Is my tank cycled?

[poker_nerd]

I set up a new salt tank about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I know it's frowned upon by most hobbyists but I decided to cycle the tank old school with 4 damsels because my daughter (who's 4 & the reason I got back into saltwater tanks) would have nagged me to death if I had an empty tank sit for 4-6 weeks. Anyway, I bought the damsels 2 weeks ago & was able to pick up about 100lbs of live rock from a guy locally who was breaking down his FOWLER tank which was well established. I transported the rock in tubs filled with saltwater to minimize if not eliminate any die off during transport. I also bought a marine betta from him to help him out. I introduced the rock & betta that night. After a week I tested levels & ammonia was 0, nitrite was 0 & nitrates were .20. The betta is eating frozen shrimp, all the fish are doing very well. Last night I tested all the levels again & ammonia was still 0, nitrites 0, & nitrates .20. I'm thinking my tank is good to go because of all the rock I put in. Does this sound correct?
This is agoing to be a FOWLER non-aggressive tank for what it's worth. I know...a little boring but try explaining to your 4 year old why Nemo was eaten by Mr. Lionfish, lol.

 

[brokendeck]

I would wait another day or 2 before I started adding fish. Did your test ever show any ammonia or nitrites?

 

[poker_nerd]

I think about a day or 2 after introducing the rock I had very little ammonia but it was back to 0 the next day.

 

[bulldog123]

You may have missed the spike. Only testing once a week you probable did. If you have 5 fish in there alread what is the concern. BTW what kind of damnsels.

 

[king_neptune]

are you keeping the damsels? or going to catch them?

 

[poker_nerd]

I'm pretty certain I'm good...just want some confirmation. I don't 2 introduce Nemo & have it turn into a floater with a crying daughter. Not sure about the damsels...pretty standard, yellow tail, zebra, etc.

 

[deejeff442]

i dont see a cycle if you have some good old cured lr.
it will carry the good bactaria with it.
cycling a new tank with new everything will have a cycle but sounds like you did something like moving from house to house.
100 lbs of rock is a good amount i dont see why you couldnt add the damsels.
just add a good skimmer.
i moved from my 150 gallon to a 225 used the lr from the 150 and added 100 lbs of more cured lr and i never got an ammonia spike.
and i have some good size fish.

 

[poker_nerd]

Not sure yet. My daughter named them & so far they have been behaving themselves. I'm going to wait & see what happens with new tankmates. If they act up they are going bye bye.

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by poker_nerd
http:///forum/post/3067492
I know it's frowned upon by most hobbyists but I decided to cycle the tank old school with 4 damsels
It is? It is frowned upon by some that are vocal. I wont go into a debate about the other 'cruel' things in this hobby that those same people do but you dont have to feel bad for cycling with damsels.
If you got rock from an established tank your tank was probably cycled very fast.
be careful with those damsels if you are trying for a peaceful tank. They may be small but they are some of the meanest fish.

 

[bulldog123]

I have a huge ulgy trap in my tank now trying to catch a velvet damnsel. Do them make an underwater blow gun.

 

[poker_nerd]

Will do...thanks. I'm planning on buying a Aqua C Remora hang-on skimmer to go along with my Emperor bio wheel. Heard nothing but good things about 'em & I'm not getting into sumps, etc if I can avoid it.

 

[poker_nerd]

Yea, I'm preparing my daughter for the fact that they may have to "move to a new home." It wasn't a problem with my first tank years ago which was very agressive. I introduced a lion &...no more damsels, lol. Apprantly they make good snacks.

 

[dsmccain]

Agreed JDL, I cycled with a domino damsel and I received a little lecture on that by a few people. Heck, I'm sure every single person is guilty in some way of doing some type of harm to the fish. Its bad enough that alot of these fish come out of the sea and put into little glass boxes, away from their natural environment. So for me, cycling with a damsel is not the end of the world. By the way, an update on my domino, he is just fine, swimming, eating and all that good stuff, I put some bio spira in there two days before he was introduced. I'm sure that made a difference too!
I guess its one of those subjects like human cloning, there will always be different views on the subject.

 

[florida joe]

Ok I have not read any of the other posts so my response may be completely off the mark. You know when your tank is able to continually process ammonia to nitrates removing nitrates takes a longer time so let’s call cycling ammonia to nitrates. Can your tank accomplish this? If so it can cycle