Tank cycling question-help needed.

[jdaven22]

Ok, here is the situation.

I started my tank up with rock that had been sitting in saltwater w/ no flow for a while (probably dead), dead sand, and I freshwater scrubbed the rocks before I put them in the tank.

I dosed MicroBacter7 per instructions to initiate the cycle and bacteria phase. After a month of total dosing and cycling, with no water changes, I checked the parameters. Everything was 0 (trate, trite, and ammonia). I figured that I was pretty much cleared in the cycle. Therefore, I started implementing my water change schedule two week ago (8g per week). After the first water change all parameters were fine.

However, today I changed my water on schedule. Checked my parameters and everything were through the roof. Ammonia at 1ppm, nitrite at 5 ppm, and nitrate a 100+ ppm.

Did I have a false cycle, or never go through the cycle at all and the nitrogen cycle has just begun? Should I do another water change to help lower levels some or let it run for a week and see if things level themselves out?

Side note- running purigen, using rodi water, no inhabitants in the tank

 

[Mike J.]

If I understand the use of the MicroBacter7 you still have to introduce some sort of ammonia with it. (Although I've never used it.) Also you don't have a cycle until you get a reading on nitrates. I assume you never did have a cycle. If you have livestock in the tank, then, yes, you need to do water changes. (The solution to pollution is dilution. If no livestock, wait until 0 readings on ammonia and nitrite.

 

[jdaven22]

Maybe that was the reason, since I did not introduce any ammonia into the tank (just figured the die-off from the rock would suffice) and I have just now begun the cycle.

No livestock is in the tank, just rock and sand. I am in the r2r Nano for 90 comp and was just doing husbandry getting ready for the competition. Hopefully everything will level out by the time the competition begins.

 

[Mike J.]

Great, I guess you're one of the smarter ones. I think I remember that they'll send you some ammonia with the Microbacter, but you have to ask for it. Oh, one more thing, I'd do regular water changes of 10% a week if it were my tank.

 

[mike007]

That seems very strange i think you should double check your test results. Take a sample to your lfs and have them test and lets what there results are. It sounds to me you have been doing everything correct so i am confused.

 

[jdaven22]

Haha yea, that would have definitely ensured that I had an ammonia spike to start off the cycle. Oh well, I am in it now. I will just redose the Microbacter7 to maybe speed the nitrification. Too bad I essentially wasted the bottle on the first go round (got it 60% off though).

 

[jdaven22]

Yeah, I was confused too. But I never introduced an ammonia component in the initial stages. I just assumed bacteria die off from the rocks would start it. I guess it just took a little bit of time before the die off to occur. I double checked my results- with a suck api kit, but it normally points me in the right direction of if I am in the right parameter zones.

However, my phosphates must be low. I have very little algae, zero cyano.

 

[mike007]

With good cured live rock you may not have had a ammonia spike. I have always used good rock and never have had to cycle tank.

 

[jdaven22]

The thing about the rock was that it was very good live rock, cured in my system. Then I was in a position that I had to take the tank down. I left the rock in the tank with saltwater but no circulation or heater for a period of a few months. I figured this turned the rock into dead rock but assumed that some bacteria still remained, at least enough to intitiate a cycle.

 

[Mike J.]

If the nitrifying bacteria isn't fed it will die. That's why it's important to add fish slowly - to allow the bacteria to increase with your bio load. An example is: you can put a whole shrimp in your aquarium and have a very good nitrifying bacteria cycle. Don't feed any more and the bacteria will die. Feel free to ask any questions.

The thing about the rock was that it was very good live rock, cured in my system. Then I was in a position that I had to take the tank down. I left the rock in the tank with saltwater but no circulation or heater for a period of a few months. I figured this turned the rock into dead rock but assumed that some bacteria still remained, at least enough to intitiate a cycle.