Yet another cycle question

[David M.]

Hey all, just looking for some opinions.
I just upgraded to an 80 (110 total volume) tank from a 40b. I used 40lb cycled sand 10lb new sand. 100lb cycled rock from previous tank, 20lb new dry rock.

It is now day 3 and still no nitrite or nitrate readings. I kind of expected to see a quick spike by now, then back to normal in a few days. But so far nothing... I've never used so much cured rock and sand before so it's a first for me. Should I keep waiting? Dose ammonia? Stock the sucker?
I have all my stock in a holding tub right now and it makes me nervous.

 

[Lenny_S]

Personally, I would dose ammonia and confirm the biological filter is established.

 

[brandon429]

http://reef2reef.com/threads/new-ta...rimp-live-rock-no-shrimp.214618/#post-2475310

agreed, a digestion test will tell. however, group b rocks don't need one, visual id w work too per the thread. I never cycle reef tanks, I opt out, group b rocks.

 

[David M.]

Group b is definitely what I have, tons of sponge life, feather duster, and coralline.

 

[brandon429]

and the thread shows for rock like that, the ammonia test can be ran but is a little stressful to them, so if it was my tank id simply grasp the fact skip cycling is possible and weve been doing it in pico reefs for 16 yrs lol

but live rock has such an affinity for ammonia, if you spiked it up to 1ppm or so I bet those benthics could take it...but its not needed. The whole entire point of that thread is trust your benthics, where calcified life can be seen, nitrifiers were there long ago as a rule, first.

 

[shoelaceike]

The vast majority of rock was live so you should not have any significant cycle. The nitrate cycle occurs with the growth of bacteria on the rock. You already have it....

I have set up at least 5 tanks so far using live rock and always added livestock right away and never had a cycle.

 

[brandon429]

also, we are anarchists of the reef.

 

[Brian Kim]

The vast majority of rock was live so you should not have any significant cycle. The nitrate cycle occurs with the growth of bacteria on the rock. You already have it....

I have set up at least 5 tanks so far using live rock and always added livestock right away and never had a cycle.

I know a lot of the experts are going to hate me for saying this but I DO agree with you, I have also set up over 10 tanks within 15 years in this hobby and yet to see any significant cycle when setting up a brand new tank using cured live rocks, live sand, water and live bacteria addictive such as bio spira

 

[brandon429]

I also was shocked one day when the bigger tie in to this practice hit me: its not about blatant rule breaking. its that LFS and marine convention participants have been utilizing this biology for years. simple, but unavailable to reef hobbyists out of sheer microbiological uncertainty.

when some guy brings in twenty thousand dollars of bounce mushrooms into a tank at MACNA, they want:

-the system not to die or mini cycle
-have it all ready by tomorrow and able to run without a cycle for as long as needed

people with tank leaks who need an insta hospital tank also like this biology.

the tv show tanked relies on this biology for 100 yellow tangs introduced into a tank with all plastic materials (aged biofilters and nutria seawater w have nitrifiers)