Salwater tank cycling

[ferrarii52]

Hi All I had a few questions when cycling my new saltwater tank. I have had freshwater tanks and a small saltwater in the past quite a few years ago. I currently have a 55 gallon saltwater tank setup that I started cycling on july 21st with 40lbs dead rock, carib live sand and a shrimp from the supermarket. I removed the shrimp a few days ago. I have had the same parameters for a few days now ammonia .25ppm, nitrites 0, nitrate 5ppm. The ammonia climbed initially then I saw it drop on day 10 and nitrites climbed then they dropped a few days ago when I started seeing nitrates. I am wondering if my tank is cycled or not just seems very quick? I am wondering why I still see some ammonia as well. I am using an API test kit that has not expired.

 

[tankstudy]

Hi All I had a few questions when cycling my new saltwater tank. I have had freshwater tanks and a small saltwater in the past quite a few years ago. I currently have a 55 gallon saltwater tank setup that I started cycling on july 21st with 40lbs dead rock, carib live sand and a shrimp from the supermarket. I removed the shrimp a few days ago. I have had the same parameters for a few days now ammonia .25ppm, nitrites 0, nitrate 5ppm. The ammonia climbed initially then I saw it drop on day 10 and nitrites climbed then they dropped a few days ago when I started seeing nitrates. I am wondering if my tank is cycled or not just seems very quick? I am wondering why I still see some ammonia as well. I am using an API test kit that has not expired.

Run a test on the API test kit.

Make or take some fresh saltwater and run the ammonia test on it. It should read zero.

If it's reading zero, that means you do have 0.25 ppm ammonia in the tank. You may want to rerun nitrite as well at this time to double check. Your tank probably isn't completely cycled yet.

If it's not reading zero, make sure you shake the bottles according to the instructions, especially the second reagent. Rerun the test on freshly made salt water. If it's still reading 0.25 ppm, you'll need to get a new kit.

Some tanks cycle quick because they require less bacteria because of the lower initial amount of ammonia. Not to mention, optimal growing condition may or may not be present or achievable.

 

[BeejReef]

+1
Peeps are always debating if API can read 0 ammonia or not. A lot of people seem to get stuck at .25ppm.

Clearly good news that your tank can process ammonia into nitrate and that it has come along fast.
If you are sticking with shrimp method, it's probably wise to give it another 2-3 weeks though... maybe another shrimp or two. You've proven you have the bacteria. Now it's a matter of knowing that you have enough of them to process the sustained release of fish waste.

If you care to buy pharma ammonia, dose to a set level, and time the conversion from ammonia to nitrate, there are commonly accepted benchmarks. Up to you. I'd tell myself that I'm going to the LFS (not this) next weekend to get a couple snails and window shop for fish.

If you see a fish or two you like, grab your snails and you go back a week later. If the fish you liked is still healthy and eating, you're def in the ballpark.

 

[Auquanut]

If you are sticking with shrimp method, it's probably wise to give it another 2-3 weeks though... maybe another shrimp or two. You've proven you have the bacteria. Now it's a matter of knowing that you have enough of them to process the sustained release of fish waste.

^ +1. It never hurts to go slow.

 

[ferrarii52]

Thanks everybody for the knowledge. I am going to test again tonight to see where I am at but I figure I will wait a few weeks anyways just to be sure.

 

[WVNed]

I dislike how cycling is portrayed here. It really only happens once. You see it on your test kits and it is done.
Ammonia - nitrites - nitrates. It takes as long as it takes.

Think of it more like starting an engine. The shrimp or ammonia or whatever going in is the turning of the key. When nitrates appear it has started and is idling.

Then you slowly add stuff and the bio filter grows as the bio load increases.

 

[ferrarii52]

OK so I checked my test kit by using ro/di water and testing for ammonia and it shows 0 ammonia in the RO/DI water. So the test kit is accurate. I then proceeded to retest the parameters in my tank ensuring i followed the test kit directions with the following results. PH 8.0, Ammonia .25ppm, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates. I am a little confused now why I now have no nitrates when I had 5ppm or more for at least a week after nitrites dropped to zero. Any thoughts?