Is my tank cycled?

[kiteski14]

It's been a week since I filled the tank and added the live rock. I've been doing readings everyday and I haven't seen much of a change at all. I attached a picture with the current ammonia levels and they've been very close to that everyday. The nitrate and nitrite levels are also very low.

I attached some pictures. I have seen some small hitchhikers from the live rock, but I'm wondering how long I should wait before adding fish/cleanup crew since I haven't seen the 'spike' everyone talks about.

Thanks

 

[fl3xlinton]

Did you ever add an ammonia source? And any of your own bacteria besides the live rock

 

[fl3xlinton]

I like the scape by the way nice and simple.

 

[kiteski14]

Did you ever add an ammonia source? And any of your own bacteria besides the live rock

I added the recommended dose of API Quickstart one day, and then a couple fish pellets another day, that is all.

 

[kiteski14]

I like the scape by the way nice and simple.

Thanks, I may move them around a bit but want to have some sort of 'cave/tunnel', unfortunately the rocks I got weren't the best for it, but as long as the fish are able to swim under I'm happy

 

[brandon429]

when you bought the live rock, was it in a vat of water (wet rock is cycled, and comes home to you cycled, and never uncycles or needs more help or purchases although adding more stuff doesnt harm it)

i noticed your rock has reef pigmentations and growth, its not bone white/dry source rock.
Isnt it true this is live rock from a fish store's live rock tank/has water

 

[kiteski14]

when you bought the live rock, was it in a vat of water (wet rock is cycled, and comes home to you cycled)

It was in a tank with other fish in it. It seemed like the tank was established but I'm not sure how long these rocks were in there.

 

[fl3xlinton]

I added the recommended dose of API Quickstart one day, and then a couple fish pellets another day, that is all.

Maybe do the pellets another time and keep dosing QuickStart until that test kit reaches completely yellow. Doing it this way usually takes a little longer. But patience is key!

 

[brandon429]

we can tell its cycled because it has pigmentation. see this thread, your rock is group B

look how many skip cycle tanks (brought home ready, needs no wait, ready when you set it up) we set up using group B rocks here.

The microbiology of reef tank cycling.

You can skip your cycle. Ive been reefing online for twenty years and have never waited one second for a tank to cycle, because I buy rocks that are already cycled and move them home. Here's two: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/octo-high-end-sps-skip-cycle-build.713256/...

www.reef2reef.com

your rock will have tiny attachments beyond just coloration. some spots might have texture differences/slicks if there are any anchored algae portions, or hairlike projections that stand off, all those + pigmentation/not bone white means its cycled because those attachments take longer than bac do to adhere, and it came from a tank swarming with life and we named that character before confirming solely off rock pictures, as pictures and live rock history beat test kits for cycle accuracy 100% of the time

 

[fl3xlinton]

Never hurts to add more rock if you want down the road either! I’ve always had a view of how I want the rock and it completely changes when I get my hands on the rock. And then finally when it’s in the tank I’m still moving and adding. Maybe that’s just me and I’m never satisfied but it wouldn’t hurt you if you wanted more rocks.

 

[brandon429]

I just reread, your rock is ready the hitchhikers are also confirmation. no rocks with color/pigmentation, hangers on, and texture we can see in the pics is partially cycled, you're done. We've built a 4 year cycling thread on making just those calls


* this thread below applies to your cycle due to the differences in cycling advice between web forums and huge marine aquarium conventions where 500 tanks do instant cycles like yours.

Reef convention skip cycle aquariums for the last 20 years and rogue cyclers

Compare and contrast today's forum cycling advice with reef convention tanks let me know what you think Forum: you can't rush anything in reefing Macna: five hundred reefs you'd kill to own set up Friday morning, looking sharp all other following days and you buy stuff from them with glee...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[kiteski14]

I just reread, your rock is ready the hitchhikers are also confirmation. no rocks with color/pigmentation, hangers on, and texture we can see in the pics is partially cycled, you're done. We've built a 4 year cycling thread on making just those calls

Awesome, great news. What would you recommend introducing first to the tank?

 

[brandon429]

I would do a huge water change so that your starting bioload is in clean water, not algae prone under new bright lights.

when these live rocks begin to take on algae, lift them out and burn it off or scrape it or garden the rocks directly, don't rely on water dosing to control algae, make them your garden/permit only what you want. that's how to care for aged live rocks, allow no uglies phase.

Before adding fish, see the fish forum and how much disease results from using no protocols for disease

the first additions should be some cheap corals, its ready

and some crabs if you like them, not everyone does, maybe a decorative shrimp appropriate for the tank etc. fish come after research on fish disease protocols.
pls document your first additions, as they live past 24 hours that's also proof you were cycled, we need practice in the hobby knowing which kinds of rocks show up ready and which kind need to be made ready.

 

[kiteski14]

I would do a huge water change so that your starting bioload is in clean water, not algae prone under new bright lights.

when these live rocks begin to take on algae, lift them out and burn it off or scrape it or garden the rocks directly, don't rely on water dosing to control algae, make them your garden/permit only what you want. that's how to care for aged live rocks, allow no uglies phase.

I'm new to this, if I were to do a huge water change, that would make me believe that I'm getting rid of the good bacteria that I want in my tank, is that not true?

In regards to the live rocks with algae, are you already seeing signs of their being algae on the rocks? What do you mean by burn it off? How would you recommend scraping it off?


Thanks!

 

[MichaelReefer]

I'm new to this, if I were to do a huge water change, that would make me believe that I'm getting rid of the good bacteria that I want in my tank, is that not true?

In regards to the live rocks with algae, are you already seeing signs of their being algae on the rocks? What do you mean by burn it off? How would you recommend scraping it off?


Thanks!

Most good bacteria is on the surface of your rocks, in your rocks, in your sand, and in your filter media and in your filter itself; not the water column. I'm kinda skeptical about it being cycled in one week though. Generally you're looking at least a month.

Once it is for sure cycled, I suggest starting with your clean up crew. Get some snails, crabs, etc. Continue to feed because otherwise they wont have much to eat.

Highly Suggest you watch the BRS series on Youtube. They cover everything you need to know about cycling your tank.
Here is the first episode. There are hundreds of extremely informative videos.