speedy cycle!!!!

[jcarroll]

This is the second time I've cycled a tank due to a recent cross country move. The first time it took almost 8 weeks. I did it with damsels and only about 5 pounds of live rock. I didn't know any better.
This time, I put all of my dead rock in that was live before the move (darn it!!) and added 25 pounds of uncured live figi. I also added a raw shrimp. Anyway, it's only been four days and my ammonia is already starting to come down. It started at 0.25 and went up to 0.5 and now is back down to 0.25. My nitrites started at 0, then 0.25, then 0.5, and today are almost at 2. Nitrates started at 0, then 5, then 10, and are still at 10. Is this one hell of a speedy cycle? Or is there a good possibility I may see another spike in my ammonia level? Oh, pH is steady at 8.0.

 

[djminus1]

I don't know. It depends. I too had a quick cycle...only about 1.5 weeks. I saw all of my levels go up and return to zero. In my 90, I did it with 30 lbs of live rock, 100 lbs of live sand, and two coctail shrimp. I waited antoher two weeks to put fish in though. Tank was stable the entire time.

 

[bigarn]

Yeah, the uncured rock along with the shrimp will do it. Just keep an eye on it for a few more days... I guess it can happen, but that seems awfully quick for uncured rock to be fully cured. Just my opinion.

 

[jcarroll]

I don't know much about the curing cycle, but it definitely seems fast to me!! I'm not complaining though. My nitrites are still very sky rocketed, so it may end up taking a while still. I was amazed at the drop in my ammonia level already though! I actually took out the shrimp just now because it's completely falling apart and I figured it was okay since my ammonia has already spiked. It may slow the process a little I suppose, but it can't be as long as my 8 week one!

 

[bacffin]

It was either bigbarn, snipe, or banguy that gave me this suggestion, can't remember which off the top of my head, but after your cycle is done and your ammonia and nitrites are 0, feed the tank with food for a week and see if your ammonia re-spikes. If it doesn't, you should be good to go.
I'm cycling myself and I waited for my ammonia to get to about 7ppm before I pulled the shrimp out, but that also depends on how much lr and ls you have too. Good luck!
Bruce

 

[snipe]

way to go bacffin thats good advice.

 

[djminus1]

Originally Posted by Jcarroll
I actually took out the shrimp just now because it's completely falling apart
Gross huh? I remember when that happened. My girlfriend gagged when she saw it.
:jumping:

 

[bacffin]

Ha...I guess it was you snipe

 

[snipe]

I heard it from Bang so I guess in a way he did tell you.

 

[bacffin]

I don't want to hijack the thread but I just got through my test today and it is related to cycle speed so I'll ask the question here. I started my cycle last friday (one week ago) and would like to know if this ammonia spike looks normal or kind of fast. :notsure:
5/20) 0 ppm
5/21) .25
5/22) .25
5/23) .25
5/24) 7.0 (pulled raw shrimp out)
5/25) 5.0
5/26) 5.0
5/27) .25
Is it supposed to come down almost as fast as it went up too?
Thanks!

 

[snipe]

Mine dropped pretty fast also. What kinda test kit are you using?

 

[1journeyman]

I cycled my tank with uncured live rock.
One thing I noticed was that things kept dying and coming off the rock for a good 3-4 weeks. In fact, my tank has been up for 12 weeks now and I can still scrub stuff off the rocks if I really try.
Don't be too hasty in thinking the cycle is over. Also, there is a great thread on here somewhere about scrubbing live rock down to cure it. I HIGHLY suggest following that advice.

 

[bacffin]

Snipe, I am using 2 kits actually. I first got one of those red sea kits (yuk) and didn't like the readings I got so I changed to a salifert.
1journeyman, my nitrites are >1.0 and my nitrates are at 100 so I still have a way's to go before my cycle is over. I bought cured live rock and cleaned it before putting it my tank.
Bruce

 

[trainfever]

Ammonia will rise quickly and fall just as quickly. I believe this will also happen with Nitrites. It is Nitrates that will rise quickly but will fall very slowly.