Question About My Cycle

[hops523]

So I started my cycle about a week ago with cured live rock. I heard if you use cured live rock there isnt much of a cycle at all. Ive been testing the water every couple of days, and put a little brine shrimp in twice. Last week the ammonia went up just a tiny bit, and dropped down the 0 the next day. The nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are at 20 as of yesterday. When I got the live rock there were a couple snails on it, and they have done fine. I also noticed yesterday a couple more little critters have come out like small snails, and astrea(sp?) starfish. So Im thinking the cycle might be over. Do you all think it would be ok to add a fish this weekend?
Thanks

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by hops523
http:///forum/post/3205377
So I started my cycle about a week ago with cured live rock. I heard if you use cured live rock there isnt much of a cycle at all. Ive been testing the water every couple of days, and put a little brine shrimp in twice. Last week the ammonia went up just a tiny bit, and dropped down the 0 the next day. The nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are at 20 as of yesterday. When I got the live rock there were a couple snails on it, and they have done fine. I also noticed yesterday a couple more little critters have come out like small snails, and astrea(sp?) starfish. So Im thinking the cycle might be over. Do you all think it would be ok to add a fish this weekend?
Thanks
I wouldn't recommend it. The tank is most likely "cycled" but it is in no way stable.
I would suggest feeding the tank fish food for at least another week, two weeks is even better. This will allow the bacteria populations to stabilize. Feed the exact same amount of food as you would feed your first fish, feed every day, and keep testing to make sure ammonia stays at zero. This ghost feeding will ensure that when you add the first fish there will be no ammonia spike because the bacteria have already ramped up to the extra bioload.
I know patience is difficult, lordy do I know. But it's worth it. Meanwhile you can watch all the new critters coming from the rock.

 

[hops523]

Haha yeah it is hard to be patient, but Id rather be safe than sorry. Ill continue to feed the tank, and in the meantime get some T5 lighting for the coral I intend to get
Thanks

 

[firefightremtp]

what bang said +1. I just went through this, and waited 8 weeks for my first fish.. I, like you started with about 50lbs of live rock and 100 lbs of live sand and 35 gallons of precycled water.. it was well worth the wait..
~grace

 

[florida joe]

I heard if you use cured live rock there isnt much of a cycle at all.
Ok back to my pet peeve. Live rock and nitrification are not one in the same. You can buy what is called cured live rock with absolutely no bacteria colonization established. As my learned friends have stated above take you time ghost feed and monitor your levels