Still no traces of Ammonia, Nitrites or Nitrates

[sixtyin3]

Over 2 weeks my tank (JBJ NC28) has been up and running. I started with RO\DI water, 25lbs of CaribSea live sand, 25lbs of base rock and 7-8lbs of good cured live rock from the LFS. I transported the rock home in a plastic bag with no water, sure to get some die off since it was out of water for 90 minutes or so. Nope, nothing, notta.

 

Against my better judgement, I got anxious and added a pair of baby Clowns to the tank after I saw no traces of Ammonia, Nitrites or Nitrates for 2 days. I let them be for a 4-5 days, still nothing showing up. I was beginning to get a little worried, no cycle showing up on the test kits. So I pushed my luck a little bit more, added a cleaner shrimp and 2 days later a Porcelain crab. Waited a few more days, checking the water every day, nothing was showing up! The diatoms and and algae bloom started around day 10.

 

I got in touch with John @ Reef Cleaners (GREAT service with that place!) and ordered what I thought was a small CUC at the time. In between ordering and arrival of the CUC, I did a 5 gal water change (roughly 20%) just to be on the safe side. Then the CUC arrived. What John sent was an army. I got a ton of snails, in fact probably way too way. They went right to work on the algae. So now it been over 2 weeks, the tank has live stock still haven't seen any Ammonia, Nitrite or Nitrates. I added a pair of Firefish today. I'll be watching the water like a hawk, buckets ready to change it out if things change for the worst. So far, knock on wood, I haven't lost anything and my param's are still all 0.

 

What's the deal? No cycle from the CaribSea live sand and small amount of LR? I didn't even see a spike when the rock went back into the water after being out for 90 minutes. I am going to slow it down big time on adding things (probably 1 or 2 more fish going in total anyway), I have already pushed my luck big time I think.

 

Thanks,

Steve

[Enigma]

What tests are you using?

 

It may just be that ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate just never got high enough to register on the tests. Having a diatom bloom is an indication that your tank has cycled.

[sixtyin3]

I am using API kits, I'd have to order Salifert. I don't think anyone stocks them. I may get Salifert for Calc and Mag as I plan on getting some coral down the road.

[Enigma]

Your nitrate may never get high enough to show up on the API test kits. The first colour change for the ELOS nitrate test is at 1. I have had results on the API ammonia and nitrite.

 

Maybe you just got lucky.

[tviquez10]

I keep waking up these old threads🤣 But I'm trying not to create the same threads.lol Anywho, same happened with me, I think I skipped a cycle 🤞

With my first ever tank 9 years ago I'll be honest, I added Biospira from IO, live sand, wet live rock and added my clown. Never checked anything. I have read through so many articles since then because I want to finally get my corals started and got a bigger tank. I decided to test this time after adding a bacteria start. It's a 40 gallon AIO cube with 40lb live sand(I really really wanted a goby so deep sandbed was a must) and 40lb "life" rock with a large piece of live rock encrusted with coralline from my established 20 gallon. I also used 3 gallons of waste water from changing out water in my established and squeezed out the foam from it into the water column. By day 4 with lights on a cycle, I noticed diatoms, tested and everything was at 0. After 6 days, I used a bacteria start. I used microbacter. After reading the directions, I realized I was supposed to add fish at the same time as it, oops. Diatoms even more now. Everything still 0🤨 Well, I guess I'll add more bacteria starter and go get some fish. Added a Pajama cardinal and some coral. Shortly after, ended up having to add the goby I put in my established tank to the new 40 because my dottyback decided to be a bully when he had been so nice to the other new fish I had added after him. Then had to add my giant peppermint shrimp over too because they wanted to eat the Rock Flower anemone. That one was an impulse buy and I really didn't think it would be a problem. Yesterday was day 9 after start up,  levels are all still 0 with lots and lots of diatoms. Just as a precaution I got Biospira and added all of it. I hope it was ok to introduce all of that bacteria😬

It took 3 days for the goby to finally eat some frozen but he hasn't seemed interested in all of the diatoms on the sand. I ordered chaeto and live copepods because I plan on setting up a mini refugium in the back of my AIO. I really want my goby to thrive. I'm hoping I'll get them to reproduce so I can add in my other tank as well. Everyone is doing wonderful, the coral look great even after decreasing the white spectrum to help with the diatoms. So, did I pretty much skip a cycle because of seeding it with so much? I haven't done a water change yet but plan on it Wednesday which would be almost two weeks after initial start up.

 

[mcarroll]

On 1/10/2022 at 7:40 AM, tviquez10 said:

I keep waking up these old threads🤣

There's nothing wrong with this – nobody gets hurt 😉 – but you'll get better resonses in your own thread.  

(EDIT:  You have better editing capabilities on your own thread.)

 

Not to mention that your post and replies here are going to be "lost to history" a soon as folks stop posting here.  There's really no good reason to zombie a thread.

 

If you open your own thread, you can post a link here and tag me (@mcarroll) in the comment (if you want) after you open it.

[tviquez10]

@mcarroll That really does make sense, thank you!

 

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/422719-did-seeding-my-new-tank-from-my-old-make-it-skip-a-cycle/