Skipped cycle?

[pstanley]

I have never had an issue beginning the cycle with past tanks. I set up my 60 gallon reef tank about two weeks ago with 45 lbs of live rock (shipped overnight) and another 25 lbs that took about a week to get here. I put in a dead shrimp to kick start the cycle and left it in there for about two days. The strange thing is that I never experienced ANY ammonia (using Salifert tests). I have checked off and on for about two weeks expecting something from the shrimp and rock die off. I finally decided to check for Nitrates which were present. I also checked my newly mixed RO/DI water to verify that they wern't coming from that but it had 0 Nitrates. Did the rock that was shipped overnight contain enough bacteria (which was possibly fed by the shrimp and the week old live rock) to maintain and act as a cycled tank? I am confused lol.

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
~~ Did the rock that was shipped overnight contain enough bacteria (which was possibly fed by the shrimp and the week old live rock) to maintain and act as a cycled tank?

Yes, that is exactly what happened. However; your tank is still unstable. I would recommend ghost feeding your tank for a few weeks to allow the bacteria populations to mature and stabilize.

 

[pstanley]

Ok, makes sense then. How does that affect the other parts of the cycle (such as the diatoms)? Does that mean I will skip that? I haven't run the lights more than an hour or two a day up until now. Going forward, I guess I will start my normal lighting schedule. Also, my local reef store suggested (before knowing that I was already beyond the initial ammonia/nitrite stage) a product called MicroBacter7. Is this stuff even necessary (or beneficial)? Finally, at what point should I start running the phosphate reactor? Should I wait until I have a phosphate issue or run it as a safeguard?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pstanley http:///t/396778/skipped-cycle#post_3535146
Ok, makes sense then. How does that affect the other parts of the cycle (such as the diatoms)? Does that mean I will skip that? I haven't run the lights more than an hour or two a day up until now. Going forward, I guess I will start my normal lighting schedule. Also, my local reef store suggested (before knowing that I was already beyond the initial ammonia/nitrite stage) a product called MicroBacter7. Is this stuff even necessary (or beneficial)? Finally, at what point should I start running the phosphate reactor? Should I wait until I have a phosphate issue or run it as a safeguard?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hi,

I make a point of never asking the LFS for advice on anything, not fish, equipment or supplements. I have had plenty of tanks over the years and never heard of microbacter7, so no you don't really NEED it. I have nothing against the LFS...I go all the time, I just refuse to ask advice from them because if you don't know and had to ask, how would you know if the person really knows their stuff, or just trying to sell you something? So I do my homework and do a little reading, or come to this site....THEN I go into the store knowing what I want or need.

Missing such things as the diatom bloom...LOL, there have been times when folks get to skip on the not so pleasant parts of first set-up...but don't count on it. I think you should run the tank with lighting and filtration like you plan to do and let everything run as it should...that way your tank can adjust and go through whatever stages it has to so it can mature.

Do as Bang Guy said, and ghost feed a few weeks, just to be certain. All fish foods have phosphates, so it won't hurt a thing to run your reactor before you notice an issue.

Now is a really good time to set up the quarantine tank, and save yourself so much grief later.

 

[pstanley]

Ok....I will run the lighting and reactor now and watch the tank for a couple of weeks while ghost feeding. I looked up the Microbacter7 and it has pretty favorable reviews so I will hang onto it for now.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I used to not believe in bottled bacteria, but now I don't see anything wrong with it. Can't hurt, lol.

I would also ghost feed for a couple of weeks and retest.

 

[beaslbob]

It could be the algae is consuming any ammonia not being reduced by aerobic bacteria. And in the process not consuming nitrates.

 

[pstanley]

That would make sense except that there is absolutely 0 algae in the tank. The live rock is as clean as it was the day I put it in the tank (except for some small red sponge like growths which I am not sure what they are...definitely not algae though unless it is a macro). I tested again today and got a SG of 1.025, 0 Ammonia, 5.0 Nitrate, 0 Phosphate, Alk 125.3, and Calcium of 460. I found the cure to new tank syndrome......