2 1/2 weeks! This can't be right!

[dmill15]

I posted my test #'s a couple of days ago and I was going good for my cycle. I just re-tested and my #'s are Ph 8.2, Trites 0, Trates 0, Ammonia 0, Salinity 32. This can't be right after only 2 1/2 weeks. Should I check again now or see if it stays stable for about another week or 2? The temp is about 81-82.

 

[a&m aggie 04']

cycles are different, some last longer/shoter than others. I myself never experienced any ammonia spike in my tank after adding uncured rock and damsels. Never could explain it, but thats the way it was. Id watch it for another week or so, then if all levels are constant start adding a cleanup crew.
HTH,
Mark

 

[firecopemt]

It only took my tank a week and a half to cycle. Do like was mentioned above and just keep watching your levels. Make sure that they are stable for awhile before adding anything..

 

[karenjo]

Well the cycle may be complete but i think that you will have some other problems if you dont do some changes. Take the temperature down to 78 degrees and that salinity should be no higher than 1.024. Fish would fry in that salinity. keep checking your levels and good luck.

 

[barracuda]

Originally posted by karenjo
Take the temperature down to 78 degrees and that salinity should be no higher than 1.024. Fish would fry in that salinity. keep checking your levels and good luck.
karenjo, his salinity reading is in PPT (parts per thousand)
dmill15,
actually, your salinity should be brought a little bit up to 34-35 ppt and temperature at about 82 deg F.
As for your cycle... nitrates couldn't be at 0 at the end of cycle, Check your nitrate test kit for "valid untill", ask your LFS to check that water for you.
Another question... did you do water changes during the cycle?

 

[barracuda]

Originally posted by Lebowski
No it's right, my tank took a week and a half to cycle.
It depends on what is in your tank: LR, LS or anything else.
Mine took 3-4 days to cycle, as i used LR and "Nature's ocean" Bio active live sand. But nitrates cannot be at 0 at this point.
Cheers!

 

[dmill15]

Barracuda, Why do you say that trites can't be 0? The kit doesn't expire until feb 2004. So that is good. I will still take some to the LFS to be re-checked. I also used "natures ocean" bio-active argonite ls. So far I like it. No I haven't done any water changes as of yet. I will wait and see if everything stays stable then do about a 1/4 to 1/3 change before adding a clean up crew.
Dave

 

[reef fool]

As you add a bioload, your levels will rise again(spike) and go down as your bacteria numbers grow. Very rare for an immature tank not to have nitrates IMO.
As for temp. 80-81 degrees is fine. there are alot of reefers that run there tanks at 80-82 with success. A constant temp. is the most important thing as far as temp goes.

 

[barracuda]

Dave,
if you have used Narure's Ocean for the cycle, that's a different story. Yes, your tank is probably OK. Do you have DSB? What brand of nitrate test kit do ya have?
Nature's Ocean is a great stuff!!!
My theory says... if you're not sure that cycle has completed, do another one. With this kind of sand it will recycle within several days, imo. Just monitor levels to see if something happening. I'm still not convinced that your nitrates at 0 after cycle.
Good luck!!!

 

[bradttu]

I have had help from a retired marine biologist on my tank. He has had a reef tank for close to 8 years now. According to him, my tank cycled in a week and a half. He said it was because of the amount of LR and LS that I had in my tank. A few people on this site suggested that I force another cycle. So now I am torn....Do I force a cycle or try it and put a fish in??

 

[reef fool]

From what I understand, your tank may only cycle again if your bioload exceeds the capabilities of your bio-filter. (bacteria in LR and LS or Bio Balls). Correct me if I am wrong, Please

 

[barracuda]

Originally posted by reef fool
From what I understand, your tank may only cycle again if your bioload exceeds the capabilities of your bio-filter. (bacteria in LR and LS or Bio Balls). Correct me if I am wrong, Please
Yes, that's right. What i suggested to dmill15 is to check if his tank has cycled properly by trying to generate another one. Though i'm pretty sure his tank's cycle completed. That's because i know the "stuff" he cycled with. The only one thing that drives me crazy is his nitrate reading. It should be some measured nitrate right after the cycle. Also i asked him a question if he has DSB. If yes, probably nitrate reading will be at 0 like mine.
For you, bradttu, i suggested to generate another cycle just because you cycled your tank with just LIVE coral banded shrimp, which doesn't produce enough waste to spike the ammonia.

 

[jbeck]

mine had a one day cycle if you want to call it that.. ammonia went to .5 and has been 0 ever since... All depends... In my case i used a large amount of live rock and sand from a local established tank..

 

[dmill15]

My sand bed is about 3" deep. All of it is not live yet though. I have 2 1/2" play sand and about 1/2" to 3/4" "Nature's Ocean" Bio-active sand. I think I will wait about 1 more week to make sure the levels stay the same then order a clean up crew from SWF.com. Any suggestions on what to get? Barracuda... thanks for your help. This Board is great! All you you guys and ladies are so helpful I don't know what I would do without good advice. Thanks again.
Dave

 

[barracuda]

Hey Dave, you're welcome!!!
Another question. Do you see bubbles on top of your sand bed as well as some bubbles rising up?
Be ready to get a clean up crew. Suggestions are: Turbo or Astrea snails, Scarlet or blue legged hermits, fighting counch.

 

[scuba steveo]

bradttu
is that you in the pic? are you the neighbor in office space?

 

[bradttu]

I wish I was Laurence!!!! Just kidding. Office Space is the BEST movie of all time!

 

[dmill15]

No I don't see any bubbles on my sand bed or rising up from it. Should I? I didn't think that would happen until the sand bed was older. Also what about the janitor package from this site. I will most likely go with that and a few sand sifting snails.

 

[tyr-sog]

Yeah, I got those bubbles too. Just noticed them a couple of days ago. My tank is also 2 1/2s weeks old and also noticed my bron algea disappearing to. Good signs?

 

[barracuda]

Those bubbles are a VERY good sign. They indicates that the nitrogen cycle is fully completed. These bubbles are free nitrogen gas which is the end product of denitrifying bacteria. Denitrifying bacteria is responsible for convering NO3 into N2 (nitrogen) and possible only in anaerobic conditions. That's why we want our sand bed deep as oxigen is unavailable there.