Nitrogen cycle started?

[Sharkbait19]

I’m a little concerned yet confused at the same time.
My tank has been running for a few days now, a fluval evo 13.5, and I have live sand (20 lbs) and live rocks (about 15 lbs), with a hitchhiker snail and two hermit crabs. I could only assume the bacteria has been doing it’s job, but testing for nitrates, I’m still reading zero. Should I assume that everything is good, or the cycle hasn’t even started, which is a little hard to believe. I mean, I know some people get lucky and never have ammonia to cycle, but I’d love to see changes. How long should it take to start reading nitrates? Should I put a hardy fish in to kickstart the cycle?

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

I’m a little concerned yet confused at the same time.
My tank has been running for a few days now, a fluval evo 13.5, and I have live sand (20 lbs) and live rocks (about 15 lbs), with a hitchhiker snail and two hermit crabs. I could only assume the bacteria has been doing it’s job, but testing for nitrates, I’m still reading zero. Should I assume that everything is good, or the cycle hasn’t even started, which is a little hard to believe. I mean, I know some people get lucky and never have ammonia to cycle, but I’d love to see changes. How long should it take to start reading nitrates? Should I put a hardy fish in to kickstart the cycle?

What did you use to kick start cycle? Was it true live rock (cured)? Did you use any bacteria in a bottle?

 

[MichaelReefer]

If it is true live rock that is uncured, you shouldn't have to dose ammonia. Once things start dying off you should get ammonia.

 

[Gablami]

If you used live rock and live sand, you don’t have to cycle the tank. It is already considered cycled. If you want to be sure, dose ammonia to the tank to 2.0 and test 24 hrs later. Ammonia should be zero and you should see nitrates. I bet you’re not seeing nitrates because there is no nitrogen source yet.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I set up my tank with 20 lbs of live sand and dosed the water with sea chem prime when I filled it. There are roughly 15 lbs of live rock which was uncured, as I transferred it right from the store into my tank. So far, there is no die off; and the only hitchhikers are featherduster worms and a snail. As far as I know, I’m probably good to go with bacteria, so I suppose adding a fish could kickstart that cycle.

 

[brandon429]

your cycle is done and your testers cant read it correctly/ dont do anything for boosting a cycle, its done, and can't be undone. simply reef without considering the cycle now. your next guessing venture for params will be calcium, alk, and pH lol we can stop doing the cycle guesses now as live rock + hitchhikers from a pet store means cycled, in 100% of cases it has all the bac needed.

summary: using non-digital test kits without factoring the prior existence of the bacteria proven by visual cues: seems stalled

using visual cues and no approximating/non digital test kits that cannot read low levels very well, your tank is already keeping life alive dont dose ammonia to it: not stalled.

Fully matured reefs show zero nitrate commonly for a host of reasons, we don't require seeing nitrates in updated cycle science for this reason. live rocks made your cycle skip, you are done.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Thanks for the advice! When I add fish, should I add seachem stability, or would purchasing something like that be kind of a waste?

 

[brandon429]

agreed its a waste, no where for it to attach. live rock has all spaced used by bacteria; if you ever wanted more bac you'd add more rock/surface area/attachment points, not more bacteria. when you add new attachment points, current bacteria reproduce to take them over, bac additions aren't needed after the initial cycle.

you wouldnt need more rock I saw the other thread pics if im not mistaken it was cured aquarium rock you got

Your fish disease protocol sets when you add fish. After cycle it's always able to house them without adding more bottle bac.