To cycle or not to cycle?

[Mrflameangel]

So I have upgraded to a 180 from a 60 cube. Now I have put 200lbs of live rock and 40lbs of live sand into the tank. About half of the water was already used water from a previous tank and the other half was freshly made. I have also seen 4 crabs in the water that was hiding in the rocks from when I took them out of the previous tank (still kicking after staying in the garage for 2 weeks in a stock tank). I am also using microbacter7 since day one. I am on day #5 with the following numbers.

Ammonia -0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Ph-8
Sg-1.026

Now, I was thinking it might have a very short cycle (due to the amount of live rock i put into the system) but it's beginning to look as if I will not have one at all. What are your thought?

Thanks mike.

 

[evanjah]

tagging along

So I have upgraded to a 180 from a 60 cube. Now I have put 200lbs of live rock and 40lbs of live sand into the tank. About half of the water was already used water from a previous tank and the other half was freshly made. I have also seen 4 crabs in the water that was hiding in the rocks from when I took them out of the previous tank (still kicking after staying in the garage for 2 weeks in a stock tank). I am also using microbacter7 since day one. I am on day #5 with the following numbers.

Ammonia -0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Ph-8
Sg-1.026

Now, I was thinking it might have a very short cycle (due to the amount of live rock i put into the system) but it's beginning to look as if I will not have one at all. What are your thought?

Thanks mike.

 

[wysiwyg]

you most likely wont have a cycle

 

[thewackyreefer]

What kind of tests are you using? I would expect to see at least some nitrates if not some nitrites and ammonia at some point.

Edit: I disagree with the post above, you should see at least some nitrates with a move like that unless your tank was impeccably clean.

 

[Mrflameangel]

My thought is to wait one more week and if nothing begins to cycle I will begin to add my fish and corals that are at the baby sitters tank.

 

[Mrflameangel]

For ammonia, nitrite and ph I am using salifert.

I am using red sea for nitrates. The color changed just a little on the nitrates but is still less than 0.25ppm.

 

[Pkunk35]

Since some of that rock is "fresh" rock I assume and I'm sure 40lbs of sand has a lot of debris I think you'll have some sort of cycle, I'd watch the nitrates and would still proceed slowly with a 180g.

GL on the tank!

 

[pgr11]

Try and dose a little ammonia bring it to a few ppm and see how long it takes to bring it back to 0 and 0 trites. If 0 within 24hrs your good

 

[Mrflameangel]

About 60lbs of rock came from my cube. The rest of the rock was bought live and put in my garage curing in brute trash cans. The sand was all new out of the bag very clean.

 

[robert]

I did the almost same when I moved from a 50 into a 115. I moved all my inverts and corals over immediately - the fish followed a couple of days later. Never saw a cycle.
I didn't wait 5 days - you must be a patient man...

If it were my call, I'd say your good to go...

 

[Mrflameangel]

Day #6. And no change in readings.


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[tangs are awsome]

You have to have a cycle of some sort. Put three small fish in the tank feed them a small amount dialy. From what I read in your post you only have crabs in the tank. your live rock will keep up with those guys no problem. I think when you go to stock it you will see big problems. I just borke down my 100 gallon to change the substrate and noticed a cycle. I took 100 lbs of rock out and kept them in a clean container with salt water for a couple days and put every thing right back in the tank. Keep in mind I have two wet dry systems and a 30 gallon refugium going. There are six or so fish in my tank. I still had a cycle. There is not enough living creatures to show a cycle in your set up right now. be careful.

 

[Mrflameangel]

My nitrites raised just enough to change the color of the test. My nitrates went to 0.50ppm and now is back at 0. Fish will hit the system this weekend.


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