Cycled already???

Martin in China · 04/16/2015, 01:53 AM

I've started my 20 G nano tank 10 days ago with live rock which came from my LFS and had been in a "live rock" tank for weeks, maybe even months, I also added some filter media that I previously had in a filter in a small tank just to get it started.
I've been testing the water the last 3 days (while adding fish food every day) and .....

Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 3
Ammonia = 0
Phosphate = 0.5 (after turning of the skimmer and taking GFO out, before it was not detectable)

these are my readings.
Could it be that my tank is already cycled and ready for the next step?

Azedenkae · 04/16/2015, 02:04 AM

Many others would say 'yes'.

My answer is 'possibly'. Or to be precise, 'likely', given what you started off with. However I say to be sure, you should test your filtrative capacity

SparkyTuna · 04/16/2015, 05:04 AM

My tank took 2 weeks, but I waited a month just to make sure.

nmotz · 04/16/2015, 05:16 AM

I would definitely run the test that Azedenkae suggested just to be sure. It's rare that a tank actually cycles that fast.

Martin in China · 04/16/2015, 05:50 AM

I will keep testing and adding fish food for atleast another 10 days, also turning on the lights slowly and have my skimmer running and Clear FX pro goes back into the filter compartment just to keep the Phosphate at bay. After it still tests OK, I'm getting some CUC members.

Martin in China · 04/16/2015, 07:05 PM

I found some clams in my tank....is that a good sign?

Saltwaterwill · 04/16/2015, 07:07 PM

U r not the only one I heard cycled their tank that fast.

Martin in China · 04/20/2015, 12:59 AM

Still 0 ppm Ammonia, 0 ppm Nitrite and 3 ppm Nitrate...looking good so far

Azedenkae · 04/20/2015, 01:07 AM

Well sounds like everything went well.

And yeah, clams most would regard as good.

Ginger bay · 04/20/2015, 01:34 AM

You maybe lucky and never had a cycle or iit was so short because of all the fully seeded media you used. That was a smart move.

blondetang · 04/20/2015, 05:08 PM

I would start adding fish, but go slowly. Just because your tank is cycled, it means you have establshed the right bacteria. What you want to do now is build up the bacteria by adding fish and letting the bacteria multipy. If you see the ammonia increase, do water changes to keep it down (<.5).

Good luck

Martin in China · 04/20/2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondetang

I would start adding fish, but go slowly. Just because your tank is cycled, it means you have establshed the right bacteria. What you want to do now is build up the bacteria by adding fish and letting the bacteria multipy. If you see the ammonia increase, do water changes to keep it down (<.5).

Good luck

I will go slow on the live stocking for sure. My plan was to first add 1 or 2 peppermint shrimp (hopefully cleaning up the tiny Aiptasias), a tailspot blenny, and 1 or 2 corals (mushrooms and/or zoas, easy softies anyway)

Martin in China · 04/22/2015, 01:17 AM

some good ideas on other fish for my 20 G tank?

04/16/2015, 01:53 AM	#1
Martin in China Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 68	Cycled already??? I've started my 20 G nano tank 10 days ago with live rock which came from my LFS and had been in a "live rock" tank for weeks, maybe even months, I also added some filter media that I previously had in a filter in a small tank just to get it started. I've been testing the water the last 3 days (while adding fish food every day) and ..... Nitrite = 0 Nitrate = 3 Ammonia = 0 Phosphate = 0.5 (after turning of the skimmer and taking GFO out, before it was not detectable) these are my readings. Could it be that my tank is already cycled and ready for the next step?

04/16/2015, 05:04 AM	#3
SparkyTuna Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Coal Creek, Colorado Posts: 103	My tank took 2 weeks, but I waited a month just to make sure. __________________ ..... Current Tank Info: IM NUVO Fusion 40, MP10wES, Maxspect Gyre XF130, Tunze Osmolator 3155, 2 IM AUQA Gadget CustomCaddy, AquaMaxx HOB-1, Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro, IM AUQA Gadget MagnaFuge Refugium Light, Eheim Jäger 150w

04/16/2015, 05:16 AM	#4
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	I would definitely run the test that Azedenkae suggested just to be sure. It's rare that a tank actually cycles that fast. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

04/20/2015, 01:34 AM	#10
Ginger bay Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pacifica CA Posts: 93	You maybe lucky and never had a cycle or iit was so short because of all the fully seeded media you used. That was a smart move. __________________ People go the extra mile when their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. Current Tank Info: 8gal Nano and 90gal Cube

04/16/2015, 02:04 AM	#2
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	Many others would say 'yes'. My answer is 'possibly'. Or to be precise, 'likely', given what you started off with. However I say to be sure, you should test your filtrative capacity

04/16/2015, 05:50 AM	#5
Martin in China Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 68	I will keep testing and adding fish food for atleast another 10 days, also turning on the lights slowly and have my skimmer running and Clear FX pro goes back into the filter compartment just to keep the Phosphate at bay. After it still tests OK, I'm getting some CUC members.

04/16/2015, 07:05 PM	#6
Martin in China Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 68	I found some clams in my tank....is that a good sign?

04/16/2015, 07:07 PM	#7
Saltwaterwill Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 57	U r not the only one I heard cycled their tank that fast.

04/20/2015, 12:59 AM	#8
Martin in China Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 68	Still 0 ppm Ammonia, 0 ppm Nitrite and 3 ppm Nitrate...looking good so far

04/20/2015, 01:07 AM	#9
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	Well sounds like everything went well. And yeah, clams most would regard as good.

04/20/2015, 05:08 PM	#11
blondetang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 28	I would start adding fish, but go slowly. Just because your tank is cycled, it means you have establshed the right bacteria. What you want to do now is build up the bacteria by adding fish and letting the bacteria multipy. If you see the ammonia increase, do water changes to keep it down (<.5). Good luck

04/22/2015, 01:17 AM	#13
Martin in China Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 68	some good ideas on other fish for my 20 G tank?