Is my tank cycled?

Buford25 · Nov 8, 2016

hello all. Looking for some input here. I set up my tank early last week.

90 gallon marine
40 gallon breeder sump
100 lbs Fiji pink love sand
100 lbs dry rock
I have used rodi water with a TDS of zero and mixed with reed crystals to 1.026.
My temp has been steady between 76.2F to 76.6F every day since set up.

I have added a bottle of ATM colony (I read good reviews on it helping to cycle a tank). I have not ran any lights on the tank since it has been set up. The first day I tested my water just to see what they were at. These are my results.

Ph- 8.0
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0

Two days passed and I tested again. All levels the same. Fast forward 5 days and these are my test results.

Ph-8.0
Ammonia- 0
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0

My question, is my tank fully cycled. I thought when the ammonia dropped to 0 you should see a spike in nitrate..? Could this have happened and settled in the 5 days not testing? I know tanks take weeks to cycle . Has the ATM colony really worked as described? Any input is appreciated.

PS here is a pic of the tank.

Thanks!

Robert

Abusfullofnuns · Nov 8, 2016

Add another source of ammonia and test tomorrow.

Buford25 · Nov 8, 2016

What type of ammonia? Sorry if that is a dumb question.

SandJ · Nov 8, 2016

Did you add an ammonia source (pure ammonia, shrimp, etc...)?

What get kit are you using. Some are notorious for false positives on ammonia.

And yes, you are correct. You should see a drop in ammonia-rise in nitrites, then drop in nitrates-rise in nitrites.

I used pure ammonia (without surfactants) to start the cycle. When the tank was able to process 2ppm of ammonia within 24 hours I considered it fully cycled and ready to handle the fish bioload.

It looks like one of the rocks may be a previously live rock (used in a tank at some point) which could have produced some ammonia. But don't know what happened with the nitrites if that is the case. Maybe just not enough produced to show up on the test.

MermaidTail · Nov 8, 2016

Gorgeous 'scape! For what it's worth...my reefing buddy gave me advice when I started my (first) tank: "set up your tank and let it do its thing and don't think it's cycled until a month passes..." while that number was somewhat arbitrary I am thankful the sentiment behind it stuck with me. I let my tank sit for over 3 weeks - just to be sure. And I'm thankful I did. Enjoying my thriving reef!

36boo · Nov 8, 2016

Buford25 said:
hello all. Looking for some input here. I set up my tank early last week.

90 gallon marine
40 gallon breeder sump
100 lbs Fiji pink love sand
100 lbs dry rock
I have used rodi water with a TDS of zero and mixed with reed crystals to 1.026.
My temp has been steady between 76.2F to 76.6F every day since set up.

I have added a bottle of ATM colony (I read good reviews on it helping to cycle a tank). I have not ran any lights on the tank since it has been set up. The first day I tested my water just to see what they were at. These are my results.

Ph- 8.0
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0

Two days passed and I tested again. All levels the same. Fast forward 5 days and these are my test results.

Ph-8.0
Ammonia- 0
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0

My question, is my tank fully cycled. I thought when the ammonia dropped to 0 you should see a spike in nitrate..? Could this have happened and settled in the 5 days not testing? I know tanks take weeks to cycle . Has the ATM colony really worked as described? Any input is appreciated.

PS here is a pic of the tank.

Thanks!

Robert

I'm starting the same build I got a 40 breeder for the sump and got home and its about 1" to wide You got a better pic of cabinet and what all you have as for as light WaveMaker and so on

Buford25 · Nov 8, 2016

SandJ said:
Did you add an ammonia source (pure ammonia, shrimp, etc...)?

What get kit are you using. Some are notorious for false positives on ammonia.

And yes, you are correct. You should see a drop in ammonia-rise in nitrites, then drop in nitrates-rise in nitrites.

I used pure ammonia (without surfactants) to start the cycle. When the tank was able to process 2ppm of ammonia within 24 hours I considered it fully cycled and ready to handle the fish bioload.

It looks like one of the rocks may be a previously live rock (used in a tank at some point) which could have produced some ammonia. But don't know what happened with the nitrites if that is the case. Maybe just not enough produced to show up on the test.

I didn't not add any source of ammonia.

I am using API saltwater test kit.

The rock came from my last 90 gallon set up. That tank over heated and I lost all livestock. I then moved out of state and am setting this tank up. All of that rock I performed a muratic acid bath rinsed 4 times. Dried in the sun four days sat a few months. Before I added to the tank I soaked again in straight rodi water.

Buford25 · Nov 8, 2016

MermaidTail said:
Gorgeous 'scape! For what it's worth...my reefing buddy gave me advice when I started my (first) tank: "set up your tank and let it do its thing and don't think it's cycled until a month passes..." while that number was somewhat arbitrary I am thankful the sentiment behind it stuck with me. I let my tank sit for over 3 weeks - just to be sure. And I'm thankful I did. Enjoying my thriving reef!

That is what hat I have heard before as well. It is pretty easy for me to be patient and let it sit, thankfully. I figure I've tried to do everything right so far why screw it up now.

Thank you for the compliments on the scape. I wanted to try something a little different then your standard "pile" of rock.

Buford25 · Nov 8, 2016

36boo said:
I'm starting the same build I got a 40 breeder for the sump and got home and its about 1" to wide You got a better pic of cabinet and what all you have as for as light WaveMaker and so on

I actually made the cabinet. For lights I am using 2x radion XR15pros. I did not go with the 30's because, believe it or not, I'm not into sps. Also I figure if you're going to run multiple 30's at less then 40 percent for this tank why pay the difference.

I am using a mag drive 1200 return pump with four lock line heads and am running a herbie overflow instead of Durso. I hard plumbed the return on the back side of the tank. I am also using one mp40.Considering adding an mp10 but I would like to wait until I have some livestock in the tank before making that decision.

I have a protein skimmer and am in the process of purchasing a reactor. I did not want to run them while the tank is cycling without a bioload.

Also silicone baffles in the sump and am running three filter socks. I have added some pics below for you.

blackboy3006 · Nov 8, 2016

Very nice setup

36boo · Nov 9, 2016

Buford25 said:
I actually made the cabinet. For lights I am using 2x radion XR15pros. I did not go with the 30's because, believe it or not, I'm not into sps. Also I figure if you're going to run multiple 30's at less then 40 percent for this tank why pay the difference.

I am using a mag drive 1200 return pump with four lock line heads and am running a herbie overflow instead of Durso. I hard plumbed the return on the back side of the tank. I am also using one mp40.Considering adding an mp10 but I would like to wait until I have some livestock in the tank before making that decision.

I have a protein skimmer and am in the process of purchasing a reactor. I did not want to run them while the tank is cycling without a bioload.

Also silicone baffles in the sump and am running three filter socks. I have added some pics below for you.

Very nice you not running a protein skimmer

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 9, 2016

I wouldn't assume it is cycled. Nitrate will only rise if a lot of ammonia is being converted into nitrate, and if you are not adding it in some way, it won't cycle and you won't get nitrate.

Buford25 · Nov 9, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I wouldn't assume it is cycled. Nitrate will only rise if a lot of ammonia is being converted into nitrate, and if you are not adding it in some way, it won't cycle and you won't get nitrate.

Once again I apologize if this is a dumb question. I am still a bit confused as to adding ammonia. The ammonia I am thinking of is the type you buy at the grocery store for cleaning and this just doesn't seem right to me. Especially being so careful not to have any type of contaminates on your hands when working in your tank. Or even using tap water due to all of the additive.

Could you please elaborate on what type and how to add this ammonia. I have always used live rock and have not had the need to add anything but a booster. This is the first time using dry rock with live sand.