Stalled cycle?

[Frtdrmrose7]

I’m in the process of cycling a new 150G. It has 130 lbs of new live sand, 100 lbs of dry rock, 45lbs live rock from my other reef (very mature), and a media bag that had been in my sump for 6 mos. I added a bottle of the Fritz Turbo 900 also.
I initially dosed the tank to 2ppm with 10% pure ammonia a week ago.
I know the cycle takes time and I’m not rushing it but I’ve been checking the ammonia daily and it hasn’t changed at all. I’m still also reading 0 Nitrites.
I am aware this probably won’t be ready until the 1st of the year or so but I thought by now I should see something happening. This has been running a week now without lights and I had thought that with everything I put in I should start to see signs of a cycle. Any thoughts?

 

[JasonK84]

I’m in the process of cycling a new 150G. It has 130 lbs of new live sand, 100 lbs of dry rock, 45lbs live rock from my other reef (very mature), and a media bag that had been in my sump for 6 mos. I added a bottle of the Fritz Turbo 900 also.
I initially dosed the tank to 2ppm with 10% pure ammonia a week ago.
I know the cycle takes time and I’m not rushing it but I’ve been checking the ammonia daily and it hasn’t changed at all. I’m still also reading 0 Nitrites.
I am aware this probably won’t be ready until the 1st of the year or so but I thought by now I should see something happening. This has been running a week now without lights and I had thought that with everything I put in I should start to see signs of a cycle. Any thoughts?

I didn't think you were supposed to dose ammonia when using live rock. It will kill everything that makes it "live".

 

[EmdeReef]

Assuming it’s not a test kit error, not much you can do but wait. I’ve usually had pretty quick cycles when adding biospira, never tried fritz but should be the same.

Temperature swings? Good flow?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Assuming it’s not a test kit error, not much you can do but wait. I’ve usually had pretty quick cycles when adding biospira, never tried fritz but should be the same.

Temperature swings? Good flow?

Keeping it at 80 degrees for the bacteria and I have great flow.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I didn't think you were supposed to dose ammonia when using live rock. It will kill everything that makes it "live".

I was under the impression that dosing the ammonia just provides more “food” for the bacteria that is present to grow and multiply.

 

[beaslbob]

turn on your lights. Ammonia will drop down.

 

[JasonK84]

I was under the impression that dosing the ammonia just provides more “food” for the bacteria that is present to grow and multiply.

Bacteria sure. If there were other critters on your mature rock (pods, worms, etc) then the 2ppm would kill them IMO. I thought with live rock that the safer method was the dead shrimp method since ammonia levels would rise slowly and give the bacteria "food" without getting so high as to kill the micro fauna on the live rock.?.?.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Bacteria sure. If there were other critters on your mature rock (pods, worms, etc) then the 2ppm would kill them IMO. I thought with live rock that the safer method was the dead shrimp method since ammonia levels would rise slowly and give the bacteria "food" without getting so high as to kill the micro fauna on the live rock.?.?.

no and no. i’ve seen hitchhikers survive well past 4ppm ammonia. that why the max you want to dose is 5ppm. the safe range is 2-3ppm. and you never want to use shrimp or livestock. it’s completely uncontrolled.

only ammonia necessary, not ammonia AND fritz. not sure if this stalled your cycle.

 

[EmdeReef]

no and no. i’ve seen hitchhikers survive well past 4ppm ammonia. that why the max you want to dose is 5ppm. the safe range is 2-3ppm. and you never want to use shrimp or livestock. it’s completely uncontrolled.

only ammonia necessary, not ammonia AND fritz. not sure if this stalled your cycle.

Agree that 2ppm won't be toxic to most hitchhikers, may have an impact on worms.
Ammonia as the food source is fine with bacteria and recommended. It wouldn't stall the cycle, if anything should boost it.

 

[JasonK84]

no and no. i’ve seen hitchhikers survive well past 4ppm ammonia. that why the max you want to dose is 5ppm. the safe range is 2-3ppm. and you never want to use shrimp or livestock. it’s completely uncontrolled.

only ammonia necessary, not ammonia AND fritz. not sure if this stalled your cycle.

Lots of tanks in this world started with table shrimp. I could be wrong on the 2ppm causing any harm but rotting shrimp still gets the job done.

Agree with you on not using livestock.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Lots of tanks in this world started with table shrimp. I could be wrong on the 2ppm causing any harm but rotting shrimp still gets the job done.

Agree with you on not using livestock.

it’s uncontrolled. it can work but you no way of accurately keeping you ammonia in the 2-3ppm range.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Agree that 2ppm won't be toxic to most hitchhikers, may have an impact on worms.
Ammonia as the food source is fine with bacteria and recommended. It wouldn't stall the cycle, if anything should boost it.

i had an accident where i dosed ammonia close to 5ppm and bristleworms survived. pretty sure all pods died though.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Ok, anything I should do now? Should I do a W/C? I don’t know how adding bacteria to a 2ppm tank would stall it, I’m hoping I haven’t wasted a week, this is the first time I dosed ammonia for a cycle. I think I should’ve just done it the way I always had in the past (dead shrimp).

 

[Ubergroover]

The common phrase in this hobby is nothing good happens fast. a tank that size could take 60 to 75 days to stabilize. The issue is after it stabilizes it can crash very easily as the bacteria has only built up to a tank with a false bio load. Go slow. once the nitrogen cycle has occured, your gonna get a diatom bloom from the sand. Add a couple fish(like a green chromis)and let it sit for a couple weeks and monitor. Dont worry about water changes until your nitrates are rising but the nitrites and ammonia are zero, constantly.Fluctuating nitrites=immature tank or unhealthy. Maintain the salinity by adding rodi and wait. Mother nature will take care of it. Waiting sucks, but when a year later you have that kick butt anemone that is living in a healthy home you'll be proud. My opinion....good luck.