Cycle

[sdergar]

I had cured rock. I placed three raw shrimp in my 120g since I did not want to add livestock and subject them to any sort of spike and really wanted to make sure I was on the right track. After I started that I placed my first fish in QT and waited it out.

I know waiting is brutal but done properly the wait will be worth it.

Steve

 

[starles]

so, The shrimp should start the cycle? If it doesn't create the spike im looking for, what should i do. Add some fish?

 

[mr_X]

you have to wait for it to decompose some. i'm sure you will see a spike. if you do not, i would add one fish at a time. research the fish you are considering and put the more aggressive in last.

 

[starles]

k, thanks guys

 

[sdergar]

Because I had mostly cured LR, some stuff would die, the ammonia spike really wasn't all that high. I waited until the shrimp was completely disintegrated and then started to add CUC and eventually the fish I had in QT. Test every day or every other day. You'll see a rise in each of the ammonia, nitrite and last nitrate. Then comes an algae bloom.

Steve

 

[starles]

ok, so the shrimp was in there for 3 days before i removed it, the test results from that time was about the same as above. I then let cycle for 20hrs, and put a small damsel and four small hermit crabs in, to continue the cycle. now 24hrs hrs later i tested again, and the readings are showing 0 for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. also when i put the first and crabs in yesterday i over feed a little. not sure if the levels being at 0 is a good thing at this point? I think because i had the tank running with 15 lbs of LR and 50lbs of live sand, that it had already begun the cycle before i added the additional 25 lbs of LR. Thats why it didnt spike as much as i thought? does that make sense? any advise on whats next and how to know if there is enough bacteria in there?

 

[sdergar]

I would wait longer than you have. You want the cycle to FULLY complete before you subject the livestock to "crappy" conditions. My raw shrimp was in there for three weeks. I then gave it another week and a few days before the first of the CUC went in.

 

[mr_X]

did i miss what size tank this was? so you have 40 pounds of live rock. if this tank is somewhat large, you might not be able to see a spike as easily as ...say, 40 pounds of live rock in a 40 gallon tank.

 

[starles]

its a 55g tank

 

[starles]

If i went to fast, will the CUC still finish the cycle? What would you suggest to correct the situation?

 

[mr_X]

well, that's not as big as i was expecting. you should be seeing something. did you check your test kit against another? try taking some water to the LFS and let them test it.

no, a bunch of crabs and snails doesn't help with a cycle at all. you need to build a bacteria colony to support what livestock is going to be added soon. this is done by using an ammonia source.

 

[starles]

so the levels posted a page back arnt high enough to know, the live rock was in there for a few weeks before the shrimp?

 

[mr_X]

i don't see any levels posted.

 

[Greenmaster]

If his tank is converting it faster then it's being produced then he won't see any levels... How deep is your sand?

 

[starles]

Sand bed is about 3 TO 4 inches. and sorry the levels were in another thread.

ammonia .5 ppm
ph 8.0
nitirite .75ppm
nitrate 10. ppm
These were the levels 24 hrs before i removed the shrimp. When i removed it, they were about the same if not a little bit lower.

They are now a 0 all around, and the PH jumped a little higher?

 

[mr_X]

if the ammonia and nitrite is no longer detectable, i would say you are over the initial cycle and can start slowly adding livestock.

 

[starles]

thanks, im worried about the cycle, even though the levels above are as high as they ever got? Is there a way to know for sure the tank is cycling? Would adding a shrimp for a couple more days help it along? or bad idea? I do have the one fish and 4 little crabs? Don't want to hurt them?

 

[mr_X]

how long has it been since you added the LR?

 

[starles]

3 1/2 weeks now

 

[mr_X]

i think you are good to go. just take your time stocking it.