Tank cycling

ReeferBill · Nov 5, 2022

So getting my 80 gallon with 29 sump going. Set up on Wednesday. So Day 3/4. I don’t have an ammonia test kit. Used some rock from my 5 year old 60 cube then some rock that was pulled from a guys tank for a week and drying. I ran the somewhat dry rock with my established rock in a tote for over a week to start the cycle process. Tested water this morning.
pH is perfect.
nitrates are about 40-50.

2 questions.
1. How do I know the tank is cycling or close to being cycled? I know it takes time but will I see the nitrates spike or drop?
2. When should I add a crab or snail to the system.
There was organic matter on the rock from the other reefer so I know there was die off. But skimmer is not pulling anything anymore. Any advice will help.
thanks

leighton.bingham · Nov 5, 2022

ReeferBill said:
So getting my 80 gallon with 29 sump going. Set up on Wednesday. So Day 3/4. I don’t have an ammonia test kit. Used some rock from my 5 year old 60 cube then some rock that was pulled from a guys tank for a week and drying. I ran the somewhat dry rock with my established rock in a tote for over a week to start the cycle process. Tested water this morning.
pH is perfect.
nitrates are about 40-50.

2 questions.
1. How do I know the tank is cycling or close to being cycled? I know it takes time but will I see the nitrates spike or drop?
2. When should I add a crab or snail to the system.
There was organic matter on the rock from the other reefer so I know there was die off. But skimmer is not pulling anything anymore. Any advice will help.
thanks

I would give it another week. You will see nitrates go up, and at the end of every cycle I have ever had, there was a Diatom bloom. Brown algae all over everything.

aSaltyKlown · Nov 5, 2022

I'd say you are safe to add a fish. When using liverock that has been in another system the cycle carries on. No need to wait for livestock. (there are exceptions, but not in your case) The nitrates you are seeing may be the spike, how much rock did you bring over from the 60, and the die-off may have already happened the week in the tote. You have established rock that can already handle some ammonia. If you test and ammonia is .25 or less, I'd add livestock as that reading is the total amount of ammonia (TAN - total ammonia nitrogen) and when converted, the free ammonia would be at a safe level.

Cell · Nov 5, 2022

Sufficient live rock provides an instant cycle as stated. I'd add a crab and some snails now.

Dbichler · Nov 5, 2022

You probably won’t even have a cycle just add slowly as usual.

LRT · Nov 5, 2022

Yeah I have a feeling that nitrates would come down with water change. The dried out/drying rock may have triggered a small cycle. Id scrub now and make sure you get off whatever died on it.
In the future i'd invest in cheap ammonia kit but wouldnt worry about it at this point as stated above by @aSaltyKlown.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Nov 5, 2022

ReeferBill said:
So getting my 80 gallon with 29 sump going. Set up on Wednesday. So Day 3/4. I don’t have an ammonia test kit. Used some rock from my 5 year old 60 cube then some rock that was pulled from a guys tank for a week and drying. I ran the somewhat dry rock with my established rock in a tote for over a week to start the cycle process. Tested water this morning.
pH is perfect.
nitrates are about 40-50.

2 questions.
1. How do I know the tank is cycling or close to being cycled? I know it takes time but will I see the nitrates spike or drop?
2. When should I add a crab or snail to the system.
There was organic matter on the rock from the other reefer so I know there was die off. But skimmer is not pulling anything anymore. Any advice will help.
thanks

While I agree that your tank is likely cycled due to the use of live rock, I'd still suggest getting a cheap API ammonia test and running it to be sure.

Nitrates will not drop without a water change (in this situation). The presence of nitrate and absence of ammonia is what indicates that a tank is cycled...

ReeferBill · Nov 5, 2022

So I took about 20-30 pounds from the established tank and combined it with about 60-70 lbs from the older rock. In the totes I had the diatom bloom, everything was brown. But I expected it again with the new tank. I also used 15 gallons of water from the established tank and sand…”live”. I know I know. Not live but it was Fiji pink. So you think it’s safe to add a fish? Or start with snail and crabs?

Dbichler · Nov 5, 2022

You have way more than enough bacteria from 20 lbs of live rock to handle a couple fish. That’s enough rock to fill a 32 biocube which would support 4 fish easy just transferred to another tank.

Garf · Nov 5, 2022

ReeferBill said:
So I took about 20-30 pounds from the established tank and combined it with about 60-70 lbs from the older rock. In the totes I had the diatom bloom, everything was brown. But I expected it again with the new tank. I also used 15 gallons of water from the established tank and sand…”live”. I know I know. Not live but it was Fiji pink. So you think it’s safe to add a fish? Or start with snail and crabs?

While your at the LFS pondering what livestock to get, let them check ammonia, or the first time you have a problem “Ammonia caused it”.

ReeferBill · Nov 5, 2022

I plan to buy an ammonia kit and a crab and snail today. No fish for a week. My temp is also fluctuating between 76 and 78 so I need to dial that in.

Cell · Nov 5, 2022

Consider a seachem ammonia tag instead. Unless you want that ammonia kit collecting dust after a week or 2.

LRT · Nov 5, 2022

It's amazing what you can do with a cpl hermits, snails and a few small mysis shrimp feedings a day. Should be plenty efficient for small fish or 2 in a week!
Get that ammonia kit while your at lfs. Have them check ammonia while your there as mentioned above. Watch what your ammonia does through those small feedings.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Nov 5, 2022

ReeferBill said:
I plan to buy an ammonia kit and a crab and snail today. No fish for a week. My temp is also fluctuating between 76 and 78 so I need to dial that in.

Inverts are just as sensitive to ammonia as fish, if not more. Temp fluctuation of 2 degrees is not bad, but I would recommend not letting temp get below 76 (for extended periods).
An Inkbird temp controller is a very worthwhile investment.