What's up with my cycle?

[Zer0]

So, I'm not really sure, but I think my cycle might be done. It started about 2 or 3 weeks ago, not positive on the exact date lol.

 

Anyways, here's the thing, I didn't see any nitrites, and now, my ammonia tests zero and so do my nitrites. Nitrates on the color card look to be above 0ppm, but I'm not sure. What I am trying to get at is, my ammonia went up to 1ppm, I used the shrimp method, and then 2 or 3 weeks later, with testing in between, I'm reading 0ppm for everything except the nitrates which are around 5ppm.

 

ALSO, my sump, is REALLY green. The rocks in the display are also kindof green, but the lights in the DT are only on for 7 hours, unlike the sump light which is on 24/7. Is the fact that there is algae growing rapidly in my sump an indication that my cycle is complete? Can I add some fish now? I don't think I can get a CUC yet because there's virtually zero algae in the display.

 

What do I do guys?

[kgoldy]

So, I'm not really sure, but I think my cycle might be done. It started about 2 or 3 weeks ago, not positive on the exact date lol.

 

Anyways, here's the thing, I didn't see any nitrites, and now, my ammonia tests zero and so do my nitrites. Nitrates on the color card look to be above 0ppm, but I'm not sure. What I am trying to get at is, my ammonia went up to 1ppm, I used the shrimp method, and then 2 or 3 weeks later, with testing in between, I'm reading 0ppm for everything except the nitrates which are around 5ppm.

 

ALSO, my sump, is REALLY green. The rocks in the display are also kindof green, but the lights in the DT are only on for 7 hours, unlike the sump light which is on 24/7. Is the fact that there is algae growing rapidly in my sump an indication that my cycle is complete? Can I add some fish now? I don't think I can get a CUC yet because there's virtually zero algae in the display.

 

What do I do guys?

 

I feel like you must be trolling to have that many posts and still ask this... haha. I'll bite anyway.

 

Green in the sump is what, hair algae? Any algae means your nitrates and phosphates are being eaten up. f you did the shrimp method and are testing zeroes, either your cycle is complete, or your test kits are no good.

 

Wait til you have algae in your DT to get a CUC. For now, start slowly stocking with hardy fish.

[ajayjack]

I feel like you must be trolling to have that many posts and still ask this... haha. I'll bite anyway.

 

Green in the sump is what, hair algae? Any algae means your nitrates and phosphates are being eaten up. f you did the shrimp method and are testing zeroes, either your cycle is complete, or your test kits are no good.

 

Wait til you have algae in your DT to get a CUC. For now, start slowly stocking with hardy fish.

 

I would wait on stocking any fish. cleanup crew before fish and cleanup crew now would probably be fine.

[sfnt125]

We're you testing everyday? What kind of rock/sand did you use?

 

Cycle that fast is definately possible. Maybe you missed spikes or they were really low-dependent upon rock, sand etc.

 

IMO your sump should be on opposite photoperiod as DT. You might consider increasing DT photoperiod from 7hrs to possibly 12. Then you could have sump light turn on 1 hour or two before DT kicks off and turn off 1-2hrs after DT kicks on. Overlapping photo periods will add much balance to the system and prevent parameter swings.

 

Your tank is new so you could do this right away. If you had livestock I'd say make these adjustments over the period of a few weeks to a month though. Big/fast changes are bad in nanos.

 

You can get a CUC but you won't need a large one if you keep everything nice and slow. I believe the rule of thumb is 1 crab per 4-5 gallons. As far as snails go, you want sand stirrers (nassarius, ceriths, etc.) and window lickers, (astreas, trochus, etc.), I believe that is 1 per 2 gal. FWIW, I wanted to order from John at Reef Cleaners but I decided not to as there wasn't a huge amount out algae/diatoms in my tank and the 3 hermits/5 snails crushed my algael 'problem' in 1 day. Note:I already had algae on some of the live rock I purchased off a local reefer. Think I hit everything. I'll check back. Getting late here.

[Zer0]

lol I'm going to get some fish tomorrow or the day after. I didn't really keep up with checking my params. Once the ammonia hit 1ppm on my test kit, I just let it do its thing. I might have missed a spike.

 

Anyways, I've cycled a bunch of fish tanks but somehow they are all different. This one just suprised me a little that's all.. but come to think of it.. last time my tank finish cycling, the sump turned the same kind of green that it is now so I guess I should have remembered that.

 

It's not hair algae, it's just a film of green algae that's covering mostly everything. Also, I find that keeping the sump light on 24/7 actually keeps the tank more in balance then off and on. Melev did a study on 24/7 sump light periods and also with having them switching and saw that they provided no difference in water chemistry aside from the pH balance, with the 24/7 method keeping the pH more in balance then the off and on, so I think I will stick to my 24/7 method.

[Xanthi]

lol I'm going to get some fish tomorrow or the day after. I didn't really keep up with checking my params. Once the ammonia hit 1ppm on my test kit, I just let it do its thing. I might have missed a spike.

 

Anyways, I've cycled a bunch of fish tanks but somehow they are all different. This one just suprised me a little that's all.. but come to think of it.. last time my tank finish cycling, the sump turned the same kind of green that it is now so I guess I should have remembered that.

 

It's not hair algae, it's just a film of green algae that's covering mostly everything. Also, I find that keeping the sump light on 24/7 actually keeps the tank more in balance then off and on. Melev did a study on 24/7 sump light periods and also with having them switching and saw that they provided no difference in water chemistry aside from the pH balance, with the 24/7 method keeping the pH more in balance then the off and on, so I think I will stick to my 24/7 method.

 

You've cycled a bunch of tanks??....go figure....

[Zer0]

You've cycled a bunch of tanks??....go figure....

 

What does that even mean? Go figure what?

[albertthiel]

What does that even mean? Go figure what?

Means you must test and determine that the tank is READY to receive animals in it.

 

If you do not test how do you know that your tank is cycled?

 

TEST ....

[Zer0]

Means you must test and determine that the tank is READY to receive animals in it.

 

If you do not test how do you know that your tank is cycled?

 

TEST ....

 

 

I already did....

 

What are you people on nowadays? Jeeze..