New Tank Cycle Question

G

gapsaph

New member
Add on question: If my tank has only been runing for about a week and a half, and PH is 8.0, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate is 0, then how do I know when my nice invisible "bio filter" is up and running?

I have live sand and a couple pieces of live rock, just added plenty of dry rock last night. Do I need to buy a microscope? =)
 
Did you use something to start your cycle in addition to LR/LS? (Fish food, raw shrimp, etc?) What would normally happen is that there would be an ammonia spike then a rise in nitrites; nitrites would drop and nitrates would go up. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0 at that point; your bio filter has started.
 
Yeah that's what I've read, but no I didn't add a piece of food or anything. I put some nori in there for my cleanup crew, think that'll start the cycle?
 
Just to clarify : you have a clean up crew in the tank and the tank was just started 10 days ago? (Filled it with water and LS/LR?)
 
It was the tiny cleanup crew for a nano tank. One emerald crab, 4 nassarius snails, 4 turbo snails, and I think it was 8 hermit crabs.
 
The clean up crew really has nothing to clean up yet. My advice is to be patient in this hobby. I would stick a clown in there in a couple of days with some raw shrimp to get the cycle going.
 
You can cycle a tank with a CUC but they don't generate a big bioload. Therefore, a cycled tank would take a lt longer bc there isn't alot for nitrifying bacteria to break down. If you use something to jump start your cycle now it may have ill effects on your CUC.
 
Hmmm. Well I'll run another test on it today and see if anything has changed. If nothing has changed should I do the clownfish and shrimp or get a little yellow tailed damsel?

If no fish, then should I just put some blanched lettuce in there for the CUC?
 
I think you could use the raw shrimp OR the clown/damsel. I think both would cause a quick build up of ammonia and that won't be pleasant for the livestock. But that also depends on the size of the tank and the amount of LR in there.
 
Well here's a snapshot of my tank: 72g bowfront, 30 gallon sump (only about 20g of water though), filtersock, and skimmer, with refugium. DT has about 3 inches of live sand, fuge has about 4 inches and is about 12x12 inches.

Picture of the rocks:
IMG_20120224_211026.jpg
 
I dont like damsels as they are a great stater fish for cycling tanks but once you add other fish they tend to pick on them a good amount IMO. Looking forward to some pics :)
 
I think your set up is big enough to use a whole raw shrimp (I would grind it up a little); or a few fish. I would test the water after a few days and see where the ammonia is. When I had nano tanks (20g), one shrimp would cause an ammonia spike up to about 2ppm. (If I remember right.)
 
Thanks! I ended up getting the reefsaver rock from BRS, along with a few Live pieces from someone on this forum (can't remember the name! :( ). Alrighty, well I'll test it, and if it's good to go for a fish, I'll get a clown fish to avoid the territory issues.

And wow, is 2ppm Ammonia considered a spike? I had no idea that little amount was bad, I thought a spike would be more dramatic!
 
Most tests will detect ammonia at .25 ppm so 2 is high. Clowns can get territorial too; they're in the same family as damsels if I remember right.
 
Hmm, well I'm just gonna have to have a talk with him and tell him that he needs to keep an open mind cause there's more coming!

I'll take a look at my ammonia test again. I just compared the colors and saw the 0. Didn't look down at the rest of the chart!
 
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