Is my cycle finished.

tracyclifton · 09/09/2012, 05:48 PM

I don't want to repeat everything about my set up. This is the link to my first post http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2208102. I attached my spreadsheet with all my water testing. I got an additional test kit and have been using both kits each test (different brands). My question is, it has been almost three weeks, and as you can see, no ammonia, no nitrite, and 20 nitrate. Could my cycle be complete? I think the nitrate is actually closer to 10, but both tests are hard to read for me so I leaned to the high side. I have not done any water changes, seems to be 50/50 on this forum whether to or not. How much longer should I go with these test results before I consider it cycled? I am no hurry, but the diatoms and green hair algae are starting to build up and I would like to start a few snails and maybe a crab or two next weekend. As always, thanks in advance.

tracyclifton · 09/09/2012, 07:53 PM

bump

matt880305 · 09/09/2012, 08:06 PM

looking at the chart it looks like it is done but i would give it another week to be safe

worm5406 · 09/09/2012, 08:51 PM

Are you fake feeding it or added anything to decompose (raw shrimp)?

Just wondering where the levels are when something is in there to work on.

hollister · 09/09/2012, 08:58 PM

Nitrates kinda high. Is there powerheads in there?

tracyclifton · 09/09/2012, 09:06 PM

I bought the tank used and moved it. It had the live sand and rock that was in it. I started with fake feeding for a few days. LFS advised me to put in some green chromis the second week. They are doing great I am in the process of adding salt water each day to raise the salinity gradually to 1.024 from where it is now. I have 3 fish that I got with the tank in a separate small tank that are doing great after 3 weeks. I used the water and some live rock from the 180 to move them and set up the small tank.

tracyclifton · 09/09/2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Nitrates kinda high. Is there powerheads in there?

No powerheads, but the flow is really strong with the two returns. The tank was running for 6 years very successfully with the same set up. It had plenty of coralline, corals, and one anemone when I bought it. I am attributing the nitrate level to the fact that I have three fish in it with no water changes yet. However, from reading through countless threads here and elsewhere, I have decided that 20ppm on nitrate is not too high for just fish. My goal is to reduce it to as near zero as possible before anything other than fish are added.

hollister · 09/09/2012, 09:25 PM

Nitrate turns to nitrogen which is expelled at the water surface. This is spend up with good solid constant water flow.

tracyclifton · 09/10/2012, 09:56 AM

My next question. I have a cinnamon clown, a 3 striped clown, and a blue-yellow tail damsel that came with the tank. They are doing well, disease free, in the 14g that I set up to save them. The cinnamon is listed as semi-aggressive, the 3 stripe as aggressive, and the yellow tail as less aggressive. The cinnamon and 3 stripe compete for food and bully the yellow tail. What should I do with them? I plan to have a yellow tang, maybe a blue tang, an ocellaris clown, green chromis, and a variety of snails, crabs, a starfish, and shrimp in the 180g reef. Will the three fish I have be a problem if I add them to the 180g when it is cycled? I don't want them in the 14g any longer than needed. I plan to use the 14g for a nano for my son with just one maroon clownfish and an anemone. Thanks again.

on the spot · 09/10/2012, 05:51 PM

I'd take the three clowns/damsels to your LFS. A little store credit or trade toward a fish you want is better than three mean buggers.

tracyclifton · 09/10/2012, 06:49 PM

I plan to take a drive to the LFS Saturday to check out stuff for my cuc. I will see if they will take them. If not, I guess there is always craigslist.

tracyclifton · 09/10/2012, 06:55 PM

I plan to take a drive to the LFS Saturday to check out stuff for my cuc. I will see if they will take them. If not, I guess there is always craigslist.

09/09/2012, 07:53 PM	#2
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	bump __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

09/09/2012, 09:06 PM	#6
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	I bought the tank used and moved it. It had the live sand and rock that was in it. I started with fake feeding for a few days. LFS advised me to put in some green chromis the second week. They are doing great I am in the process of adding salt water each day to raise the salinity gradually to 1.024 from where it is now. I have 3 fish that I got with the tank in a separate small tank that are doing great after 3 weeks. I used the water and some live rock from the 180 to move them and set up the small tank. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

09/10/2012, 09:56 AM	#9
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	My next question. I have a cinnamon clown, a 3 striped clown, and a blue-yellow tail damsel that came with the tank. They are doing well, disease free, in the 14g that I set up to save them. The cinnamon is listed as semi-aggressive, the 3 stripe as aggressive, and the yellow tail as less aggressive. The cinnamon and 3 stripe compete for food and bully the yellow tail. What should I do with them? I plan to have a yellow tang, maybe a blue tang, an ocellaris clown, green chromis, and a variety of snails, crabs, a starfish, and shrimp in the 180g reef. Will the three fish I have be a problem if I add them to the 180g when it is cycled? I don't want them in the 14g any longer than needed. I plan to use the 14g for a nano for my son with just one maroon clownfish and an anemone. Thanks again. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

09/10/2012, 06:49 PM	#11
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	I plan to take a drive to the LFS Saturday to check out stuff for my cuc. I will see if they will take them. If not, I guess there is always craigslist. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

09/10/2012, 06:55 PM	#12
tracyclifton Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 200	I plan to take a drive to the LFS Saturday to check out stuff for my cuc. I will see if they will take them. If not, I guess there is always craigslist. __________________ Set up on August 20,2012. 180 gallon All Glass 72"x24"x24", drilled from the bottom with dual mega overflows, Current USA Orbit Marine LED, 3 T5HO, Bubble-Magus Curve 7, 35 gallon sump. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

09/09/2012, 08:06 PM	#3
matt880305 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: montgomery, il Posts: 844	looking at the chart it looks like it is done but i would give it another week to be safe

09/09/2012, 08:51 PM	#4
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Are you fake feeding it or added anything to decompose (raw shrimp)? Just wondering where the levels are when something is in there to work on.

09/09/2012, 08:58 PM	#5
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Nitrates kinda high. Is there powerheads in there?

09/09/2012, 09:25 PM	#8
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Nitrate turns to nitrogen which is expelled at the water surface. This is spend up with good solid constant water flow.

09/10/2012, 05:51 PM	#10
on the spot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,010	I'd take the three clowns/damsels to your LFS. A little store credit or trade toward a fish you want is better than three mean buggers.