Confused cycle

[kyle447]

Hey guys I started my 20gal the 19th so just with bunch of base rock I got off someone and 2lbs live rock and 20lbs live sand. Technically I have not done any water changes but due to that fact I had to repair my sump I was forced to let system run off just powerheads for 24hrs while I applied silicone to my sump there fore resulting in adding 10 gal of new saltwater to replace the water I had to drain out of my sump to get it out. Anyways I threw a dead shrimp in a ziplock with some small holes in there overnight to kick start the cycle. I saw ammonia levels spike next morning and took the shrimp out. Week and a half later here are my readings I'm getting ammonia looks like 0 almost to me. Nitrite .25 or less and nitrate 5.0 or less. This seems quick for levels getting low and is confusing me. I don't see any brown algae on my sand bed or anything idk please help

[kyle447]

i know API test kits aren't the most reliable but here is what i got and pics of the rock 2 little pieces were the live rest is base

[Roshan8768]

Just wait it out... the algae will start showing up after your nitrites are completely gone and your nitrates start going up. I wouldn't say that's fast, you're probably a week or so from adding the CUC

[seabass]

When you say base rock, was it dry rock? Was it used in a tank before?

 

If it was dry, there won't be much of a biofilter built up yet (and you'll have to stock very slowly). Again, if it was dry, I'd add a bacteria culture like Dr Tim's One and Only before adding any livestock. If you want to build a stronger biofilter prior to adding livestock, you could add a clean source of ammonia like Dr Tim's Ammonium (making sure that you don't spike ammonia too high at the risk of damaging the beneficial life on the live rock).

 

If the base rock was live, then you are basically good to go. I'd still wait another week to let the bacteria population stabilize, pods to become more established, and nitrite to dissipate.

 

API is fine for a cheap ammonia test kit. And it looks like ammonia is undetectable. But do you have a phosphate kit? Don't use API's phosphate kit as it is a high range kit that tests in 0.25ppm increments; with a target of 0.03ppm, their test kit is worthless for reef tanks. I just question if the rock is phosphate free since you got it "off someone".

[kyle447]

When you say base rock, was it dry rock? Was it used in a tank before?

 

If it was dry, there won't be much of a biofilter built up yet (and you'll have to stock very slowly). Again, if it was dry, I'd add a bacteria culture like Dr Tim's One and Only before adding any livestock. If you want to build a stronger biofilter prior to adding livestock, you could add a clean source of ammonia like Dr Tim's Ammonium (making sure that you don't spike ammonia too high at the risk of damaging the beneficial life on the live rock).

 

If the base rock was live, then you are basically good to go. I'd still wait another week to let the bacteria population stabilize, pods to become more established, and nitrite to dissipate.

 

API is fine for a cheap ammonia test kit. And it looks like ammonia is undetectable. But do you have a phosphate kit? Don't use API's phosphate kit as it is a high range kit that tests in 0.25ppm increments; with a target of 0.03ppm, their test kit is worthless for reef tanks. I just question if the rock is phosphate free since you got it "off someone".

the base rock was dry. not certain but as i remember i believe it was rock that was used in a tank before not certain though all i remember is the guy telling me it was good fiji rock. i do not have a phosphate kit but perhaps my buddy couple streets over has on he has a tank as well ill have to ask him and ill let you know other wise you think i should try to add some ammonia? would this just help show em how fast it process and converts into nitrites then nitrates?

[seabass]

Like I wrote, dry rock won't have established bacteria populations (no biofilter). It will take some time to build it up. You don't have to add ammonia to do that (but you can if you are careful). I'd probably just add a bacteria culture (like Dr Tim's One and Only) before adding livestock, and then add livestock very slowly (to give the bacteria time to spread to, and establish on, the dry rock).

The purpose of adding ammonia to a system, that is mostly made up of dry rock, is to feed the bacteria and help them grow in numbers. This results in a biofilter that is capable of supporting a larger initial bioload. The biofilter will adjust to the bioload, so it will build up as you slowly add livestock (so additional ammonia isn't absolutely required)

Test for phosphate a few days after the rock has been in the tank. If it was exposed to high phosphate levels, it will likely leach phosphate.

[kyle447]

Like I wrote, dry rock won't have established bacteria populations (no biofilter). It will take some time to build it up. You don't have to add ammonia to do that (but you can if you are careful). I'd probably just add a bacteria culture (like Dr Tim's One and Only) before adding livestock, and then add livestock very slowly (to give the bacteria time to spread to, and establish on, the dry rock).

 

The purpose of adding ammonia to a system, that is mostly made up of dry rock, is to feed the bacteria and help them grow in numbers. This results in a biofilter that is capable of supporting a larger initial bioload. The biofilter will adjust to the bioload, so it will build up as you slowly add livestock (so additional ammonia isn't absolutely required)

 

Test for phosphate a few days after the rock has been in the tank. If it was exposed to high phosphate levels, it will likely leach phosphate.

so you think i shoudl just wait like a week or so add CUC. obtain some Dr. Tim's One and Only start using that and then after some more due time add something small like a shrimp to start the slow add of live stock to bulid up the biofilter. (if i am sayin this correct) tank is 2 weeks goin as of today

[seabass]

Yeah, but shrimp are normally more sensitive than fish; so I'd wait a week, add bacteria and a cleanup crew, wait another week and add a fish. If things are still looking good (undetectable ammonia), then I'd continue to slowly add livestock in this manner.

[kyle447]

i appreciate your help thank you.

[kyle447]

so took water sample to store so they could test it instead of my API test kits came back perfect salinity, 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and under 5.0 nitrates. i will be adding clean up crew tomorrow. on the other hand i still haven't seen a sight of brown algae what so ever.

[anizato]

any updates on the tank? What CUC did you end up adding? Add anything else after the CUC?