tank will not cycle
- Thread starter aileena
- Start date
T
thomas712
Guest
Is the shrimp still in evidence?
What test kits are you using?
What is your water source?
Can you get a nearby LFS to test your water to double check?
Thomas
What test kits are you using?
What is your water source?
Can you get a nearby LFS to test your water to double check?
Thomas
broomer5
Active Member
aileena
My only advise ...
You're using the raw shrimp method with no live rock or live sand.
This tank will cycle - but it will take longer than if you had introduced some bacteria from live rock or live sand.
Tossing in even a small piece of live rock, or adding some live sand would most likely speed things along.
You could even add a cupful or two of established sand from a trusted friends tank, but be careful. Know the source.
Here's what could be happening;
Raw shimp added to tankwater begins to rot and produce ammonia.
Ammonia is there - you know it - you tested for it.
BUT
The bacteria have not reproduced at a rate to convert the ammonia over to nitrite yet. The bacteria just are not there yet in numbers .... so the ammonia testing looks like the tank's cycle has stalled out.
It hasn't ... it just will take a little longer than you hoped.
Add some live rock if you can - even a chunk or two would help get the bacteria population kick started
Good luck with your tank !
My only advise ...
You're using the raw shrimp method with no live rock or live sand.
This tank will cycle - but it will take longer than if you had introduced some bacteria from live rock or live sand.
Tossing in even a small piece of live rock, or adding some live sand would most likely speed things along.
You could even add a cupful or two of established sand from a trusted friends tank, but be careful. Know the source.
Here's what could be happening;
Raw shimp added to tankwater begins to rot and produce ammonia.
Ammonia is there - you know it - you tested for it.
BUT
The bacteria have not reproduced at a rate to convert the ammonia over to nitrite yet. The bacteria just are not there yet in numbers .... so the ammonia testing looks like the tank's cycle has stalled out.
It hasn't ... it just will take a little longer than you hoped.
Add some live rock if you can - even a chunk or two would help get the bacteria population kick started
Good luck with your tank !
aileena
Member
I couldn't take it anymore...I went to the LFS and bought 25lbs of cured LR for $$$125....its real nice stuff, too bad most of it will die off now in the cycle!!! oh well...
I was ordering some on ----...40lbs for $150 but the guy called and said it would take 2 more weeks...forget it!!! Now my tank will really start to cycle...finally...
all I need now is 25lbs more and I'll be happy!!! since the sand displaced about 10g of water, I only have 50g instead of 60; so, 50lbs total is 1pound per gallon...thats all I want...
HURRAY
I was ordering some on ----...40lbs for $150 but the guy called and said it would take 2 more weeks...forget it!!! Now my tank will really start to cycle...finally...
all I need now is 25lbs more and I'll be happy!!! since the sand displaced about 10g of water, I only have 50g instead of 60; so, 50lbs total is 1pound per gallon...thats all I want...
HURRAY
jrein40806
Member
since the sand displaced about 10g of water, I only have 50g instead of 60; so, 50lbs total is 1pound per gallon...thats all I want...>>
Somebody correct me if I am wrong,but I don't think that is correct. I think you are supposed to take your tank size, 60 gallons, and multiply it by 1 or 1.5. I think you need 60 to 90lbs of live rock. I haven't read where people subtract the amount of water their ls displaced and then figured out how much rock to buy.
Somebody correct me if I am wrong,but I don't think that is correct. I think you are supposed to take your tank size, 60 gallons, and multiply it by 1 or 1.5. I think you need 60 to 90lbs of live rock. I haven't read where people subtract the amount of water their ls displaced and then figured out how much rock to buy.
E
elan
Guest
i dont think there is really a "perfect" value of amount of live rock..
it all depends on what you want to do with your tank and how much money you are willing to spend, and what kind of rock you are getting (more dense rocks like fl aquacutured will requre more lbs to acheive the same effect as say fiji)
the difference between 50 and 60 lbs isnt really that substantial. 50 and 90 is, but then again, it all depends on what you want in your tank.. if a mandarin goby is something you want down the line, then get all the rock that is feasably possible.. if a few corals and a few fish such as clowns, firefish, and other fish that you can feed with dry or frozen food, then a lot of rock isnt nessesary.
my rule of thumb is get enough rock that will work with your budget and what works with how you want your tank to look.
I actually took out about 50 lbs of rock (base rock) because i felt the amount of rock i had in my tank was too much..... but that is only my perception of what i wanted my tank to look like.
it all depends on what you want to do with your tank and how much money you are willing to spend, and what kind of rock you are getting (more dense rocks like fl aquacutured will requre more lbs to acheive the same effect as say fiji)
the difference between 50 and 60 lbs isnt really that substantial. 50 and 90 is, but then again, it all depends on what you want in your tank.. if a mandarin goby is something you want down the line, then get all the rock that is feasably possible.. if a few corals and a few fish such as clowns, firefish, and other fish that you can feed with dry or frozen food, then a lot of rock isnt nessesary.
my rule of thumb is get enough rock that will work with your budget and what works with how you want your tank to look.
I actually took out about 50 lbs of rock (base rock) because i felt the amount of rock i had in my tank was too much..... but that is only my perception of what i wanted my tank to look like.
jrein40806
Member
my rule of thumb is get enough rock that will work with your budget and what works with how you want your tank to look.
>>
I agree with you. After all, you could have a tank with no lr or sand.Keep it at 80,use a few powerheads, a hang on filter,throw in a clown and you are set. But, for the filtration to work I thought that the rule of thumb was 1-1.5 lbs of lr with a 4-6 inch live sand bed. For the Berlin method to work this is what I understood from reading countless posts is needed.
>>
I agree with you. After all, you could have a tank with no lr or sand.Keep it at 80,use a few powerheads, a hang on filter,throw in a clown and you are set. But, for the filtration to work I thought that the rule of thumb was 1-1.5 lbs of lr with a 4-6 inch live sand bed. For the Berlin method to work this is what I understood from reading countless posts is needed.
aileena
Member
I guess my goal is to have 1lbs of rock for every gallon of actual water in the tank, that seems to strike a nice balance. I want enough room for the fish to swim, unlike my old 29g with about 40lbs of rock and no space.
I went and got more rock today and now have 35lbs of cured fiji LR!!!! Thats enough to start the cycle...only 15lbs more and I'll be happy!!! After one night the nitrites are now like 1.5 and ammonia .25 thats kewl!!!
Get this with 35lbs of rock I only have 5 huge pieces!!! Its great...no little stuff to worry about...maybe I'll add a pile of rubble rock in the corner latter...
I wish I could post a pick...oh well...
When they say 1-1.5 lbs per gallon, does that really mean even the gallons displaced by sand?
I went and got more rock today and now have 35lbs of cured fiji LR!!!! Thats enough to start the cycle...only 15lbs more and I'll be happy!!! After one night the nitrites are now like 1.5 and ammonia .25 thats kewl!!!
Get this with 35lbs of rock I only have 5 huge pieces!!! Its great...no little stuff to worry about...maybe I'll add a pile of rubble rock in the corner latter...
I wish I could post a pick...oh well...
When they say 1-1.5 lbs per gallon, does that really mean even the gallons displaced by sand?
fishtanknewbi
Member
Sounds like you are on your way good luck!!!!!!!!!!
firefishspike
Member
I use to freak when I first got into the hobby, but I've learned to be patient and give it an ample amount of time to cycle......... Respect the cycle, it is the almighty!!!
aileena
Member
The Kh of the tank is at about 14 right now...the ph I never bother to check so long as the kh stays above 12...
I got the tank to start cycling fast...right now I have 50lbs of fully cured live rock in the tank...a total of 7 large pieces some fiji, some marshal island, and some branch thats all bunched together...
in a matter of 2 days the ammonia went from 1.5 to 0 and the nitrite from 0 to .05...now the nitrite is almost down to zero...I will probably wait another week before adding any fish just to make sure the cycle is over....
50lbs of LR for a 60g tank is not too shaby...I will be happy with about 10 more lbs for 1lbs per gallon
I got the tank to start cycling fast...right now I have 50lbs of fully cured live rock in the tank...a total of 7 large pieces some fiji, some marshal island, and some branch thats all bunched together...
in a matter of 2 days the ammonia went from 1.5 to 0 and the nitrite from 0 to .05...now the nitrite is almost down to zero...I will probably wait another week before adding any fish just to make sure the cycle is over....
50lbs of LR for a 60g tank is not too shaby...I will be happy with about 10 more lbs for 1lbs per gallon
aileena
Member
In the nearly 2 years I had my 29g I never checked the ph once...I only checked the kh, which from what I have read determines the ph balance in the tank. I never had a single problem in those 2 years...
I did a 5% water change every 2 weeks and it all worked out fine...the only things I ever tested for was ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and Kh, and sometimes on occasion calcium...
I have the ph test kit, but the only way to really control the ph balance is by buffering the carbonate hardness...at least this is what I have always thought...???
Am I wrong?
I did a 5% water change every 2 weeks and it all worked out fine...the only things I ever tested for was ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and Kh, and sometimes on occasion calcium...
I have the ph test kit, but the only way to really control the ph balance is by buffering the carbonate hardness...at least this is what I have always thought...???
Am I wrong?
