First time cycling a marine tank

[robjensen82]

Hi there,

I have a 180 litre (47 gallon) tank that I'm setting up. I have a marble chip based (2mm). I thought I was buying dry rock but I was buying dried out live rock. I've split this rock while aquascaping and found that it's just dried up live rock with algea inside. I've added salt to the tank. I've got the tank to 25 degrees celsius (77 fahrenheit).

About 3 days ago I noticed the tank was smelling badly and looking cloudy. I'm 99% sure this will be because of the algae attached to the dry rock. I tested for ammonia and it was sitting at about 1 ppm. I was planning on cycling the tank with Dr Tim's One and One and fish but given the smell of the tank I thought that wasn't wise. So again about 3 days ago I took my Dr Tim's out of the fridge, let it get up to room temp for a few hours and then added the Dr Tim's One and Only.

I have a couple of questions:

• Given that there is already ammonia present in the tank, I thought there would be no need to add additional ammonia does that sound right?
• I added Dr Tim's about 3 days ago and I have tested for ammonia about 3 times. I have noticed no change in the level. It's been about 1 ppm every time. Is that strange?

Thanks for any tips or help.


Rob

 

[SteveEreef]

Did you cure this rock for 4-6 weeks to get get rid of the phosphates, nitrates and whatever other matter was on and in the rocks?

 

[AdamB]

I would get ammonia up to 2ppm. That’s what’s recommended with Dr Tim’s I believe.
It takes a while for your ammonia to lower and your nitrites to show up.
My tank cycled in about 2 weeks plus or minus a day.
First time I used that product and I was really pleased

 

[robjensen82]

Did you cure this rock for 4-6 weeks to get get rid of the phosphates, nitrates and whatever other matter was on and in the rocks?

I haven’t heard of that process before so that hasn’t been done

 

[robjensen82]

I would get ammonia up to 2ppm. That’s what’s recommended with Dr Tim’s I believe.
It takes a while for your ammonia to lower and your nitrites to show up.
My tank cycled in about 2 weeks plus or minus a day.
First time I used that product and I was really pleased

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll give that a go. I thought given there was ammonia present that would not be required

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I would give it plenty of time to cycle because I'm sure there's other dead stuff inside of rock.

 

[Grape_City_Reefer]

Welcome to the club
Do you have any circulation pumps or wave makers running? This along with heat and the establishment of the bacteria should emulate curing the rock.

 

[robjensen82]

Welcome to the club
Do you have any circulation pumps or wave makers running? This along with heat and the establishment of the bacteria should emulate curing the rock.

Yes I have a filter going and one head that’s pushing water in the tank from the diagonally opposite corner as the pump

 

[Grape_City_Reefer]

I believe it is normal to have odor with dried up live rock ( I did my tank with liferock and precured rock from LFS), are you using any carbon? If not I may consider getting some activated carbon in the setup maybe just put a bag of it in the tank or in the filter. Although I don't think the filter is necessary, If your filter is a HOB or a canister I would shut if off/drain it and strictly use the power head to push the water. Carbon does a good job of keeping odors at bay.

Patients and time is key to this hobby.

 

[robjensen82]

I believe it is normal to have odor with dried up live rock ( I did my tank with liferock and precured rock from LFS), are you using any carbon? If not I may consider getting some activated carbon in the setup maybe just put a bag of it in the tank or in the filter. Although I don't think the filter is necessary, If your filter is a HOB or a canister I would shut if off/drain it and strictly use the power head to push the water. Carbon does a good job of keeping odors at bay.

Patients and time is key to this hobby.

Okay thanks for that. It’s the waiting bit I’m struggling with

 

[Grape_City_Reefer]

My tank has been up for over 1.5 years now, but I can still relate I finally bought a sump with all the goodies and we now are waiting to determine if we are moving prior to installing it. Its been sitting next to the tank for a month already.

Do you have a picture to share, everyone on R2R enjoys seeing photos and you should get a little more response that way as well. Mileage may vary.

 

[PatW]

Even with a starter bacteria culture the time to cycle will vary. Given time, bacteria will find the tank and cycle it. A culture speeds the process but a culture can degrade with time and conditions. Cycling without a culture can take something over a month.

 

[Grape_City_Reefer]

Even with a starter bacteria culture the time to cycle will vary. Given time, bacteria will find the tank and cycle it. A culture speeds the process but a culture can degrade with time and conditions. Cycling without a culture can take something over a month.

I agree with @PatW I did my cycle without adding a culture, just live rock and pre-cycled rock and my tank cycled within 3 weeks. I've talked to a few people who added culture and it took over a month.

 

[robjensen82]

Attached some snaps of my tank

 

[Grape_City_Reefer]

Attached some snaps of my tank

Simple and elegant