@Lasse thank you very much for your thoughtful reply and link to more info. I do have an existing tank running so I may utilize it to seed the new tank.
www.reef2reef.com
So far in our thread we have a few cycles on file thought to be stalled at the start, that never were stalled, and now are running with fish
That post above is another one where the cycle seems stalled, but is not. we always see these recurring themes in stalled cycle threads, the patterns are very predictable:
-multiple purchases of bottled bac, though the first one worked. this alignment is paying bottle bac sellers massive amounts of cash they do not deserve to have, the sale is based on a false premise. its a feel good buy, its not required.
-several forum posters backs up their doubt agreeing the bacteria have been limited in some way. We
groupthink stalled cycles into existence with our non seneye test readings we buy lock, stock and barrel.
-factoring nitrite in the cycle, exclude nitrite in reef aquarium cycling its one less misread to make you wait
-using non seneye testers to base 100% of the permission to begin, and de-valuing submersion time as a factor for an allowed start. He is nearly two months, there is no cycle chart on the planet written for two months, they dont take that long. he bought more bottle bac just now because the sales industry is priming us all to be that way. doubt in what bacteria can do is lining their pockets with cash.
-no clear start times. if he was invited to a macna, or had needs for a tank to be ready to receive new animals, he could not. Another month wait is required.
confidence in what bacteria do saves money and loses the least animals, it should be the preferred cycling technique.
*the clues posted where we
know he is cycled:
-double the charted times on any written cycle
-presence of nitrogen conversion: 50 ppm nitrate.
-ammonia went down, more than once
-how is our first three cycles on this thread? If he changed water, and began, he'd be the fourth unstuck cycle but its hard to overcome 30 years of poor microbiology information in our hobby.
***there are benefits to his cycle approach, we are merely hashing here what bacteria can do with confidence
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By not starting with fish, he's on track for the disease protocol system of his choice. quick fish stocking violates today's best disease protocols, unless those were specially-QT'ined fish depending on the goals for the reef
-he wont have to battle the uglies phase so early, he's not blasting fish waste and bright lighting across all white surfaces with $150 corals stacking up.
A cycled reef can certainly handle that bioload, feed and waste but the uglies it causes are a real concern
given this long wait caused by doubt in what bacteria can do, given to us by the teachers of reef technique and our peers, he has side benefits of maturation in place before adding bioload.
Nitrates were 10 ppm, down from 20/30. Going to do a large water change in the next day or so (probably 25-30%) and add then in some fish this week assuming things are on track!
