Tank cycle

[Smitty007j]

Its only been 7 days but my ammonia nitrates and nitrites are all gone how much longer should I wait. I've heard of mini cycles occurring after this point and 7 days seems rather quick.

 

[Small triggers]

Are you still ghost feeding the tank?
And did you use established rock and sand in the tank?

 

[Smitty007j]

Never feed the tank. Just 90 lbs of live rock and live sand in a 90 gallon

 

[Small triggers]

You not inducing a reason for the biological filtration to kick in...
You either need to put a pinch of flake food, a few pellets or a piece of shrimp (usually just 1 small cocktail shrimp) to add something for bacteria to use...

 

[Smitty007j]

I have some flake food for a fresh water tank will that work?

 

[Small triggers]

Yeah that's fine, so add a pinch every other day for about a week...that will bring the ammonia and nitrites up and will help the bacteria to multiply enough to kick your cycle into gear....

 

[Smitty007j]

So the live rock isn't enough

 

[VicD81]

I didnt feed when I cycled. As long as you have WET live rock, the inhabitants on that rock will begin to die and decompose and start your cycle. Which is the same as ghost feeding.

 

[Smitty007j]

Ill add a little food my ammonia got up to 20 now its around 5