Some Cycle Problems.... Please Help

[stevedsona]

Well I started my tank about 8 weeks ago. At start up I used Distilled water added 30 lbs of LR and also 30 Lbs of LS. Waited and waited but never seem to cycle. So like an idiot I took some advise from the LFS.... Dude told me togo ahead and add a clown so I added a clown and 3 turbo's this was on week 7. I have had them in the tank for 2 weeks and everything looks great... So my question is has my tank cycled?
I have never seen any Nitrate.
The highest my Ammonia has been is .5 ppm.
Highest Nitrites .05 ppm
Water now is:
Temp 80
Gravity 1.024
Ammonia is 0-.1ish ppm
PH 8.3
Alk High <

[hr]
I know not a good test need to buy new
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0-.025ish
I have Brownish algea and redish on all sides of the tank.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[scotts]

Did you add anyting to your tank to quick start the cycle such as a raw shrimp or has your tank been sitting for this time? A cycle will happen when you add some type of bio load to your tank and then the bugs in your tank grow and adjust to this load. (bugs = bacteria and stuff in your LS). However if you started with cured rock and live sand you probably will not see much of a cycle in my opinion.
I personally think you are good to go with the clown in your tank. For one thing clowns are very hardy fish. Just keep an eye on things and don't add another fish for at least another couple of weeks. Once again that is my own opinion and I have been called an idiot before and it is late and I am extremely tired so I may be even replying to the wrong post.
Scott

 

[trigger78]

Agree w/ Scotts even if your tank hasn't cycled yet. If you added cured rock without adding something to produce a bio load your clown should make it even if the tanks goes through a mini cycle. The clowns waste may produce enough to make your tank go through a mini cycle but the cured rock should help this stiuation. Just keep looking at the ammonia levels and you will know for sure.

 

[snipe]

From what I see is you didnt cycle your tank. If you never had an amonia spike with the live rock then there was no dieoff from the rock and there for didnt cycle the tank. That is why now you are getting small reading since you put the fish in. In most cases .25 reading wont kill fish but any amount of amonia can kill one and nitrite is the gas that is in the water "not like driving gas" but it is taking of space where oxygen can be and it sufficates the fish that is why bolth of these should be zero and is why you cycle the tank so this wont happen.
Since you already have the fish in there and it is low and clowns are hardy I would leave it alone but now you will have to go super slow or you will cause an amonia spike and a cycle and not all fish are as hardy as clowns, damsles and chromis "all types of damsles".

 

[stevedsona]

Thank you all
Steve