New tank not cycling yet

[Jasong]

Last weekend I set up a new 24g Aquapod. I used 20 pounds of "Agri-live" sand and 35 pounds of cured live rock (I hand picked it from a local enthusiast's tank). I have been running the tank for 4 days and everything is going well. What is strange is that I am not getting any reading for Ammonia for the last 3 days. Today, I tested the tank for Nitrate for the first time, and it came up 0 as well.

 

2 days ago I got ancy and added a small piece of raw scallop to the tank. That hasn't changed my parameters.

 

Will my tank eventually cycle, or by using cured rock will a cycle be avoided?

 

 

SG 1.0245

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0

temp 80

 

Stock PC lighting (64 watts)

 

Thank

 

Jason

[UncleLuke]

So, your asking if we think you tank is cycled and stable after 4 days?

[Pickle010]

Wait...

 

You set up the tank 4 days ago and it only took you 2 days to get ancy?

 

Hate to see what you do in 2 weeks when that tank is still cycling.

 

Patience young Padiwan - and stop trying to rush it... nothing good comes out of rushing anything in this hobby.

[Greenstar]

Your doing just fine, once the scallops start to decompose you should kick start a cycle. I don't even test till like 2 weeks in, just assume it doing its thing.

[lakshwadeep]

You probably didn't have a cycle because the rock was cured and from a local source, and you might try to remove the scallop because you're only making the cycle longer. I did this with my current live rock, where I even put my shrimpgoby/pistol shrimp from the old tank setup on the same day.

[revaltion131]

^ What he said.

[Jasong]

My tank is now in its 8th day with rock and sand. All I have done is top it off and scraped glass when needed. Lights are running on a normal schedule, etc.

 

I just tested the water, and I am still coming up very clean. ammonia, nitrites, nitrates are all 0. pH seems a touch low at 7.8, but it is morning. Salinity is consistently 1.0245.

 

I have gotten some hair algae but nothing out of control.

 

What surprises me if the nitrate number. I read tons online and that sounds unusual for a new tank. I guess I am following what lakshwadeep posted.

 

Should I do my first water change and add some CUC? I had planned on waiting until next weekend, but it seems like I have cycled.

 

thanks

[reefone]

since u got the rock from someones tank u probably wont haver much if any cycle. if u want throw some fish food in the tank and wait a couple days and test. if no ammonia ur good to add a cuc.

[RGC]

I have the same tank. I added 10lbs live sand and 31lbs of cured liverock. The next day I got a very small ammonia spike. Since then nothing. It's been 3 weeks and I have the CUC , a peppermint shrimp, emerald crab, a small damsel and a pair of false percula clowns.I just tested my water again today and still everything 0am, 0nitrite & 0 nitrate. I did a 4G water change on friday , but my reading were the same before the water change. I also run a chaeto Refug in the first chamber that is back lit by a 27w 65K PC fixture. You may not see any cycle

[davidericlowry]

Sometimes if you get really good quality liverock that has already been cured, the cycle wont really happen. Remember though that as you add livestock the tank will go through a small cycle (so keep measuring). Also, make sure that your test kit isn't expired and that you are getting accurate readings. A good option at this point would be to add some crabs and snails. And then test. Hey, best of luck with your new tank.

[supreme_spork]

Should I do my first water change and add some CUC? I had planned on waiting until next weekend, but it seems like I have cycled.

 

thanks

 

 

No, you should wait another week even if you don't think you need to and demonstrate the patience required to be successful in the hobby. ;-)

[2xgrandchampion]

No, you should wait another week even if you don't think you need to and demonstrate the patience required to be successful in the hobby. ;-)

+1