Nitrogen Cycle - Week 1 Test Results

ChelseaBidwell · Jul 28, 2019

So, we started the cycle on our 80 Gallon tank on 7/20, have been adding frozen shrimp, dried shrimp, and pellets as we ghost feed. We have been adding food every other day, roughly. These are our results on the dates listed. I have been testing every 2-3 days. We did not add anything else to the tank as far as nutrifying bacteria goes. We also couldn't bring ourselves to do a fish sacrifice, lol. Can anyone tell me if this progress is usual or if I need to be doing something else to help move the cycle along? I've done some reading, and the nitrates are high right now because of my live rock and sand?? The nitrites haven't really budged since we started. I'm an expert when it comes to freshwater, but saltwater is a whole new ball field for me. Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!! Thanks!!

ChelseaBidwell · Jul 28, 2019

Here are the test results.

jaxredsoxfan · Jul 28, 2019

Hi Chelsea and Welcome to R2R. You should see a spike in ammonia followed by a drop in ammonia and a spike in nitrites. Then a drop in nitrites followed by some nitrates- as the bacteria in the tank grow to process the bio-load. This can however be mitigated if true live rock and sand are used from an established system. In that case the bacteria would already exist in the rock and sand, and therefore not need to grow. Did you use true live rock and sand? 8 days is a little young, but i would test for another week or so and monitor the progress. Nothing good happens fast in saltwater. A little patience now will pay big dividends later!

jaxredsoxfan · Jul 28, 2019

LOL i think we were posting at the same time. I can see the results page now- looks pretty normal, just continue to monitor until your ammonia and nitrite are zero. What do you intend to keep in the tank in the future- fish, coral or both?

redfishbluefish · Jul 28, 2019

Welcome @ChelseaBidwell to R2R!

Looks like you're off to a good start. I did notice that your rock is very white and pristine. Was it truly live rock that was purchased wet from an LFS, or was is dried out rock when you added it. Because of the pristine look, and your now increasing nitrates, I'm speculating it was dry rock. So what is now occurring is a rock cure. That is, the old dead stuff in the rock, such as bacteria, is now decaying and leaching out of the rock. This is the cause of the increasing nitrates. THis is easily handled during a cure by doing water changes.

Assuming it was dried rock, I'd also consider "spiking" the tank with bacteria. This can be accomplished by adding a cup of sand from a friends established tank, a piece of established live rock, or a bottle of nitrifying bacteria (Dr. Tim's One and Only or BioSpira or any other brand....as long as it's for saltwater). This will really help give your tank a jump start in the cycle.

Now sit back and wait....and wait....and wait some more. Some tanks take over a month to get that cycle going.

ChelseaBidwell · Jul 28, 2019

redfishbluefish said:
Welcome @ChelseaBidwell to R2R!

Looks like you're off to a good start. I did notice that your rock is very white and pristine. Was it truly live rock that was purchased wet from an LFS, or was is dried out rock when you added it. Because of the pristine look, and your now increasing nitrates, I'm speculating it was dry rock. So what is now occurring is a rock cure. That is, the old dead stuff in the rock, such as bacteria, is now decaying and leaching out of the rock. This is the cause of the increasing nitrates. THis is easily handled during a cure by doing water changes.

Assuming it was dried rock, I'd also consider "spiking" the tank with bacteria. This can be accomplished by adding a cup of sand from a friends established tank, a piece of established live rock, or a bottle of nitrifying bacteria (Dr. Tim's One and Only or BioSpira or any other brand....as long as it's for saltwater). This will really help give your tank a jump start in the cycle.

Now sit back and wait....and wait....and wait some more. Some tanks take over a month to get that cycle going.

It actually was Dry Rock, sorry! Hahaha and I appreciate your help! I've heard of Dr. Tims quite a bit feom the fish stores around me, I may get some tomorrow and go ahead and bite the bullet!