Large tank cycle???

[offshore80]

OK, I've got my 180 gal tank/50 gal sump full of water and running...75 lbs of cured live rock and 48 oz of special blend microbe for bacterial help... I added a 5" piece of squid 3 days ago... I have nothing on the ammonia scale.... Do I need to add more squid?? raw shrimp? anything to get this cycle started.
Thanks

 

[psusocr1]

patience is a virtue when cycling a big tank....i used one jumbo shrimp in my tank and just waited

 

[reefeel]

My 300 has taken 6 weeks hopefulle it is going to finish tomorrow, if the nitrites continue to drop at the same rate they are now.

 

[offshore80]

Wow 6 weeks... What did you use to start the cycle? A jumbo shrimp? How much LR did you cycle it with? And was it cured?
Thanks

 

[offshore80]

Does a cycling tank hurt the cured live rock?? does it hurt the cycle process?

 

[titan]

I've refrained from even useing un-cured LR when cycling. Best to put your SB in, and start it off with something as a raw shrimp, or anything that'll rot. I've noticed in the past when useing LR, lots of diatoms, and un-wanted macro's accumulate. This is no big deal if a scavenge crew is intro'd to clean up the mess before any fish are entered.

 

[reefeel]

My live rock was un-cured so that started the cycle. I finally got to move my eel into his new tank today as my cycle has finally ended.

 

[offshore80]

Even with 3 large shrimp and 5 days... no cycle. THe shrimp look like giant fuzz balls. it hasn't even registered on the Ammonia scale.