Is my cycle broken?

[robertg]

I have now had the tank for a week and still no spike or even a slight increase in nitrate. I mixed the saltwater myself and added in around four pounds of live rock and a few pounds of live sand. There was quite a few hitchhikers who have kept the tank clean but is it possible to skip the cycle because of the LR and LS maybe? Also I thought I would mention that the tank is relatively small like 5 gallons any information would help im just curious what is going on with the tank all parameters are stable.

 

[scsinet]

Have you put anything into the tank to feed the cycle?

 

[geoj]

You can have what I will call a clean cycle. You start off with little waste in the system and grow out a small bio-filter. This is ok if you make small additions to the tank over several weeks. This will let the bio-filter grow out with each addition and maintain low levels of nitrate. If you were to add a number of fish that needed to be feed that may give you a raise in nitrate that the bio-filter cant keep up with.

 

[robertg]

alright so If I add a fish just watch the levels and make sure it doesnt spike? one fish shouldnt have to much output. As of right now there is a small clean up crew and shrimp. I have added some food to feed the shrimp so I would immagine that would cause some nitrate

 

[loopy101]

its only been a week. what did you add to start the cycle? what are your ammonia and nitrite readings? they will show up before nitrates will.

 

[fretfreak13]

Put a peice of cocktail shrimp in there to kickstart your cycle. I don't think it's even started yet, IMO
How big is your tank?

 

[robertg]

well that is sort of my question would it take longer than a week to start I added some LR and LS the LR had quit a bit of dead alge and other stuff hanging off it. Also I have added some other fish food to feel the small shrimp that came in the tank. I over fed him the last two times so there is a bit of food floating around would that start it or no?

 

[robertg]

and the tank is only 5 gallons

 

[robertg]

bump

 

[geoj]

If you are testing and reading the test right and not getting any nitrate you are ok. You put some waste in the system by feeding and the bio-filter is handling it for now. Keep an eye on it and don’t stock it to fast and you will be fine. It is only 5 gals so you could do lots of water changes to keep it in line if you did get a spike.