Effects of LR on the Cycling process

[8965]

I started my 50g tank four days ago with with 40 pds of cured LR. The tank has a raw schrimp in it. I have sen no amonea spikes at all and was wondering if I even will considering all the LR and the sump I have running. The LFS said the cycling process will take 5-7 days with my system. I'm starting to believe him considering the test results I'm getting. What results should I be looking for before i put in my cleaning crew? TIA

 

[electrikat]

You still have to have the amm/nitrite/nitrate cycle in that order. The live rock if it's live should cause some kind of cycling and it will probably take closer to 2 weeks. If you have no cycle then the bacteria aren't getting anything to convert, which I would think means they will not multiply.

 

[indy]

Give it another week or so and check your water daily. If you don't see any rise with a rotting shrimp and you're using a good kit, you can probably consider it pretty well cycled and ok to start adding slowly.