Dry rock in a trash can

[BobaF99]

So I have convinced the boss to let me set up a tank. Going to buy a tank soon. In the meantime, about two weeks ago I put some dry rock into a 55gal brute to start cycling. Using Dr Tim's fish less method. Got the ammonia to 2ppm, temp 80 f, salinity 25.7ppt, pH 8.2, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. Nothing has changed in 2 weeks. I have changed nothing. I read that a slightly higher temp and lower salinity helps the bacteria reproduce. Do I just need to wait or is my salinity too low? Mixed the salt with ro/di at 0 tds.

 

[TX_REEF]

That salinity is very low, you should get it up to around 35 ppm. Did you add a source of bacteria to start? If you didn’t, it can take a very long time for the bacteria to establish and grow. Do you have flow in the container?

 

[Jekyl]

Proper salinity, heat and circulation are all that's required. Rock will cycle itself in about a month.

 

[twentyleagues]

So I have convinced the boss to let me set up a tank. Going to buy a tank soon. In the meantime, about two weeks ago I put some dry rock into a 55gal brute to start cycling. Using Dr Tim's fish less method. Got the ammonia to 2ppm, temp 80 f, salinity 25.7ppt, pH 8.2, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. Nothing has changed in 2 weeks. I have changed nothing. I read that a slightly higher temp and lower salinity helps the bacteria reproduce. Do I just need to wait or is my salinity too low? Mixed the salt with ro/di at 0 tds.

salinity is a little low but shouldnt hinder a cycle. 35ppt is typical reef salinity. Dr tims takes a while. You added the bacteria right?

 

[exnisstech]

Don't you have to feed or add some source of ammonia like you would when cycling a tank?

 

[BobaF99]

That salinity is very low, you should get it up to around 35 ppm. Did you add a source of bacteria to start? If you didn’t, it can take a very long time for the bacteria to establish and grow. Do you have flow in the container?

Yes to both. Used Dr Tim's one and only

 

[BobaF99]

salinity is a little low but shouldnt hinder a cycle. 35ppt is typical reef salinity. Dr tims takes a while. You added the bacteria right?

Yes. I'm trying to find the post that talked about lower salinity for the cycle then going up to typical reef levels

 

[Yooper Reef]

Man all these people respond without ever researching dr Tim’s. You are correct with the lower salinity and temp.
Question - ammonia hasn’t gone down at all? Maybe a bad batch of bacteria. Like all the bacteria was killed by heat from shipping or something.
I did the same thing you did according to dr Tim’s. Tank cycled in about 9 days

 

[BobaF99]

Don't you have to feed or add some source of ammonia like you would when cycling a tank?

Yes, I added ammonia to 2 ppm

 

[Yooper Reef]

Yes. I'm trying to find the post that talked about lower salinity for the cycle then going up to typical reef levels

I think it was his YouTube videos?

 

[BobaF99]

Man all these people respond without ever researching dr Tim’s. You are correct with the lower salinity and temp.
Question - ammonia hasn’t gone down at all? Maybe a bad batch of bacteria. Like all the bacteria was killed by heat from shipping or something.
I did the same thing you did according to dr Tim’s. Tank cycled in about 9 days

Ammonia has not moved. I could try another bottle and see.

 

[BobaF99]

I think it was his YouTube videos?

Thought I read the post on here and it referenced the videos.

 

[exnisstech]

Yes, I added ammonia to 2 ppm

Sorry I need to learn how to read

 

[Uncle99]

Dr Tim’s and a few days cycled,
Test error.

 

[BR260354]

I'm in the same boat. The brutte is in the garage, so it might be too hot. My ammonia has been stuck at the max of 2.5 per Hana test. Started with Fritz, but my salinity was too low. Got the salinity to 35 and added Dr Tims. Still at max. Guess I'll just keep it going. Thought about starting over with new water. I have over a month before I can put my new tank together, so I have time to wait.

 

[twentyleagues]

Thought I read the post on here and it referenced the videos.

@taricha I think and someone else has done extensive testing using various bottled bacteria's. Dr Tims was one of the slowest to act and finish if I remember correctly. I think fritz was one of the fastest tested. I used mb xlm and was completely cycled in about 11 days. I noticed that adding a bit of reefroids every couple days 1/8-1/4 tsp in 120g of water would kick it in gear. I waited about 5 days at 2ppm and was reading here that the bacteria need a carbon source some fish food or whatever I had a freebie of roids laying around and decided to use it on day 5. Day 7 ammonia was almost 0 and nitrites were about 5 after 2 days I added some more roids next day trites were 2ish. Repeated 2 days later and after another 2 days trites were gone. Redosed to 2ppm ammonia and was gone 24-36hrs later. Havent looked back and its going well 5 months later.

 

[Weaverjay101]

I've had great experience using Fritz in both FW and marine tanks. I've used fish food, shrimp, and ammonia different times to get the cycle going. Should only take about a week if the bacteria culture is good.

 

[KrisReef]

A watched Brute never cycles?

I would encourage the cycler's to add a tiny chip of live rock or live sand from a running reef to expand the inoculation of life beyond what comes from the bottled products.