First water test results - Cycling with Live Rock and Sand

[thakki]

I started my tank with live rock and sand 6 days back and did my first water test today. Here are the results:

pH - 8
Ammonia - 0.5 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm

Didn't see any sign of Nitrites! No sign of algae...I do see traces of light brown powder all over the sand...is it the diatoms? Not sure if the cycle has started or complete. I didn't add any ammonia to start the cycling process...should I add now? Any suggestions?

[Xavibear]

Your cycle has started, now the waiting game begins.

[thegrun]

The nitrates are likely leaching out from your live rock. The ammonia indicates you are starting the cycle.

[Mcgeezer]

ammonia levels will rise and then drop as nitrite begins to develop and consume the ammoinia

nitrite will then drop as it is consumed by the nitrate

nitrate will then dissapate, and then youre cycled

[thakki]

Should I add a raw shrimp to speed up the process? or just wait.

[Hexacorallia]

just wait you have already started the process. nothing other then dosing a carbon source will speed the process. waiting is the best way if its your first time.

[thakki]

Thanks for all the responses. I have HOB protein skimmer running on my 75 gallon tank while its cycling...just read somewhere that we should not use skimmer while cycling...is that right?

[Xavibear]

You don't need the skimmer while cycling.

[thakki]

So I tested the water in my tank yesterday night...still the same results...even after two days. I shutdown the skimmer last night and planning to add a raw shrimp into the tank hoping that it would spike up the ammonia level and speed up the process. Any suggestions?

[Lucky Lefty]

Main suggestion, as many others have and will say, is patience. just let the tank do its thing and continually check your parameters. The nitrite part of the cycle will be very quick compared to everything else. When your ammonia test reads 0, and nothing above it, and your nitrates are up, id guess and say about 20-40ppm, your cycle may be complete and its time to do a water change and add some livestock.
Most of us, myself included, waited weeks and weeks to let the cycle go through its natural process.

I think my tank "cycled" for about 6 weeks before i felt comfortable adding anything.

If you cannot resist though, I dont think the raw shrimp will hurt. I put a raw shrimp in my tanks after it was cycling for a couple of weeks, due to false reading from an expired test kit.
My advice of you do get the shrimp, put it in CLEAN stocking and tie it closed. Much easier to remove afterwards.

[ReefPony]

I'm not experienced enough to make a recommendation about this but I am curious as to why nobody ever suggests using any of the "bacteria in a bottle" products from some of the well known companies in the industry.

From a lot of the info out there it seems like these products work so the adolescent in me that never outgrew the phase of constantly asking "Why?" wonders why most on aquarium forums don't suggest that people use them?

[ardsman]

I am even less experienced than you! but from sneaking around these forums the one thing that always stands out is...patience! I think a lot of people believe that nature should take it's course because Mother Nature knows best.

[ReefPony]

I tend to be someone that challenges convention so part of me does wonder if the suggestions to just add ammonia and watch an empty tank for a month or so isn't a little bit of the old "that's how it has always been done!"

I cycled my tank the "traditional" way and it worked but when I see positive reviews of products like Dr. Tim's, I do wonder why it is that people aren't steered in that direction on these forums... Is it just doing things the way they've always been done or are there serious problems with these products (10 foot eunice worm in every bottle?).

[rccub23]

Originally Posted by ReefPony

I tend to be someone that challenges convention so part of me does wonder if the suggestions to just add ammonia and watch an empty tank for a month or so isn't a little bit of the old "that's how it has always been done!"

I cycled my tank the "traditional" way and it worked but when I see positive reviews of products like Dr. Tim's, I do wonder why it is that people aren't steered in that direction on these forums... Is it just doing things the way they've always been done or are there serious problems with these products (10 foot eunice worm in every bottle?).

it has nothing to do with "challenging convention". when most tell you to let the tank cycle on its own, its because it is the best way. the bacteria in a bottle, is kind of like when your automobile needs repair, and you buy some type of additive in a bottle. we used to call this "mechanic in a bottle" may work, but most times not. "hurry nothing" was the best advice I ever received concerning this hobby. then again, this is just my opinion, and probably isn't worth much.

[ReefPony]

Originally Posted by rccub23

it has nothing to do with "challenging convention". when most tell you to let the tank cycle on its own, its because it is the best way. the bacteria in a bottle, is kind of like when your automobile needs repair, and you buy some type of additive in a bottle. we used to call this "mechanic in a bottle" may work, but most times not. "hurry nothing" was the best advice I ever received concerning this hobby. then again, this is just my opinion, and probably isn't worth much.

Here comes the inevitable: Why is it better?

[thakki]

I tested water yesterday night...its been more than 12 days now that I started cycling...still the same result as I started initially. 5 ppm of Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 10 ppm of Nitrates. I see lot of web between the rock...my rock came with lot of tubes...I think the tube worms made them...I also see lot of brown substance on the sand all over the tank...last Friday, I put some fish food hoping to speed up the cycle...but didn't seem like it did anything. The guy who sold the rock to me said, I can replace 20% of water in 2 weeks and can introduce the fish...he said he never tested his water in his 10+years of reefing experience...anyway...I don't want to do that but going back to cycling using live rock...shouldnt the cycle in my case be shorter?

[Carlosroach]

Does cycling with already cured/cycled rock reduce the amount of time a tank cycles for?

[wolfblue]

Originally Posted by thakki

The guy who sold the rock to me said, I can replace 20% of water in 2 weeks and can introduce the fish...he said he never tested his water in his 10+years of reefing experience...

If your going to listen to him and not have some patience your going to need lots of money. The rock would have some bacteria, but some would die off from being moved and this and that. You need more bacteria and it only grows so fast. If you can get live bacteria you can speed it up considerably. The only one I would trust is Fritzzyme 900. In a refrigerator its supposed to last up to 3 months.

If your going full blown reef though, this is not the last time you will need some patience.

[Lucky Lefty]

The live rock is what started your cycle. If I understand correctly, the die off from the transport and introduction of the rock to your tank is what has generated the ammonia. Basically the die off and bacteria on the rock, is equal to adding a shrimp or fish food.
The part of cycle you are in now is waiting for the bacteria to convert the ammonia to nitrite and then convert to nitrates, boosting your level of nitrates and achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite.
The introduction of uneaten fish food and/or raw shrimp is just introducing more ammonia.

Give the tank some time. Think week(s) instead of day(s) with just about everything in this hobby.

[Brinkfish312]

We just set up our tank also, and starting with 0 ammonia, we added the shrimp 2 days after the water. We have a 75g, used dry rock, and dry sand (except 1 20lb bag of live sand mixed in) after adding the shrimp yesterday and testing this evening our ammonia is now at 2. How high should we expect it to get on an average before it starts declining from the nitrates increasing? Or does the level differ for everyone?

[firemountain]

I used Dr. Tim's with some love rock and sand. My tank cycled within 2 weeks. I didn't do the raw shrimp method, I was told that you are just adding organics to the tank that aren't necessary.

Either way...the Dr. Tims's nitrifying bacteria is kept refrigerated as well. It's a great way to do a fishless cycle. Just remove your filter sock and turn off the skimmer for 48 hours.

[thakki]

Okay…so here I am 3+ weeks into the cycle…still not a huge spike in Nitrates. Here are the latest numbers.

pH - 8
Ammonia - 0.5 ppm
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 10-20 ppm

These result are same as when I tested after a week of cycling…After my first test…I stopped my skimmer as suggested by few people on this forum…added fish food to spike up the ammonia…still same results…added 3 raw shrimp last Thursday and still the same results. This morning when I tested…I saw more Nitrates…thats about it…having started my cycle with live rock and sand…don't understand why its taking so long for the cycle to complete…started doubting the test kit I am using…API Saltwater kit…any suggestions?

[inetmug]

are the shrimp becoming clear and gelatous?

[acabgd]

You rushed things a bit and added Dr. Tim's hoping it would be enough for your cycle. As you can see now, it' s not enough. Patience is your friend.

[thakki]

Originally Posted by inetmug

are the shrimp becoming clear and gelatous?

I didn't notice them becoming clear or gelatous as I wrapped them in a cotton muslin cloth…all I could see is that the white cloth became dark brown…and shrimp appears to be some what clear.