new tank cycling

[jgrey]

I have a 55 gallon tank with 3 damsels. It is on the 30th day cycling. I didn't test my water until after the 2nd week and have monitored the ammonia and nitrites twice a week since then with no change. Shouldn't the ammonia have started to go up by now? I put TLC in the 2nd day after I set it up and lost 2 fish the second week. Could it have already cycled before I tested the h20? If not should I be doing something different?

 

[kdlbem]

If your tank was done cycling, you would have nitrates rising, and NO ammonia or nitrites. What exactly are your levels? Even after it has finished cycling, I would still wait until the nitrates have gotten high enough to do a water change or two, and settled back down to add any more fish. And I would wait a while before adding any sensitive fish, like angels, tangs, etc. They need a well established tank(a few months at least). I speak from experience. I rushed it, and lost 200 bucks worth of beautiful fish because of my impatience.
Hope this helps,
B
P.S. Welcome to the best BB on the web!

 

[jgrey]

nitrites - 0
nitrates - 0
ammonia - 0
I just thought it was strange NOTHING was increasing after a month. My fish look healthy and I am keeping the specific gravity at 1.023 and the water is 78 degrees. My two LFS have been little help with buying the aquarium/fish and have been giving me contradicting advice so I have been researching this alone pretty much. Thanks for the help!

 

[kdlbem]

You're welcome. I don't understand a zero reading across the board, though. What type of test kit are you using? And what is TLC, a cycle in a bottle type product? I have read many posts stating that stuff doesn't work. You might get a couple of cups of substrate from an established, healthy tank, and put it in a mesh bag(pantyhose works great) in your sump, if you have one. or put it in the tank if you have to.
HTH,
B

 

[jgrey]

I am using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals brand saltwater test kit. (It has the little vials you fill w/ h20 and drop the solution in). I wish I had just used the raw shrimp deal I've seen posted here several times but I already had the damsels after I read about that.

 

[jgrey]

Oh and yes TLC is "supposed" to speed up the cycling process. Someone gave it to me so I figured I'd try it. I guess it didn't work too well!

 

[jimi]

How much live rock and live sand do you have?

 

[jgrey]

about 2 inches of crushed coral and 20 lbs. of live rock.

 

[kdlbem]

You might have LFS test your water for you, to see if you are getting accurate readings. As far as the cycle is concerned, it's a waiting game now. What kind of filtration are you using? You arent running a skimmer are you? This will only prolong the cycle. I cycled my 75gal with 4 damsels, so 3 should be plenty for a 55. Just keep testing, and it WILL happen. I have heard of tanks taking two months to cycle. Oh yeah, if you plan on adding other small fish, get those damsels out first(mine tried to kill a dottyback the minute I put it in the tank, so back to the LFS they went). They get MEAN.
Keep us posted,
B

 

[jbird0824]

Hi, cycling a tank for at least a month before you start putting in fish. If you buy some live rock, it will also speed up the cycle. you guys scare me when you say damels are mean. mine are cool and clam they dont bother any of my fish.. i have two blue devils and two yellow tail.. i guees i got lucky..