TANK CYCLE QUESTION

[enemec1]

i have my new tank up and running. 150G DD tank. I added about 100lbs of carib sea life rock (new). I also transferred about 30-40lbs of existing rock from another tank that had been running over a year. I also added Dr. Tims one and only plus ammonia. the tank has been set like this for about 2 weeks.

Today i tested.
salt=35
Temp=78
Ammonia=0
PH-8.0
Nitrate=0
Nitrite=0

on the rock from old tank i had some star polops that had disappeared in old tank and are now coming back in the new tank. a few snails and hermit crabs are also in new tank and doing fine.

Did my tank have any cycle? should I do Dr. Tims again?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I might add ammonia and track its decline.

 

[enemec1]

I did that already should i do again?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

If you had ammonia and you tracked its decline then you should have nitrates and you reported 0 which doesnt make sense.
I would add ammonium chloride to 2ppm and shake the Dr Tim one and only really well then add to tank.
Make sure before adding bacteria that tank is hold around 2ppm ammonia.
Once bacteria is added and you track its decline to 0 your tank is ready to go.
Assuming you are not using something to rid nitrates like sulfur denitrator or coil denitrator etc

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did that already should i do again?

You did that adding bacteria, at least that’s what I understood. I’d add ammonia again by itself. It never hurts to test it again as often as you want.

 

[enemec1]

I added another dose of dr Tim's ammonia chloride here is the result after 2 hours. How often should I test this now?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Every 24 hrs till it's down to 0

 

[enemec1]

Getting there. Woohoo. Starting to see some alge growth on sand bed. Ca I place order for clean up crew?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

CUC is over rated. imo. i would wait till ammonia and nitrites are 0 then nitrates under 25ppm and ideally 5-10 ppm.
Only order little by little and dont buy those premade crew packs. Shop locally if you can. Inverts generally dont do well in shipping.
I dont do crabs, just a few snails of different sort to try first.

 

[enemec1]

Looks good. Also see alot of small pods all over glass.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

looks good and you are on the way to add cuc.