Tank cycles

bobbyg04 · May 31, 2017

Okay guys so it's been a good while since I've posted on the forum due to success I was able to have with the advice from you guys! So after a good bit with my 32 gallon biocube, I decided I wanted to experiment. Mostly with my rock work and taking the rim off the top, to use kessil lighting. I sold my coral, because I had a new idea for the tank. I drained the tank and left about 5-10 gallons so I could see the rock and how I was gonna form it. The problem is that, I decided to go away with the live rock I had and go with Caribsea life rock for its look. Now I know the beneficial bacteria from the rock is now gone and I was just curious on the cycle I'm gonna face. I currently have 2 clown fish, a cleaner shrimp and about a half a handful of snails and crabs combined. I put them in the tank and they seem to be doing good so far. Am I gonna see a huge cycle or possibly a mini cycle?

P.S. I also added 10 lbs of live sand

Bdog4u2 · Jun 1, 2017

Your gonna have a cycle. I probably would've kept a few pieces of the old rock and took them out later down the road. get an ammonia alert badge and test for it. I'm old school and can't imagine a tank without live rock

Jason mack · Jun 1, 2017

Bdog4u2 said:
Your gonna have a cycle. I probably would've kept a few pieces of the old rock and took them out later down the road. get an ammonia alert badge and test for it. I'm old school and can't imagine a tank without live rock

I agree !

bobbyg04 · Jun 1, 2017

Bdog4u2 said:
Your gonna have a cycle. I probably would've kept a few pieces of the old rock and took them out later down the road. get an ammonia alert badge and test for it. I'm old school and can't imagine a tank without live rock

Am I looking at a severe cycle as if it were a new tank ?

Jason mack · Jun 1, 2017

If the new rock you used was live rock then no ! You will get a mini cycle as your tank and bacteria ajust again , put an ammonia badge in , don't worry too much about nitrite .. it's not as in toxic seawater as it is in fresh .. so ammonia is the one you need too watch ..good luck , happy reefing !

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 1, 2017

bobbyg04 said:
Am I looking at a severe cycle as if it were a new tank ?

Here the thing. The cycle is the nitrogen cycle.

The ugly phase is not a cycle.

If the rock was dirty and uncured yea it's gonna get ugly probably especially of if the po4 is high and the no3 is building now that the rock has soaked a while.

You may not get diatoms cuz the silicates form the surface of the rock has been soaked before.

bobbyg04 · Jun 1, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Here the thing. The cycle is the nitrogen cycle.

The ugly phase is not a cycle.

If the rock was dirty and uncured yea it's gonna get ugly probably especially of if the po4 is high and the no3 is building now that the rock has soaked a while.

You may not get diatoms cuz the silicates form the surface of the rock has been soaked before.

Well actually the rock I used I rinsed very well but it was dry rock... so how big of a hole am I in ?

Bdog4u2 · Jun 1, 2017

If you still got the old sand ammonia may not spike a lot. clowns are tough and can handle it but cleaner shrimp doesn't like any.

bobbyg04 · Jun 1, 2017

Bdog4u2 said:
If you still got the old sand ammonia may not spike a lot. clowns are tough and can handle it but cleaner shrimp doesn't like any.

With some live stock in the tank, how soon do you think I'll start to see some of my levels rise

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 1, 2017

bobbyg04 said:
With some live stock in the tank, how soon do you think I'll start to see some of my levels rise

You can test for po4 now.
N03 should have shown after a week.
How long have the fish been in there ?
You did let the ammonia drop yea? And cycle the tank?

bobbyg04 · Jun 1, 2017

Was hoping for a not so crazy recycle due to the change of rock due to the sand but looks like I could be wrong. Gonna keep an eye on the levels. If things get to out of wack I'll move the clowns and shrimp to a 10 gallon for the time being

bobbyg04 · Jun 1, 2017

Bdog4u2 said:
If you still got the old sand ammonia may not spike a lot. clowns are tough and can handle it but cleaner shrimp doesn't like any.

Jason mack said:
If the new rock you used was live rock then no ! You will get a mini cycle as your tank and bacteria ajust again , put an ammonia badge in , don't worry too much about nitrite .. it's not as in toxic seawater as it is in fresh .. so ammonia is the one you need too watch ..good luck , happy reefing !

Thanks for the input guys!