Cycling

[andygar]

My tank has been cycling for 4 weeks. Most recent readings are:
Temp. 78
Salinity 1.021
Amonia 0.2 (used to be at max on my test 0.8 about 10 days ago)
Nitrites 0.2
I haven't tested Nitrates or PH because I was told there is not use this early in the cycle.
I am using the live rock and damsels to cycle, but lately my damsels are dropping like flies. I lost about 10 of them in the last 10 days. I am down to about 20 inches of assorted damselfish.
Should I add more fish? I hate seeing them die, but I am worried that without the bio load the cycle will stall or stop. The only other option my LFS offered was to buy about $800 of their overpriced liverock and put it in.

 

[jarre]

IMO the dying damsels are what's keeping your readings so high. Personally I'd add more LR and nothing else.

 

[mr.flameangel]

you should be the at end of your cycle. i would not add any more fish if they are dropping like flies. i would just let it run its course the way you have it. as you can see your Amonia is dropping. so i would say in a couple of days it will be good to go. you just need to keep your eye on the Nitrites and Nitrates once they drop then you should be able to add fish slowly to the tank. if you add to many fish at one time then you will have a spike in all your parameters.
mike

 

[debbers]

I'm with Jarre...
I would not put any more fish in your tank at this point. If you are going to be adding any corals to your tank (at a later time, of course), then I would seriously consider adding more LR.
Wait a few days and test your water again for ammonia and nitrites... see what kind of changes there are.
If you're concerned about your cycle "stalling" without the fish in there, you can always toss in a few raw shrimp from the grocery store.
~D~

 

[andygar]

Thanks for the replys. I think the cycle is slow because of so much water and very little LR. I need to get more, but it's pretty expensive at the LFS. I bought my first batch from a little outfit that sells it pretty inexpensive from a shack on the docks at Long Beach, CA - it's Marshall Island Rock for $2/lb. Is Fiji a whole lot better? Is it really worth $5 per pound? My LFS who sold me the tank said I would need at least 240 lbs @ $4 (their bulk discound price). They also told me that the Marshall Island Rock won't work as well for filtration - is that true, or BS?

 

[debbers]

I've never heard of Marshall Island rock being inferior for filtration... maybe someone with more knowledge has some input?