cycling?

linz13 · 07/15/2008, 02:48 PM

hey guys! ok so i recently got a 55 gallon fish tank for my birthday! i had a 13 gallon with live rock and live sand in it and two percula clown fish, and i just set up the 55 gallon a few days ago. i have about 50 pounds of live rock in the 55 gallon now and around 60 pounds of live sand, but i just wanted to know around how long it should take to cycle if all i have is the sand and rocks in it? i used about ten pounds of rock from the other 13 gallon tank, and a few scoops of the old sand.

Thanks!

griss · 07/15/2008, 02:53 PM

It depends on the quality of the live rock you purchased and if it was already cured or "raw." It also depends on your filtration. The only way to really tell is to continue to monitor your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. And, of course, keep an eye on your other water parameters.

IslandCrow · 07/15/2008, 02:57 PM

No one's going to be able to give you an exact answer to that. It depends on too many factors. When I set up my 46g, I had cured rock, and it really didn't go through your conventional cycle, in that there was never an ammonia spike. Either get a good test kit or have your LFS test your water (many will test for free to get you in the store). If you do the latter, have them show you how they do the test and explain the exact readings they're getting. I'd wait a minimum of 3-4 weeks before adding anything, but after that time, as long as you can't detect any ammonia, start off with your clean-up crew and off you go. You also shouldn't have any detectible nitrite and your nitrates should be reasonable (<50 ppm). I know you're not completely new at this, so hopefully I didn't insult your intelligence too much, but I'm afraid that's really the only answer I could give to your question.

linz13 · 07/15/2008, 03:18 PM

thanks guys! i appreciate that... no you didnt insult me lol any information is always good! all the rock is cured, and i have an aquaclear power filter that has all three forms of filtration built into it (the chemical, mechanical, and biological). it filters 500 gallons per hour, but i will still wait around 4 weeks and monitor the levels just to be sure everything is all set

thanks for the help! im sure ill be talking to you guys some more about my setup and stuff when i start putting things in it!

07/15/2008, 02:48 PM	#1
linz13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 124	cycling? hey guys! ok so i recently got a 55 gallon fish tank for my birthday! i had a 13 gallon with live rock and live sand in it and two percula clown fish, and i just set up the 55 gallon a few days ago. i have about 50 pounds of live rock in the 55 gallon now and around 60 pounds of live sand, but i just wanted to know around how long it should take to cycle if all i have is the sand and rocks in it? i used about ten pounds of rock from the other 13 gallon tank, and a few scoops of the old sand. Thanks!

07/15/2008, 02:53 PM	#2
griss RC Mod Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: In The Jungle (Wildwood, MO) Posts: 29,214	It depends on the quality of the live rock you purchased and if it was already cured or "raw." It also depends on your filtration. The only way to really tell is to continue to monitor your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. And, of course, keep an eye on your other water parameters. __________________ George Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

07/15/2008, 02:57 PM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	No one's going to be able to give you an exact answer to that. It depends on too many factors. When I set up my 46g, I had cured rock, and it really didn't go through your conventional cycle, in that there was never an ammonia spike. Either get a good test kit or have your LFS test your water (many will test for free to get you in the store). If you do the latter, have them show you how they do the test and explain the exact readings they're getting. I'd wait a minimum of 3-4 weeks before adding anything, but after that time, as long as you can't detect any ammonia, start off with your clean-up crew and off you go. You also shouldn't have any detectible nitrite and your nitrates should be reasonable (<50 ppm). I know you're not completely new at this, so hopefully I didn't insult your intelligence too much, but I'm afraid that's really the only answer I could give to your question. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/15/2008, 03:18 PM	#4
linz13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 124	thanks guys! i appreciate that... no you didnt insult me lol any information is always good! all the rock is cured, and i have an aquaclear power filter that has all three forms of filtration built into it (the chemical, mechanical, and biological). it filters 500 gallons per hour, but i will still wait around 4 weeks and monitor the levels just to be sure everything is all set thanks for the help! im sure ill be talking to you guys some more about my setup and stuff when i start putting things in it!