Cycle Question?

[stacy]

I currently am cycling a new 80 gallon tank. It's been running for 2 weeks. When I setup the tank I threw some store shrimp in. Within a couple of days the ammonia was off the charts, above what my test kit could measure. Higher than 8.0 After a few days I added some LR from LFS about 50lbs. A couple of days later added another 60lbs of LR from gulfview.com Currently I have no LS still on order and has not come in. Expect to add about 120lbs. Another couple of days before that gets here. I am running an eclipse filter system, and am adding on the retrofit kit for the lighting for pc's. I checked my water params today and the ammonia is at 0 and nitrites are less than .3 LFs store said do a partial water change to bring nitrites down and tank should be cycled. This seems awfully fast for a cycle. I still have to add the LS as well. Should I do the water change or leave it alone? Has anyone had a tank cycle this quickly? My current tank to 6 weeks. No live critters in the 80 just what hitch hiked in on the live rock. There are a few corals and they seem to be doing O.K. Thanks for any advice or opnions.

 

[ruaround]

Sounds like youre doin the right thing!!!
IMO don't do a water change...let it cycle, I think it would be detrimental to it if you do a WC. There really isnt a set time period for the cycle it just happens.

 

[stacy]

Thanks for the reply. I figured I would wait until after I added the live sand and give it a couple of days after I add the LS and take some more readings. You know how it is, just ready to start adding new life to the tank. Take it slow. Hard to do, but better in the long run!!!

 

[karlas]

doing a water change at this point can throw you into reverse a little bit. wait till after the ls and if you want to be sure throw another shrimp in that does seem kind of fast. if the bacteria is established it should eat up the shrimp w/o another ammonia spike but that would be a good way to make sure before adding any livestock

 

[stacy]

Thanks for the advice. It does seem to be fast for a cycle. After I put the LS in I will throw a shrimp in and watch to see what happens.

 

[royce]

I also had a quick cycle when I used mail order LR and shrimp for the cycle. I agree that you should not do a water change, but check your nitrates in addition to the ammonia and nitrite. As the nitrites go down, the nitrates will rise and then they will fall. when they are zero along with the others, then you can think about slowly adding some critters