Cycling question for Trey and others

[dr. jay]

Hi guys.... As I told you, Last week, I upgraded to a 92 gallon corner with 40 pounds of live rock and (I think) 60 pounds of live sand (brand new water). I placed my 9 damsels and one snow flake moray eel in there and awaiting the cycling process. I asked a few people what I should expect to see, and they all said I may or may not see a full cycle. Over the first few days all levels were 0 (amm, nitrIte and NitrAte). On Saturday, I lost (died) a blue devil, and black dominoe (at the same time) (Actually had a blue tailed damsel get sucked into the overflow tank. I checked the levels which showed an ammonia of 0 and nitrIte of .35 with a nitrate of 0. So... is it normal to have a nitrite level without ever seing an ammonia spike? I never did. Could the live rock and sand be preventing an ammonia spike? When fish decompose, do they do so and cause ammonia to rise? I guess so, because in my early days when I would work in an emergency room for extra money and they would bring in a guy who obviously had been dead for days, the harsh smell resembled ammonia.
Also.... if you cant find your baby moray eel, look in the overflow tank..... It was extremely comical trying to get him out.

 

[mr . salty]

My guess is that with all thay rock and sand from an established tank,The ammo did spike,You just missed it. Have you been testing every day?? If not,then you just missed it.

 

[dr. jay]

Thank you Mr. Salty for your reply. My live rock and sand was bought from the LFS, so does that make it an established tank??
How long do you predict for the nitrite to come down??

 

[mr . salty]

I thought you ment that the rock and sand came out of your old tank.But if the stuff was in the lfs tank for a month or so,it was probably cured. If it wasn't you would surly have high ammo by now.So sounds like you dodged the cycle. I would keep testing every other day till the nitrites are zero.

 

[dr. jay]

Thank you Trey and Mr. Salty... In 25 years I may have as much knowledge as you.
Update.... I tested last night and good news.... the nitrite came down nicely (almost 0) with a spike in NitrAte. To rid that I guess I do need a water change (the Nitrate I mean). However.... should I expect to see another nitrite spike?? (after the fish get fed, which I am doing every 2-3 days (frozen stuff shrimp, blood worms etc).
Thanks for advice about the eel Trey... I looked for him last night, and couldnt find him. Maybe he is back in there. I may leave him in there and teach him a lesson (kidding)
Also.... ever give methalene blue for fish with elevated nitrite??? It reduces met hemoglobin to regular hemoglobin.

 

[bobj]

If the live rock is cured then it has nitrifying bacteria present. That means that depending on the fish load it may be able to handle the ammonia produced and not produce a spike. There are no bacteria that reduce nitrates. Only nitatate filters and water changes will work. In a FO tank nitrate levels of 100+ can be tolerated. Decomposing organic matter will generate ammonia. The function of bioligical filters is to remove this ammonia.

 

[dr. jay]

Hi guys.... Thanks again Trey... you answered my question before I started. I also was under the impression that there were no nitrAte reducing bacteria. Therefore I was astonished to see that tonight I did a water check and found that the nitrAte level was 0. "What did I do now", I thought (and I could swear a blue finned damsel winked at me). So Trey.... Nitrate=0, nitrite=0.3, ammonia =0.... almost ready for that Emperor????

 

[bluto]

In the "for what it's worth" dept...
My 90g finished cycling about 2wks ago and my nitrates have been about 2.5 ever since...with or without water changes (I've been doing them anyway). At the end of the cycle I added 2 small false percs and a bicolor blenny which seemed to trigger a 2nd mini cycle (Am rose to .25 and NO2 rose to a high of .2) but those readings have since come back down. My point is that at the end of my first (major) cycle my nitrates came down (without a water change...all by itself) from a high of over 50 to 2.5 and it's stayed there.
I'm running an emperor 400 biowheel powerfilter, remora pro skimmer, approx 30lbs LR, and a 4" DSB (approx 25% LS & 75% oolitic) .
Whatever it is that's controlling my nitrates...WORKS!
Bluto

 

[nomar g]

According to B. Fenner a tank with a proper amount of live rock/sand will enable nitrate to be converted to gaseous nitrogen, which is harmless to the tank. Otherwise, regular and significant water changes will be needed to control the nitrate level.