My cycles done in a week.

aggies50

aggies50

Member
Hey ya'll. I finally started my tank about a week ago. I kicked off the cycle by using a coctail shrimp. Currently there is 15lbs of live rock in it. I read that the cycle was supposed to take 2 weeks to a month. However mines almost already done. Is this right or did I do something wrong? Is it normal for the cycle to be over in 1 week. I never saw my ammonia spike (I didn't test for it until it was at zero). I saw my Nitrites spike (they are also at zero now), and my nitrates are currently at 20. Thanks in advance?
Here is the current breakdown
Ammonia=0
Nitrate=20
Nitrite=0
Alkalinity=200
PH=8.4
Salinity=1.023
 
duke13

duke13

Member
Wait another week, play it safe. Try to get those nitrates as close to 0 as possible. BTW, did you use RO or tap water?
 
killergoby

killergoby

Member
I cycled my 29 gallon with 20 lbs. live sand, a little more than 1 lb. of live rock per gallon, and a CPR backpack (with bio-material) in about 2 weeks. My ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate were all at zero at that time. Keep checking that nitrate and good luck!!! :joy:
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
Im trying to understand the process of a cycle. You guys mention that he should wait till his nitrates drop to 0??? I thought that the only way to get rid of nitrates is to do a water change?? And I didnt think you were saposed to do a change during cycle?? Please explain......
 
aggies50

aggies50

Member
dhughesz I'm no expert but I'll try to explain the cycle to you.
What is a Cycle for? From what I understand the entire point of the cycle is to create bacteria that will help break down food and keep your tank more stable.
How to start off your cycle. There are a couple of different ways to start it of. You could put damsel fish in to the tank. I don't recomend this one because during the cycle the water will become toxic and why put a hopeless fish in harms way. The other way which I do recomend it to put a cocktail shrimp in to the tank. The shrimp will start to decay which will start your cycle
What will happen during my cycle? At first the decaying shrimp will release Ammonia in to the tank. The ammonia will spike then fall to zero. Then your nitrites will spike and fall to zero. Lastly your nitrates will begin going up. Then go back down to zero. Finally congrats your cycle is compleate and you can add a cleaning crew. All this can last between 1 week to 1 month maybe even longer, every tank is different. Remember be Patient.
Should I do water changes during my cycle? There is a lot of mixed feelings about this topic on the form. Some people say do water changes and some say don't. I say don't do it. My reason behind that is because it will prolong your cycle. For example if your nitrites start rising and you do a water change during the cycle your nitrites will lower. You don't want this because you want them continue to rise and eventually spike.
I hope that helps. Feel free to correct me if I said something wrong or if I left something out.
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
aggies50,
I understand all that you said except for the Nitrate part. I tought thast the only way to get rid of NO3 was to either have a fuge(or some other type of plant life) or do water changes. What in your tank will remove Nitrate naturally???? :notsure: :notsure:
 
krishj39

krishj39

Active Member
The primary way to remove Nitrates in the tank is through anaerobic bacteria which grow at the bottom of deep sand beds and also inside live rock. These bacteria take a long time to cultivate so I'd be suprised if you could get the levels below 20ppm within a month.
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Hello All:
I am getting back into salt water after a 20 year break. I am new to this Message board but it appears that there was less to this game when I was in college and just dumped the salt and fish in? Anyway, lots of random questions if any one wants to spew knowledge my way?
First, I have a 10 gallon tank that I am cycling with live rock. After 3 days the AMmonia is already at 1.5 mg/l so I assume it is going quick and all should be ok with in 2-3 weeks. I want this tank to be a staging tank for the inevitable bomber tank that is in my future so I want to cure rock and build my reef corals here and in my 20. See last comments on that.
What is the max lighting I can put in it? I like bright. I now have 15W for 10 g. SHould I go with a blue lights also? Same question for my 20 g that has 35W.
I frequent the keys and will be trying to Fed X back some goodies from scuba dives. Any special precautions with wild corals and sponges?
I have never ordered on line for fish or corals. No need for fish but is it a substantial savings for reef creatures?
Also, how quickly do reef creatures grow. Since most fist size peices are ~40-$80, can I just load up on oodles of small ones and they will grow? What rate? What is the deal with getting "cuttings"? Do the LFSs usually let you buy them at a cheep rate?
Here is the embarrassing news. My 20 g is also cycling 3.5 weeks (AMmonia ~3 ppm, Nitrite ~0.8) and just a little live rock (5 lbs), it has gobs of stuff in it due to my very supportive wife and 8 yr old daughter. Yes, they were impatient and if all does not die, it will be a miracle! Tiny yellow and blue tang, Nemo, psudo, 6 snails, 4 hermits, starfish, anenome and gonodia?. It has brown algea, some one said that was some kind of silicate and will go away? Should I do water changes? I know it will prolong the cycle? Hopefully I can dump to my 10 g for a few days if I see it going down hill. Attached is a PIC but it will all be live in a few months. My grand plan is then to dump to a 100+ and keep a 20G as quaranteen.
All comments would be greatly appreciated!
Grumpygils
(got the name when my 8 yr old saw I was unhappy that they packed the tank pre cycle in my absence!)
 
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