Fishless cycle

[nfa]

Hi

I started fishless cycle with 15lbs live rock from established tank along with 10lbs Marco rock , live sand

Now it is 21 days old

Added seachem stability for 7days as mentioned..

From 4th day I added pure ammonia to increase 3ppm

Results

It takes 72hours to eat 3ppm ammonia
I don't see nitrite from 48hrs..

3ppm ammonia reduce to 0ppm in 72hrs
1ppm nitrite in 24hrs
0ppm nitrite in 48hrs
0ppm nitrite in 72hrs

Nitrate is keep increasing (80ppm).

Is something wrong in cycling?
I heard ammonia will be 1st consumed and then nitrite .. where as in my tank I see no nitrite after 48 but still ammonia is there...

 

[BlueCursor]

The ammonia is converted to nitrite, and then the nitrite is converted to nitrate. If you want something to remove the nitrate you have to do carbon dosing or have a refugium with macroalgae. But removing 80 ppm of nitrate will take both methods a while.

3ppm of ammonia is a lot to get rid of, so it will take a day or two.

Since you have nothing living in there, do a huge water change, even 95% if you can manage it. After you get nitrates down to 5 ppm or less, add a fish. ONE fish. Watch NH4, NO2, and NO3 for a week. Feed very lightly. If NH4 and NO2 are undetectable, slowly add more fish, maybe 2 at a time and wait at least a week.

 

[Webslinger]

mollies are great for tank cycling,

 

[nfa]

You mean fresh water mollies?

 

[Webslinger]

yes, they do great in saltwater, eat algae and are easy to catch, cost a buck.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Its called a sacrificial fish.

With live sand and live rock, your tank is and was already cycling.

 

[Webslinger]

you can send him to me for my eel when your done. Then he's just dinner.