Cycle ????

[kingpin8771]

Ive had reef tanks before.When I set this 110 gal. I used live rock from my other tank.And the sand bed.I also used some sand i had saved in a bucket.I keep wet.Ive had set up for week and a half .Ive put a raw piece of shrimp in the tank to start the cycle.
All I got was a small ammonia rise and then it came down.And the nitrates only came up a little. Ive never had one cycle so mild.Is this right? or is the big spike still to come?
I know this sounds like a newbe ? but ive never seen it before.

 

[meowzer]

How long did you leave the shrimp in for ?

 

[kingpin8771]

I just left it there.Its gone now.

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingpin8771 http:///forum/thread/383403/cycle#post_3352983
I just left it there.Its gone now.
it's gone???? what's in the tank that would have eaten it? usually everyone leaves it in there for a couple of days....ammonia goes up...they take it out

 

[kingpin8771]

It was a small piece like half of shrimp.Ammonia wasent going up so i let it there.4 days or so.It rested up against the over flow and I tried to pick it up and it fell apart and went to the filter in pieces.Should i have used a good sized shrimp.

 

[meowzer]

I have never used one, BUT I think most people use a whole raw shrimp......what did the ammonia rise to??

 

[kingpin8771]

It only went up 5.0 Should i do it again? with a whole shirmp this time.

 

[meowzer]

NO...5 is high enough......so have you been monitoring it? Did the ammonia go down and nitrites go up......then when nitrites go down nitrates go up.....

 

[kingpin8771]

Sorry about that.I write stuff down because i forget.Yes ive been testing.And it was 2.5 not 5.I had to look in my note book.And nitrites havent moved yet still 0

 

[meowzer]

hmm.....ammonia should turn to nitrites.....then nitrites to nitrates, I do not know why it would skip a step...LOl...I am no expert on cycling....

 

[kingpin8771]

ill retest everthing tomarrow.And see what i get.