How to tell if tank has cycled

[TheEngineer]

His question is actually reminiscent of a larger problem, a poor understanding of proper husbandry. So could I have said, "Yes, your tank is probably cycled now."? Sure! What good is that? He clearly needs help with the basics and doesn't have a source of that already. If you've got an issue with me, we can talk over PM. Otherwise help this guy out with his tank.

 

[TheEngineer]

My question is why has the damsel lived for a month or so and I have a golby with a grab in there and haven't noticed an ammonia spike

In a properly functioning tank that has cycled, you should never see an ammonia spike. What is in the tank now? Are there two clowns or a goby, a damsel and a crab?

Tell us everything that is in the tank (equipment, live rock (lbs), live sand (lbs), and livestock).

 

[Barker88]

In 6 months I have yet to test the tank and get any reading other than 0 on anything is that ok or something wrong in what I am doing

 

[TheEngineer]

It is pretty unlikely that you would have gone through a cycle and seen nothing. Where did the live rock come from? Was is sold as "fully cured"? Did you add the damsel right away? You should have seen your parameters spike as soon as you added that fish.

 

[EDO]

I start my first tank a 60g cube with live rock and live sand and never had a spike for ammonia or nitrites. Did you start with live rock or sand?

 

[Barker88]

Ok I have 8 pounds of rock a small clean up crew added Thursday added two clown fish Thursday got rid of the damsel Friday and have a golby that hangs out with a grab forgot what they call them it's 55 gallon with a emperor 400 filter and a rena filstar 200 cannister filter much my pH is between 7.8 and 8.0 I have live sand I think 50 pounds of it
But all my test show 0 I have a air pump pumping air into my emperor 400 thought that might help my pH

 

[Barker88]

I got my rock and sand from my fish store put it all in together with instant ocean salt I waited 4 weeks before I put fish in

 

[EDO]

If the live rock and sand came out of the stores running system like mine did you may not have had a spike.

 

[Barker88]

The sand was bagged up the bought it they had the rock in a big tube it was the pink or purple color rock

 

[EDO]

If your fish and clean up crew look healthy and are eating I would not worry about the non spike. I would still test regularly though. The fish that died at first could have died from a number of cause not related to ammonia.

 

[Barker88]

The fish I have had in there since Thursday ( clown fish) act like they are starving the golby and grab have lived 3 months or so in there just worried me because all my numbers are all 0 and I want to add fish but the numbers scare me and what kind of food frozen and what kind or flakes and what kind

 

[Barker88]

Here's my tank

 

[EDO]

I feed LRS reef frenzy, full spectrum pellets. When all I had were clowns it the pellets and PE mysis.

 

[TreyC2010]

You definitely want more live rock in there. I started with minimal rock and had a lot of fish die from being scared and not having a hiding place. Those fish may have died because it was early in the cycle. Stability should only be dosed once per month and with water changes. I'd leave prime alone because it will mask the ammonia and that ammonia needs to break down. You may lose fish from time to time but don't let it get you down. Make the hobby fun and don't stress too much. And ask any questions you may have on here. Dumb questions included. "Most" people on here are nice and will be more than happy to help. Good luck!

 

[Barker88]

Is it normal for clown fish to lay on the sand?

 

[TreyC2010]

At night mine bed close to the sand. It's not on its side is it?

 

[steiger33]

You definitely want more live rock in there. I started with minimal rock and had a lot of fish die from being scared and not having a hiding place. Those fish may have died because it was early in the cycle. Stability should only be dosed once per month and with water changes. I'd leave prime alone because it will mask the ammonia and that ammonia needs to break down. You may lose fish from time to time but don't let it get you down. Make the hobby fun and don't stress too much. And ask any questions you may have on here. Dumb questions included. "Most" people on here are nice and will be more than happy to help. Good luck!

Great information right here. You need a lot more live rock. In my 20 gallon nano tank I have close to 35 lbs live rock and 30 lbs live sand. in my 150 display tank I have close to 180 lbs live rock and 100 lbs of live sand

150 gallon

20 galling nano

 

[Sabellafella]

Tanks fine Lett the bacteria do its job and number 1 rule, 75% of lfs unless its a sponser on here or a reliable source defff doooo not rely on anything they say juss like trey said there are hundreds of people on this site that can help , my take on u would be grab about 20 more pound of live rock, you have no coral and clownfish are very hardy so u can add lr to your tank no problem

 

[Sabellafella]

Theres litterally a thread on here about the junk that lfs advice people and for them to tell u 8 pound of live rock in a 55 gallon tank is crazyyyyyyy, butt yea basically ur tanks fine you have only 2 fish rite? Deff should stop using prime the bacteria will mongg on the ammonia

 

[nature786]

U want at least 55 lbs of rock in that tank.
1 lb/ gallon is what I always go for.