Will my tank cycle?

[PlaneReefer]

I'm using about 50# of live rock and about 30# of live sand, both from an established tank of 3 years. I transported both the Rock and sand submerged and then rinsed the rock in RO and the sand in tap water. I added 40# of carrib-alive pink Fiji.

I'm about 16 days into the cycle and all my levels are 0, salinity is 1.025 and temp ranges from 75 - 79. Ammonia did hit 1ppm for a day but its back to 0

2 turbo snails, 2 hermits, 2 narsassius snails and 1 conch came with the rock and sand I bought.

I've been feeding a pinch of marine flakes once a day.

Is it possible that my tank is already cycled?

[heathlindner25]

yes I'm pretty sure you are Cycled, start slowly!!

[thegrun]

I would also agree. If you were going to see any die-off it would have already occured, with your current 0 ammonia reading, you are good to go.

[sponger0]

Just try some CUC and wait 2 weeks. While youre waiting get a QT up and running and cycled

[shovelrider]

Yup, your good-to-go. Good job on the fast cycle, it always helps to have donations from an established tank!

[coralsnaked]

Yes you probably had enough dead material in the "live sand" to spike a bit of ammonia, however it was probably only a very small cycle hence only a small amount of nitrifying and de-nitrfying bacteria were grown; because rinsing the established sand in tap water killed any living organism in it, and the only living bacteria from the established tank is from the fifty lbs of live rock. In addition you may have added a lot of unwanted organisms from the tap water unless you drained the sand really well.

I would go very slowly and let the bacterial growth catch up for a while. Let your CUC help establish it with your tiny feedings only.

Merry Skerry

[keithhays]

I missed where you rinsed with tap water so I remove my original comment. Btw, there is now no benefit of having this sand, so I would replace it entirely since it will have been the heaviest sink for phosphate from your old system.

[PlaneReefer]

Originally Posted by sponger0

Just try some CUC and wait 2 weeks. While youre waiting get a QT up and running and cycled

I have a small CUC that came with the rocks and sand I bought, but it looks like it's time for them to get some new tankmates

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

yes I'm pretty sure you are Cycled, start slowly!!

That's the plan. I was going to add a small CUC wait 2 or 3 weeks and then add an anemone and clownfish to host it, wait 2 or 3 weeks..rinse and repeat

Originally Posted by keithhays

I missed where you rinsed with tap water so I remove my original comment. Btw, there is now no benefit of having this sand, so I would replace it entirely since it will have been the heaviest sink for phosphate from your old system.

I never thought about that. That's a good point, I'll have to do some reading on up on the process to replace the old sand.

Thanks again everyone.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally Posted by PlaneReefer

I'm using about 50# of live rock and about 30# of live sand, both from an established tank of 3 years. I transported both the Rock and sand submerged and then rinsed the rock in RO and the sand in tap water. I added 40# of carrib-alive pink Fiji.

I'm about 16 days into the cycle and all my levels are 0, salinity is 1.025 and temp ranges from 75 - 79. Ammonia did hit 1ppm for a day but its back to 0

2 turbo snails, 2 hermits, 2 narsassius snails and 1 conch came with the rock and sand I bought.

I've been feeding a pinch of marine flakes once a day.

Is it possible that my tank is already cycled?

If you are sure about that 1ppm ammonia reading and there is no more ammonia, your tank is cycled at least for moderate bioload.

A DT having cycled is an ordinary event.

If you have interest in fish, QT for fish is what takes more work.The cycling of the medium for QT is actually the more time critical as the starting time line. The cycling of the DT can happen later. This is what I usually do.

[MrTuskfish]

Unless you know the source really well; I wouldn't add any fish until you've had the tank set up at least 10-12 weeks. Its a great way to spread ich, and other parasites. This happens a lot with Craigslist, and similar, sellers stuff.