continue to monitor for another week or so?

 

[Klbertin]

 

[brandon429]

yep that kind of rock is covered as group a rock in the thread, so per post #6 you would digest test it to see if its cycled, and you have stated you've met the 30 days submerged qualifier plus boosters (bio spira and some ammonia) if it passes a 2 ppm digest test in 24 hours its g2g

 

[Klbertin]

yep that kind of rock is covered as group a rock in the thread, so per post #6 you would digest test it to see if its cycled, and you have stated you've met the 30 days submerged qualifier plus boosters (bio spira and some ammonia) if it passes a 2 ppm digest test in 24 hours its g2g

I do appreciate your response, thank you so much.
You mentioned a digest test, what is it, and how do I do this test

 

[brandon429]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-microbiology-of-reef-tank-cycling.214618/

post 6 on that thread will mention the spike of ammonia to 1 or 2 ppm verified accurate, say by using two different test kits to get a double reading for example, and then checking it again in 24 hours to see if zero. only ammonia matters in cycling not nitrite or nitrate.