Cycle Confusion

[swabearf16]

I got 200 lbs of rock from this site. It arrived in excellent shape (2nd day air). It smelled like the ocean but I scrubbed it and put it in a trash can of salt water for about 4 days. The water was circulated and skimmed the entire time. After 4 days, I placed the rock in my tank and put in a raw shrimp tail, shell and all. It's been about 5 days now and the shrimp shell is all that's left. The flesh "disappeared" 2 days ago. My confusion:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: approx 15-20
pH: 8.0
(Salifert test kits)
Did my tank cycle already? Am I ready to add a cleanup crew? The tank still looks very clean. Algae is minimal and I already see some coraline growth.
Details: 150 gal, 35 gal sump/fuge w/ Chaeto, ASM-G4X skimmer, Aquatinics Constellation 72" 7-10K bulbs and 7_460nm bulbs.
If I add livestock am I in for a big, unwanted surprise?

TIA for your comments,
"Bear"

 

[reefkprz]

IMO that would be a "yes your cycle has reached the point where it can break down a shrimps worth of ammonia production" I think you would be ok to start with a starter fish, or clean up crew.
I have successfully (more than once) skipped the cycling phase alltogether by using 100% established material. there were just some minor fluctuations as stuff settled in.
depending on the amount of dieoff that was on the rock enough may have lived to process its own waste in very short order, plus I image the skimming was a great help in removing exess waste from the die off.

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by SWABearF16
I got 200 lbs of rock from this site. It arrived in excellent shape (2nd day air). It smelled like the ocean but I scrubbed it and put it in a trash can of salt water for about 4 days. The water was circulated and skimmed the entire time. After 4 days, I placed the rock in my tank and put in a raw shrimp tail, shell and all. It's been about 5 days now and the shrimp shell is all that's left. The flesh "disappeared" 2 days ago. My confusion:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: approx 15-20
pH: 8.0
(Salifert test kits)
Did my tank cycle already? Am I ready to add a cleanup crew? The tank still looks very clean. Algae is minimal and I already see some coraline growth.
Details: 150 gal, 35 gal sump/fuge w/ Chaeto, ASM-G4X skimmer, Aquatinics Constellation 72" 7-10K bulbs and 7_460nm bulbs.
If I add livestock am I in for a big, unwanted surprise?

TIA for your comments,
"Bear"
Here is my suggestion. I would put some damsels in there or some other chromis and see how they do. You may still have an ammonia spike, but it sounds like your tank has cycled.
I have setup QT tanks in the matter of hours using recycled water and rock and never had an issue. I would keep a close eye on your reading for a couple of weeks (do a test every other day-> minimum).

 

[mcbdz]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
IMO that would be a "yes your cycle has reached the point where it can break down a shrimps worth of ammonia production" I think you would be ok to start with a starter fish, or clean up crew.
I have successfully (more than once) skipped the cycling phase alltogether by using 100% established material. there were just some minor fluctuations as stuff settled in.
depending on the amount of dieoff that was on the rock enough may have lived to process its own waste in very short order, plus I image the skimming was a great help in removing exess waste from the die off.

If you are still unsure, instead of using a live fish to test it, just ghost feed for a few days and see what your water para. do. if no spike your good to go. Just remember to go slow and start with a small clean up crew. Then in a couple of weeks a fish, and then every couple weeks if water stays stable you can add another live stock.
Post on here what you are planning to add and makesure it is compatable and the right time of tank maturity for that livestock.