Maturation help

Jojobear · 09/29/2017, 11:24 AM

I just set up a new 10 gallon nano tank with the plan to make it s reef tank. 2 weeks ago, I added live sand, all 10 gallons which came from an already well established tank, a small hanging refugium and chaeto algae with copepods. Throughout the past 2 weeks, I've been chemistry testing and there were no signs that the maturation process has started. So far, there have been no levels of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. There are bubbles forming on top of the sand bed which I assume is micro algae and bacteria creating gasses. Does anybody have any idea why there is no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in my tank?

jayball · 09/29/2017, 11:52 AM

What have you added as an ammonia source? did you have established live rock as well? If you are not adding an ammonia source and all live sand/rock that you moved over was treated well (and moved underwater) than I would expect there to be no nitrate.

Start ghost feeding, add a shrimp, or add some pure ammonia (DR. tim's drops or ACE hardware brand janitorial ammonia.) and see if it processes it properly

mcgyvr · 09/29/2017, 12:08 PM

You won't have a cycle (maturation as you call it)..
You added live sand and I'd guess live rock from an already established (already cycled) tank.. That tank already cycled long time ago.. So the bacteria is already there..

Cycling (maturation) is needed when there is no bacteria there to process the ammonia,etc.. because you started with dry rock or rock that had little bacteria on it already.. Since you brought the bacteria with you from the other tank there is no cycle..

There is no need to ghost feed or add ammonia.. Your tank is ready to go.. You can slowly start stocking the tank with critters,etc... now.

Jojobear · 09/29/2017, 01:35 PM

I thought that the full cycling process was required for the eventuality of adding algae eaters. From what I have heard, the cycle is required for an algae bloom so there is plenty of food for the algae eaters (snails/crabs) in the beginning. Is that wrong?

mcgyvr · 09/29/2017, 02:17 PM

No a "full cycle" is not required..

The reason that local fish stores sell "Live rock" is so that the cycling process can be avoided so little Betty Sue can take that "Nemo" that daddy bought her home that same day..
Using "live" (truly live with little to no "die off" due to shipping,etc..) allows you to skip the initial cycling process..

09/29/2017, 11:24 AM	#1
Jojobear Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 2	Maturation help I just set up a new 10 gallon nano tank with the plan to make it s reef tank. 2 weeks ago, I added live sand, all 10 gallons which came from an already well established tank, a small hanging refugium and chaeto algae with copepods. Throughout the past 2 weeks, I've been chemistry testing and there were no signs that the maturation process has started. So far, there have been no levels of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. There are bubbles forming on top of the sand bed which I assume is micro algae and bacteria creating gasses. Does anybody have any idea why there is no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in my tank?

09/29/2017, 12:08 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	You won't have a cycle (maturation as you call it).. You added live sand and I'd guess live rock from an already established (already cycled) tank.. That tank already cycled long time ago.. So the bacteria is already there.. Cycling (maturation) is needed when there is no bacteria there to process the ammonia,etc.. because you started with dry rock or rock that had little bacteria on it already.. Since you brought the bacteria with you from the other tank there is no cycle.. There is no need to ghost feed or add ammonia.. Your tank is ready to go.. You can slowly start stocking the tank with critters,etc... now. __________________ Who me?

09/29/2017, 02:17 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	No a "full cycle" is not required.. The reason that local fish stores sell "Live rock" is so that the cycling process can be avoided so little Betty Sue can take that "Nemo" that daddy bought her home that same day.. Using "live" (truly live with little to no "die off" due to shipping,etc..) allows you to skip the initial cycling process.. __________________ Who me?

09/29/2017, 11:52 AM	#2
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	What have you added as an ammonia source? did you have established live rock as well? If you are not adding an ammonia source and all live sand/rock that you moved over was treated well (and moved underwater) than I would expect there to be no nitrate. Start ghost feeding, add a shrimp, or add some pure ammonia (DR. tim's drops or ACE hardware brand janitorial ammonia.) and see if it processes it properly

09/29/2017, 01:35 PM	#4
Jojobear Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 2	I thought that the full cycling process was required for the eventuality of adding algae eaters. From what I have heard, the cycle is required for an algae bloom so there is plenty of food for the algae eaters (snails/crabs) in the beginning. Is that wrong?