How do i know when my tank is cycled?

[rotarygeek]

I read that the ammonia will spike extremely high cuasing your biological filter to build up and reduce it to almost nothing. Once its back down to acceptable levels, your tank is cycled. And that the bigger the tank, the longer it takes to cycle. Is all of this stuff true? About how long do you think a 30 gallon would take to cycle?

 

[wangotango]

You're right that once ammonia and nitrite spike, and nitrate falls a little your tank is cycled. You need to test these on a daily basis to make sure you don't miss anything. I don't think that tank size has anything to do with it. Cycling usually takes a few weeks, but you can speed up the process by using raw cocktail shrimp, ghost feeding, and using uncured rock.
-Justin

 

[nycbob]

not true regarding to size of tank. the more live rocks, the faster it will cycle and stabilize imo. just test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. when ammonia is 0, ur nitrite should be 0 soon after that. when ur nitrate is less than 10, then u r ready to add fish. but add 1-2 at a time and test weekly. u hv to let ur systems catch up to the bioload b4 addig more livestocks.

 

[rotarygeek]

ok my ammonia is spiked right now, i havent seen any nitrates at all yet, is that wierd? Also, when its done cycling, do i leave the live rock in there? whats the pro's/con's of live rock? right now, i have about 8 pounds in there, but i plan on going as much as 30 (heard i need at least one pound per gallon) so its not all done yet.

 

[wangotango]

Yes, leave the live rock in there, it's the backbone of your filtration in a reef. 1 ib/gallon is good.
-Justin

 

[nycbob]

if u plan to add live rocks, make sure they r cured. otherwise it will cause a cycle again. if u get ur lr from a lfs, then its ok to just drop them in as long as its cured. online, it wil hv dieoff from transit.

 

[rotarygeek]

ok so leave the live rock in. I buy all my live rock from lfs's so its all good i guess. the 4 pounds i bought yesterday look strange compaired to the 4 pounds i got the other day. What colors on a live rock are good and what are bad?

 

[vampofvegas]

ask them if it is cured or uncured. I buy my LR from a lfs that has the LR in their entire stores sump tank.. so I know its fish safe.
So either ask if its cured and how long its been curing. You can also smell it.. if it smells fishy.. then its not cured. Cured rock doesnt really have a smell to it or just isnt fishy.