tank not cycling?

[maciesmama]

I set up a 72 gal about a month ago. I make my own R.O. water, I have an emperor 400 running, PC lighting, crushed coral substrate. I am cycling with about 25 lbs of live rock, cured, and six damsels. MY salinity stays at 1.023, temp. is 80.
I have a test kit and I test regularly. The damsels killed eachother off, ( man they are mean! ), and I am now down to 2. I let them sit in the tank when they died to help up the ammonia. But my nitrites haven't done a thing! It has been at least a month. I even took a sample to my lfs, still no traces of nitrites. How is this possible? I've read the lr consumes nitrites? I have had a brown algae bloom that has died and been replaced with green hair algae.
Two more questions! Will the hair algae smother my corraline algae? And I know how everyone feels about crushed coral! I plan to switch out soon, and before I add any other fish. But has anyone heard of getting sand from the beach?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[madd catt]

You have tested for nitrites? you have tested for nitrates?it could be that the enzymes have not multiplied enough yet for the next step in the cycle.as far as the hair algea you can just take it out of the tank so it will not take over, however hair algea is one of natures best filters better then calurpa when outside the tank on an algea scrubber.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by maciesmama
I set up a 72 gal about a month ago. I make my own R.O. water, I have an emperor 400 running, PC lighting, crushed coral substrate. I am cycling with about 25 lbs of live rock, cured, and six damsels. MY salinity stays at 1.023, temp. is 80.
I have a test kit and I test regularly. The damsels killed eachother off, ( man they are mean! ), and I am now down to 2. I let them sit in the tank when they died to help up the ammonia. But my nitrites haven't done a thing! It has been at least a month. I even took a sample to my lfs, still no traces of nitrites. How is this possible? I've read the lr consumes nitrites? I have had a brown algae bloom that has died and been replaced with green hair algae.
Two more questions! Will the hair algae smother my corraline algae? And I know how everyone feels about crushed coral! I plan to switch out soon, and before I add any other fish. But has anyone heard of getting sand from the beach?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you had dead fish in you tanks for a month with amonnia and nitrates remaining at 0.0. and brown algae had been replace by green, then the live rock must have been doing it's job.
Corraline algae is slow growing and hair can smother it out. the algae (both) does reduce the nitrates in the tank.
I have heard of getting beach sand. Just no beaches here.

 

[slick]

Sounds like you tank has cycled to me. I would do a large water change and then start adding fish slowly. A clean up crew should take care of the algae.

 

[jrein40806]

I wouldn't use beach sand. I read that the ls sold in lfs is taken like a mile off the shore. I would be worried about pollutants.

 

[maciesmama]

Good point on the pollutants. I don't know why my tests never picked up any nitrites or nitrates? I think I'm going to give it another week just to be on the safe side. If the levels haven't gone up any by then I'll assume the tank has cycled.
What does a cleaner crew consist of? I have noticed that the hair algae is killing off some of the coraline algae.
Thanks for the replies, this site is very helpful.