Tank not Cycling

[rooneyj889]

Hey all,

I am currently doing a fish in cycle for my 75g tank because that's what my fish store for some reason recommended and so I blindly followed them. So, I have 2 clowns and 2 damsels in there currently and have had them for a week now. However, there is still no presence of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the water. Idk why this is but if anyone could help that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

Four fish at once is a lot for cycling a new tank, so if you're feeding them regularly, you would normally have an ammonia spike. That food is what starts the cycle, as a combination of decaying detritus and fish waste.

To get more specific advice here you might mention the tank size, substrate, and amount of rock, whether the rock was dry or live, any other info on filter media, and additives you may have used. Also, indicate how much you have been feeding.

 

[stanleo]

It takes a while for four small fish to produce enough ammonia to show up on a test in 75 gallons of water. That said, in a tank that is not cycled, the readings can go from 0 to dangerous over night. Keep testing daily and be ready to do some water changes.

If I were you, I would return the fish and do a fishless cycle. It is much safer and easier to control. Patience is the number one asset a reefer can have.

 

[rooneyj889]

Four fish at once is a lot for cycling a new tank, so if you're feeding them regularly, you would normally have an ammonia spike. That food is what starts the cycle, as a combination of decaying detritus and fish waste.

To get more specific advice here you might mention the tank size, substrate, and amount of rock, whether the rock was dry or live, any other info on filter media, and additives you may have used. Also, indicate how much you have been feeding.

The tank is 75 gallons and I am using CaribSea Agra Alice Fiji Pink live sand as well as CaribSea life rock. I have been dosing with SeaChem Stability and Prime and have been feeding once a day with a mix of pellets and mostly frozen mysis shrimp

 

[rooneyj889]

It takes a while for four small fish to produce enough ammonia to show up on a test in 75 gallons of water. That said, in a tank that is not cycled, the readings can go from 0 to dangerous over night. Keep testing daily and be ready to do some water changes.

If I were you, I would return the fish and do a fishless cycle. It is much safer and easier to control. Patience is the number one asset a reefer can have.

Yeah i've been thinking about that but do most local fish stores take returns or will i just have to bite the bullet and give them back for nothing?

 

[WvAquatics]

Get a bottle of Dr Tim's one and only, instant ocean biospara, or microbactor 7. Dose them according to the labels. Should help eliminate the ammonia spike. Keep up testing the water to know where you are in the cycle.

 

[rooneyj889]

Get a bottle of Dr Tim's one and only, instant ocean biospara, or microbactor 7. Dose them according to the labels. Should help eliminate the ammonia spike. Keep up testing the water to know where you are in the cycle.

I've been dozing with seachem stability this whole week though

 

[MnFish1]

Hey all,

I am currently doing a fish in cycle for my 75g tank because that's what my fish store for some reason recommended and so I blindly followed them. So, I have 2 clowns and 2 damsels in there currently and have had them for a week now. However, there is still no presence of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the water. Idk why this is but if anyone could help that would be greatly appreciated.

The Seachem stability is doing its job. I agree with others - you have a fair number of fish - but for a 75 gallon - not too bad. The whole point of stability is adding bacteria and fish at the same time. Just keep following the instructions. I've used it multiple times (the same way you are) with no problems whatsoever. That said - I would not be eager to add a lot more stuff for a while. Your tank is basically processing the waste thats being produced at this point. so technically it is 'cycled' - but it will take a while for larger numbers of bacteria to be established. I would also feed sparingly.

Having said all that let me give you another analogy - lets say you had a 1000 gallon aquarium - just bare glass - and put in a clownfish - no filtration, etc. You would never measure ammonia it may be that the fish are not producing enough ammonia to measure (which is fine).

 

[MnFish1]

PS - you might want to keep adding stability for another week

 

[WvAquatics]

I have heard stability isn't as effective but I have no experience with testing the different kinds of bacteria. I just know I have read good things about thoose 3. They are more geared towards marine bacteria as stability is supposed to work in both fresh and marine tanks.

 

[rooneyj889]

The Seachem stability is doing its job. I agree with others - you have a fair number of fish - but for a 75 gallon - not too bad. The whole point of stability is adding bacteria and fish at the same time. Just keep following the instructions. I've used it multiple times (the same way you are) with no problems whatsoever. That said - I would not be eager to add a lot more stuff for a while. Your tank is basically processing the waste thats being produced at this point. so technically it is 'cycled' - but it will take a while for larger numbers of bacteria to be established. I would also feed sparingly.

Having said all that let me give you another analogy - lets say you had a 1000 gallon aquarium - just bare glass - and put in a clownfish - no filtration, etc. You would never measure ammonia it may be that the fish are not producing enough ammonia to measure (which is fine).

So then will the tank take longer to fully cycle with a fish in cycle then it would with a fishlike cycle? How long would you say it'll take to be able to add more fish? A month or two or more than that?

 

[LeftyReefer]

Don't worry, your fish will be fine.
Those four fish in a 75G will be fine provided you feed lightly for a bit.

I've never used the Stability, but good bottled bacteria like bio-spira or Fritz 900 would have no problem cycling that tank and keeping those fish safe. I wouldn't worry too much.

keep an eye on ammonia levels, but I doubt you will ever see any elevated levels in that tank.

good luck!

 

[Rjukan]

A good question to be asked is: was your life rock sold to you wet or dry? If it was wet and from an established system you might not even see a spike in ammonia since it's being processed by the bacteria on the rock already.

 

[rooneyj889]

A good question to be asked is: was your life rock sold to you wet or dry? If it was wet and from an established system you might not even see a spike in ammonia since it's being processed by the bacteria on the rock already.

It was dry life rock

 

[rooneyj889]

Don't worry, your fish will be fine.
Those four fish in a 75G will be fine provided you feed lightly for a bit.

I've never used the Stability, but good bottled bacteria like bio-spira or Fritz 900 would have no problem cycling that tank and keeping those fish safe. I wouldn't worry too much.

keep an eye on ammonia levels, but I doubt you will ever see any elevated levels in that tank.

good luck!

Thinking of going and picking up a bottle of bio spira today. Thanks!

 

[FreakPrism]

I did my cycle exactly as yours but used dry sand and dry rock. Started with 2 clowns and 2 damsels with a 65g tank and 34g sump. I used Turbo 900 to jumpstart the system and so far so good. About a week later I had a pack of "hardy" corals and 2 more clowns. I added Stability then and every water change. Likely will do it until the bottle finishes since it has a timed shelf life. I've heard of good things with Bio Spira so that should work.

Once your cycle is established you should get a brown diatom bloom (I am going through that and it is getting better). I too was stressed initially but realized enjoy the hobby and keep up the weekly water changes (and the daily topoffs). And use RODI water.

 

[MnFish1]

So then will the tank take longer to fully cycle with a fish in cycle then it would with a fishlike cycle? How long would you say it'll take to be able to add more fish? A month or two or more than that?

I think you can continue testing - and add fish accordingly - after a month - it seems like you shoudl be good to go - if not sooner. I personally dont test ammonia, nitrite. I do test nitrate or long-term. it is a big tank - and not a lot of fish. Note - the damsels (2 of them) - might get quarrelsome - and belligerent to other fish. I had one blue damsel - beautiful fish - but it attacked - constantly - fish 5 times his size.