Fist water test after cocktail shrimp

[vwbortoni]

Hi, today I did the first water test on my 55 (2 days after adding the dead shrimp).
First, some background:
1) I bought this tank (along with a 29 gal with Marineland HOT MAG canister filter) from someone who couldn't take care of it any more.
2) He gave me ~ 50 pounds of live rock, that was in his tank with a fish for 3 years.
3) When we moved the tank to my house, I put the the 1 fish, 3 cleaner shrimp and 6 hermits in the 29. ALong with most of the live rock.
4) a week later I set up the 55 with salt water from the LFS. The system has a Wet/Dry filter with hanging overflow (he had been using it). I had not used the WD on the 29, but I had put the blue balls in a 15 gal container with the guy's sand, a couple of live rocks, 3 hermits I forgot, and original water from his tank. I put in a small pump with an airstone.
5) 4 days ago, I moved the rock from the 29 to the 55. Then added 20 pounds of argonite sand and 20 pounds of LIVE sand. I also set up the WD.
6) 2 Days later I added the dead shrimp. Today I did a test and this is what I got:
Temp: 81
PH 8.2 - 8.3
Sal: 1.024
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.1 mg/L
Nitrate: 8 mg/L
Is this OK? Am I cycling? Why is my amonia 0? Is all the live stuff making it so that the tank won't cycle?
What do you guys think?
Help, this is my first tank!

 

[meemo]

So you've only had the shrimp in there for 2 days? I have live rock too and am cycling now. I put my shrimp in 4 days ago and my ammonia was 2.0 today. I'm sure someone here can tell you what is normal. I'm new at this too.

 

[vwbortoni]

bump :jumping:

 

[vwbortoni]

Can anyone give some guidence?
:notsure:

 

[texasranchers]

I missed this one yesterday. I would say that the 50 lbs of lr, is making this easier for you. Ls also.

 

[scotts]

VWB, first of all welcome to the board.
Second I am by no means an expert, just someone who has read this board a lot and learned from my mistakes. To me it sounds like you will have a fast cycle since it sounds like you are using a lot of stuff from an existing system. However one thing that is preached on this board is patience. It would not hurt to wait a couple of more days and redo the tests. I know how much you want to get fish in there but in the long run what will a little moer time hurt.
Oh yeah if you don't mind a little bit of advice research EVERYTHING before you buy it. I have told this before. I saw a beautiful 3" fish at the lfs. Bought it and put it in my tank. Later I learned about researching and found out that the fish as an adult completely changes color and grows to about 18" long. I was able to donate it to a local aquarium but I had to pull all of the rock out of my tank to catch the SOB.
Scott

 

[vwbortoni]

Thanks for your comments, I'll do another set of tests tonight and see what I get... I'll post the results.
Thanks!
Here's a pic just in case...

 

[vwbortoni]

Originally posted by VWBortoni
2 Days later I added the dead shrimp. Today I did a test and this is what I got:
Temp: 81
PH 8.2 - 8.3
Sal: 1.024
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.1 mg/L
Nitrate: 8 mg/L
Is this OK? Am I cycling? Why is my amonia 0? Is all the live stuff making it so that the tank won't cycle?
What do you guys think?
Help, this is my first tank!
Ok... 4 days later:
Temp: 80
PH 8.3
Sal: 1.024
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.1 mg/L
Nitrate: 7 mg/L
What's up!? :notsure: The shrimp is now almost all gone. What should I do... put fish in? Shrimp? Hermits have been in there for a week and they are happy. In fact, I think they ate the shrimp!
I don't know what to do now. :help:

 

[vwbortoni]

:jumping: bump

 

[rdursch]

Same thing happened to me. I bought an existing tank, LS, LR and fish, filter, etc. I did not have a cycle. After three days I put in the fish (I know too soon.) But my tank has been good since then. It's been up for two and a half months. Only issues I have had are diatoms and now an algea bloom. (Brother took care of it while on vacation.)
I read on another board that using to much live phyto will cause this. Anyone have a suggestion to get rid of it.
Anyways, Welcome to the boards and have a great time with your tank. The opinions expressed here are incredibly helpful. I ahve learned ALOT from just going through and reading posts and answers. I think it has kept me from killing my little firends!