Is my tank cycling?

[SPSjunky]

My tank has been running for 2 weeks now. I'm about 5 days into ghost feeding it to try to start the cycle. I tested the water and the results are below.

The tank is a 120 gallon tall and I've been adding one small block of mysis every morning.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Barrett]

Looks like you are on your way to me.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Yep.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Was it a dry rock cycle? And you can stop feeding it btw.
Did it show ammonia at any point prior to now?

 

[SPSjunky]

Yes the rock sat dry for about 2 weeks so everything died off. This is the first time I'm testing it.

Why stop feeding it now?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes the rock sat dry for about 2 weeks so everything died off. This is the first time I'm testing it.

Why stop feeding it now?

If it was a dry rock tank you need time to let the food break down and produce ammonia. You don't need much.

If your also using a bottled bacteria you may be masking and ammonia produced.

 

[SPSjunky]

Currently I'm not using any bottled bacteria or anything along those lines. I did notice in the last couple days that some of the rock is changing color to brown from white.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Currently I'm not using any bottled bacteria or anything along those lines. I did notice in the last couple days that some of the rock is changing color to brown from white.

And you've not seen ammonia on the tests and nor smelled it.

 

[siggy]

Is cycling really nessesary for other than curing dead rock?
With all the live bactiria and efficient media options available.
Why not let a fish or two cycle it

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is cycling really nessesary for other than curing dead rock?
With all the live bactiria and efficient media options available.
Why not let a fish or two cycle it

Fishless cycling. Many used to drop some fish in. They usually didnt survive. The shrimp or food provide the same thing as the fish. An ammonia source.

Curing is both the formation of bacteria and slowing the release of calcium and silicates etc. plain dry rock sometimes gives off a little extra alk as it hits the water.

 

[jrwoltman]

Is cycling really nessesary for other than curing dead rock?
With all the live bactiria and efficient media options available.
Why not let a fish or two cycle it

Cycling with fish is cruel and unnecessary.

 

[siggy]

I cycled 2 tanks in the last 4 months using media pure and live bacteria, live sand and 25 lbs live rock, never lost a fish and only seen a ammonia spike after i added 5 B/G chromis a month later. So am I to understand that you only feed your fish pellet or flake food , Probably all organic? live food would be cruel.

Cycling with fish is cruel and unnecessary.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I cycled 2 tanks in the last 4 months using media pure and live bacteria, live sand and 25 lbs live rock, never lost a fish and only seen a ammonia spike after i added 5 B/G chromis a month later. So am I to understand that you only feed your fish pellet or flake food , Probably all organic? live food would be cruel.

It's because the rock and sand were live.

 

[siggy]

Yes i understand that and that's my point, with the available options today why create a toxic soup then starve it until its safe at add aquatics. As you stated earlier man made rocks will leach lie and dry rock needs to decompose matter, those challenges can be overcome before placing in the tanks. Why not start with a clean slate.

Apologies to the SPSjunky for the hostile takeover.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes i understand that and that's my point, with the available options today why create a toxic soup then starve it until its safe at add aquatics. As you stated earlier man made rocks will leach lie and dry rock needs to decompose matter, those challenges can be overcome before placing in the tanks. Why not start with a clean slate.

It's not a toxic soup. Its just what has to happen. Your rock and sand did the same thing at some point.
The increase in ammonia triggers the cycle. It's just different methods based on the same science.
Most folks are pretty surprised to understand that ther tanks are producing huge amounts of ammonia at all times.

 

[siggy]

I understood the science in the early 80's when all there was available was aragonite for base materials and deco sandstone rocks or slate for structure and Had to Cycle the hard way then wait for snails to clean up the mess and battle the algae from there after.
this should be a thread because i have a few more questions.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I understood the science in the early 80's when all there was available was aragonite for base materials and deco sandstone rocks or slate for structure and Had to Cycle the hard way then wait for snails to clean up the mess and battle the algae from there after.
this should be a thread because i have a few more questions.

Def start one up, and tag me too!

 

[Sistawolf]

And tag me

 

[SPSjunky]

And you've not seen ammonia on the tests and nor smelled it.

That I have not as of yet.

 

[SPSjunky]

I know I can cycle it with fish but that's something I'm really trying to avoid. Once I feel it's cycled then I'll add fish.

My next question is do y'all think I can add a frogspawn colony this upcoming weekend?

A friend of mine is getting out of the hobby and said I could have it. I've held him off but he's officially taking his reef down this weekend. What do y'all think?