2 weeks into cycle need help

[PHILYD1]

I am 2 weeks into cycle 40g with 60lbs live rock 30lb live crushed coral

P.H 8.4
NITRITE.05
NITRATE7.0
AMO .25
ALK 2.9

I THINK THEY LOOK GOOD FOR 2 WEEKS BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ANY INPUT WOULD HELP

[stormrider27]

Are sure your Alk is correct? That is an awfully low number for your PH reading.

[sedor]

Probably means 2.9 meq/l which would be about 8 dkh.

Your levels look good, give it another couple weeks until you don't see any ammonia, or nitrite and then do a WC to get rid of some of those nitrates and you can add your first fish and the start of your CUC. Patience is a virtue

[PHILYD1]

I have 4 damsels in there already lfs told me to start with them

[tahoe61]

Originally Posted by PHILYD1

I have 4 damsels in there already lfs told me to start with them

Hi nice start, you are definitely cycling. I myself would take the 4 damsels back to your LFS, this was bad advice given by the LFS. You do not need live fish to cycle a tank. Damsels are pretty, but a pain, they get very aggressive and are hard to catch if you have alot of LR. What are your long term plans for this tank?

[PHILYD1]

I got problems with dams already one killed another and they are all nasty ****z

[PHILYD1]

I plan on a some what of reef i am very new so learning slowly

[tahoe61]

Originally Posted by PHILYD1

I got problems with dams already one killed another and they are all nasty ****z

Do you know what you want to eventually keep in this tank? Corals,inverts or just fish. Yes damsels are nasty*****z, LFS will sell you anything and everything. What type of tank do you have? Please include lighting and filtration. You will find alot of help here and advice, it's fun starting a new tank, but.
Slow is always good when it comes to SW, and if your goal is a reef tank than I would definitely get rid of the damsels.

[bertoni]

Moved to New to the Hobby for more views.

Those numbers seem reasonable, and I'd find a better LFS.

You might want to remove the crushed coral. It becomes a mess quickly because it traps debris.

[Michael]

the ph is fine, in fact most here would kill for that level, all other params at this stage seem ok as well,definately get the damsels out, and if you added live rock to the tank then id also do a small water change now to preseve any life on it, if it wasnt cured then just keep going as sedor mentioned.

[-Pixie-]

All i can say is that is typical of a bad LFS, lose the damsels they will only cause pain and heartache. Just remeber that the LFS wants to make money, usually resulting in giving bad advice for you to spend more money. If you are adamant on having something in there while cycling try a small school of blue/green chromis

[BASA]

Originally Posted by PHILYD1

I am 2 weeks into cycle 40g with 60lbs live rock 30lb live crushed coral

P.H 8.4
NITRITE.05
NITRATE7.0
AMO .25
ALK 2.9

I THINK THEY LOOK GOOD FOR 2 WEEKS BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ANY INPUT WOULD HELP

Hey P.. Looks liek we started cycling our tanks at about the same time, Saturday will be the start of week 3 for me. I am only able to test AMO right now, im still waiting on my other test kits to arrive. Since about day 5 my AMO has been at .25 Its reassuring to see your parameters because I thought it was strange for the AMO to stay at .25 for so long, I though it would change a little in almost 2 weeks. I cant wait for the other kits to arrive so i can test the other params.

What test kit(s) are you using?

[wooden_reefer]

Originally Posted by PHILYD1

I have 4 damsels in there already lfs told me to start with them

4 damsels to cycle a 40 gal is marginal at best. Unless they are all rather large and they all die so that their remains decay to give enough ammonia.
Hate to sound callous.

You should have measured and maintained the ammonia level if you are cycling with recently collected LR. Either add a source of ammonia OR do water change to get ammonia to be a good fraction of or up to about 1 ppm for the first half of the cycle.

The use of ammonia from excretion of fish to cycle so as to process excretion from fish later after a cycle is quite illogical, if you start to think about it. The conclusion can only be that some fish are not the same as others (true) , and some fish will excrete enormous amount of ammonia disproportionate to their size (false).

Do not use ammonia from excretion from fish to cycle; it is illogical; use an added source of ammonia if necessary, if ammonia from decay from dieoff of the rock is not enough.

I never use recently collected LR to cycle.

[reefienick]

I am going to be setting up a 75 gallon in a few months. How would you suggest cycling a tank. I was planning on buying dead sand and rock and buy smaller amounts of live sand and rock (online most likely). Do I just get all that and set up the tank and let it cycle from that??

I also am going to try to get some water from my brother who is 2 hours away and put it into the tank to help start the cycle. Is this smart or not??

This thread is very helpfull. Hope my numbers will look that good after 2 weeks.

[terri_ann]

Originally Posted by reefienick

I am going to be setting up a 75 gallon in a few months. How would you suggest cycling a tank. I was planning on buying dead sand and rock and buy smaller amounts of live sand and rock (online most likely). Do I just get all that and set up the tank and let it cycle from that??

I also am going to try to get some water from my brother who is 2 hours away and put it into the tank to help start the cycle. Is this smart or not??

This thread is very helpfull. Hope my numbers will look that good after 2 weeks.

Using dry sand and rock is a good way to start. After you have your SW ready, just throw in a small piece of shrimp. When you see your ammonia begins to rise, remove the shrimp. You will be on your way I do not understand why you want to get water from your brother? If he has a SW tank, you could get a cup or so of his sand to seed yours. The bacteria and any critters you may want will be in the sand and on rocks, not really anything in the water column. Good luck

[BASA]

Originally Posted by reefienick

I am going to be setting up a 75 gallon in a few months. How would you suggest cycling a tank. I was planning on buying dead sand and rock and buy smaller amounts of live sand and rock (online most likely). Do I just get all that and set up the tank and let it cycle from that?? .

Thats what I did, I bought mostly "dead" rock and sand and set up my tank with it. Once I had it filled with water I went out to a LFS that bough a couple pieces of LR a bag of LS and 2 Damsels and threw them all in there at the same time. I put the Dams in the sump so I can easily get them out. Saved me a LOT of money doing it that way!
Ive been doing a little more reading on the fish vs dead shrimp to help cycle a tank and am beginning to think I should have gone with the shrimp.. only because it seems to make more sense to me that dead shrimp will produce more ammonia that fish poop.

Originally Posted by reefienick

I also am going to try to get some water from my brother who is 2 hours away and put it into the tank to help start the cycle. Is this smart or not??.

From the things Ive read on this subject Ive come to the conclusion that doing this is not nessary because the majority of the benifical bacteria live in the sand and/or on the rock not so much as in the water column. Jsut make ur own and save yourself a 4 hour drive and a few buck on buying gas.

On a side not I tested some of my water Params... here are the results
12/12/10
Ammo .25ppm

12/14/10
Ph 8.1
Ammo 1.0ppm
Nitrate somewhere between 5 and 10 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm

[Jstdv8]

mechanical filters are also a great spot to get some nice bacteria from your brothers tank. keep it wet and let it seed your tank with bacterial goodness

[reefienick]

Thanks for the info. Got to love reef central and all the people who are willing to help!!!!

I have never thought about the shrimp idea. But I also like the damsels in the sump.

Good info on the water. I thought that would help cycle the tank due to having bacteria in it. But I may see if I can get some extra live sand from him!!!

One more question about what I have read about the live rock that is put into the tank. I have read that the tank should be empty (no sand) with the live rock due to what could die off it or is already dead on it. Should I consider this. Or stick it in the sump for the first week or two to let everything die that is going to die and then move to my desplay tank? That way I can vacume it out easier.

[drillsar]

I dont know if anyone told ya but get rid of crushed coral, get Dry aragonite sand instead. Crushed coral will give you problems in future