Starting cycle..are these correct?

[jennsimm]

Hi everyone. well, I finally got everything up and running and the water is clear!! I tried to post pics, but not sure how to resize them. Anyway, today was my first test. I have amonia-0, ph-8.0, nitrate 0.2, and nitrite- 0. Is this what it should be? I thought i would ask before throwing the shrimp in today. I have aprox. 42lbs of live rock, sand bed about 3 inches deep. Tank is about 60 gallon, but am also running a filter. Anything else you need to know? Oh...salinity and sg are right on.
Jenn

 

[g-dude]

your doing good

 

[jennsimm]

so do I still add the shrimp or let the tank sit or what?? Sorry for the question..but am wondering what to do>>:notsure:
jenn

 

[sato]

I would do it just for good measure. If all that rock nd sand was live when you added it then you most likely have a pretty decent biological filter already. I would throw in the shrimp for a day or two and let its do its thing.

 

[razoreqx]

Originally posted by JennSimm
Hi everyone. well, I finally got everything up and running and the water is clear!! I tried to post pics, but not sure how to resize them. Anyway, today was my first test. I have amonia-0, ph-8.0, nitrate 0.2, and nitrite- 0. Is this what it should be? I thought i would ask before throwing the shrimp in today. I have aprox. 42lbs of live rock, sand bed about 3 inches deep. Tank is about 60 gallon, but am also running a filter. Anything else you need to know? Oh...salinity and sg are right on.
Jenn
If you have the LR in the tank you really dont need to add anything to the tank. The die off from the LR will start your cycle for you.
What week are you in? I wouldnt worry about testing the water until at least 4 weeks... Unless your doing partial water changes to keep your LR "alive" In that case your going to prolong your cycle anyway..

 

[puffer32]

Hmmmmmmmmm, thought I read someplace on these boards to put the shrimp in the beginning of the cycle, not the end:notsure:

 

[pelena]

How long have you had water in your tank?

 

[jennsimm]

Ok...the reason I was asking about the shrimp is because it IS the begining of my cycle.. not the end. My tank has only had water in it for 2 days. today it was crystal clear, so I tested it. I called my lfs, and then took a water sample in. they said I had no cycle. That everything is ready to go. I trust them as they are on of the best in the state of MI..in Lansing if you live here, you know which one. anyway, they said to go ahead and figure out what I want in my tank. so now my question is this: since my tank is so new and there is no algea, what do I do about a clean up crew? I know I have to get one, so do I purchase that first and let them be for a week or so? I didnt ask them this at the lfs. It really threw me off, but they said that some will never have a cycle.:happy:
So...what to do about a clean up crew?
Jenn

 

[pelena]

Don't get too hasty and don't trust everything from theLFS. They do want to help, but even doctors make mistakes. I have learned it is best to use the majority vote (this is a great forum). It really isn't soon eneough for any ammonia or anything to build up if it is going to. I say wait (I know its hard - good time do research and plan your tank mates) at least a week to see if your ammonia or nitrite increases. I didn't see any signs of starting a cycle until about 4 days, and I had 3 little heary fish from day one. Your cleaning crew needs some algea to eat as I understand it, so that may need to wait too. I got some brown algea (diatoms) growth just before the end of my cycle. You might want to look at the thread I started "more cycle questions" there is alot of other good info out there too.
Oh, does your LR stink at all?

 

[jennsimm]

the LR does not or did not smell at all. I was going to wait a week and retest before I put anything in it, i just want oppinions on what to start with? I figured a cleaning crew would need something to eat! I have learned tons from this board..keep the oppinions comming!
Jenn

 

[pelena]

if you don't see any ammonia or nitrite in a week your rock probably helped to "skip" the cycle because it already had the needed bacteria. If in a week there is ammonia or Nitite, an uncooked shrimp will help speed things up (still may take a few weeks).
Gotta love the dedication this hobby takes. For crying out loud I shold be doing homework instead of talking about this stuff. Well heck, I guess the Nitrogen cycle is part of my environmental studies. Justification in all things!!!:hilarious