Newbie cycle question

[Justmike]

I am on week 4 of my cycle .
0 ammonia (peaked and dropped down 0)
0 nitrites (peaked and dropped down to 0)
5 nitrates

100 pounds of live sand
20 pounds of live rock
100 pounds of dry Pukani
120 gallon tank

My question is is it possible to have my cycle done as the numbers suggest without a diatom / cyno / algae outbreak , ?

 

[reeferfoxx]

I am on week 4 of my cycle .
0 ammonia (peaked and dropped down 0)
0 nitrites (peaked and dropped down to 0)
5 nitrates

100 pounds of live sand
20 pounds of live rock
100 pounds of dry Pukani
120 gallon tank

My question is is it possible to have my cycle done as the numbers suggest without a diatom / cyno / algae outbreak , ?

Did you cure your dry pukani? Have you tested for phosphates?

 

[Justmike]

Doing the Pukani at the same time as the cycle , phosphates are back to normal there was a one day large drop in week three , then went back to normal .

 

[reeferfoxx]

Doing the Pukani at the same time as the cycle , phosphates are back to normal there was a one day large drop in week three , then went back to normal .

Phosphate don't just 'go back to normal'. Dry pukani has dead matter stuck inside crevices. Curing dry pukani or any other dry live rock, requires us to cure or go through the process of releasing phosphates.

Water changes will reduce the numbers, but your rock will leech phosphates into the water column for months to come, without curing.

Diatoms will grow if the lights were turned on. They will eat the silicates in the water column.
So answer to your question, yes you will have diatoms and algae and maybe cyano bloom.

 

[Justmike]

Sorry perhaps I didn't ask the question correctly .

I haven't had a diatom / cyno / algae outbreak at all. There has been no lights on suing the cycle . So with my parameters at
0 ammonia
0 nitrates
5 nitrates
Is my cycle done ?

 

[reeferfoxx]

If your test is correct and your nitrates are at 5, then yes you have completed your cycle. Now is the time to turn lights on and get some fish going.

But don't fret. Let the diatoms run it's course. If for any chance the diatoms are still growing into the 4th month, get a GFO reactor with GFO. It's a little extra cost but will help absorb remaining silicates and help reduce the amount of phosphates in the water column.

If before the 4th month you happen to get a hair algae or cyano bloom, your rock has already begun releasing phosphates. If your tests show zeros for phosphates it will be because the algae has been absorbing the nutrients.

 

[Justmike]

Great thank you kindly for your time and help.

 

[reeferfoxx]

No problem and welcome to R2R.