Done cycling!

PirateToast · 12/23/2013, 10:06 PM

Ahh... after a painful 4 weeks, I think my cycle is complete. It took like two weeks for nitrites to finally go down!

I went with the pure ammonia method with 35 pounds of dry rock. I hit my ammonia spike quickly and probably added too much ammonia, as I hit up to 8.0 ppm. I quit adding after that point and eventually it went down to 0 ppm.

I think my problem starts at this point, as I added another 35 pounds of dry rock and did a lot of aquascaping, causing quite a stir. Anyways, the nitrites persisted for awhile. Then yesterday, I read somewhere that adding a little bit more ammonia might jump start it... so I did just that. Checked at lunch today, nitrites were down to .5. Checked this evening, it was 0. They aren't kidding when they say it falls off a cliff!

Anywho... I just thought I'd:

A. Share that piece of advice about adding a bit of ammonia to jumpstart a cycle if your nitrites haven't gone down and it's been a long time.

B. Ask a question. My current readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 10 ppm nitrates. That seems a bit high for nitrates, I've read that's okay for fish but not reefs. How do people get it down to zero? I haven't really even started yet!

schatzi · 12/23/2013, 10:09 PM

That sounds like a great start. Nitrates at this stage of your tank are not a big concern and that level is nothing to worry about. But water changes are a primary way to remove them. After that a sump with macro algae and a skimmer will be needed if you want to do a reef.

FTDelta · 12/23/2013, 10:39 PM

I'd wait a bit longer to make sure before adding any fish. A typical cycle last anywhere from 6 - 12 weeks.

PirateToast · 12/24/2013, 09:18 AM

6-12 weeks? I've always heard 4-6 weeks and that a good rule of thumb is that if you can add ammonia in the morning and return in the evening to see zero ammonia and nitrites, you're good to go.

FTDelta · 12/24/2013, 06:39 PM

Thought I'd throw this in as well - QTing fish is recommended for at least 8 - 13 weeks.

6 - 12 weeks is the norm DEPENDING on the QUALITY of your live rock.

Doogy · 12/24/2013, 06:50 PM

6-12 weeks seems a bit long. Maybe for dry rock but not for live sand and rock (at least IME). And 8-13 weeks for QT? That seems a bit conservative too but to each his own; just do your research you will be fine. Anyways 10ppm nitrates is fine for most fish and pretty much any LPS. Good luck and welcome to the hobby!

12/23/2013, 10:06 PM	#1
PirateToast Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 537	Done cycling! Ahh... after a painful 4 weeks, I think my cycle is complete. It took like two weeks for nitrites to finally go down! I went with the pure ammonia method with 35 pounds of dry rock. I hit my ammonia spike quickly and probably added too much ammonia, as I hit up to 8.0 ppm. I quit adding after that point and eventually it went down to 0 ppm. I think my problem starts at this point, as I added another 35 pounds of dry rock and did a lot of aquascaping, causing quite a stir. Anyways, the nitrites persisted for awhile. Then yesterday, I read somewhere that adding a little bit more ammonia might jump start it... so I did just that. Checked at lunch today, nitrites were down to .5. Checked this evening, it was 0. They aren't kidding when they say it falls off a cliff! Anywho... I just thought I'd: A. Share that piece of advice about adding a bit of ammonia to jumpstart a cycle if your nitrites haven't gone down and it's been a long time. B. Ask a question. My current readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 10 ppm nitrates. That seems a bit high for nitrates, I've read that's okay for fish but not reefs. How do people get it down to zero? I haven't really even started yet!

12/23/2013, 10:09 PM	#2
schatzi Professional amateur Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: JC, MO Posts: 513	That sounds like a great start. Nitrates at this stage of your tank are not a big concern and that level is nothing to worry about. But water changes are a primary way to remove them. After that a sump with macro algae and a skimmer will be needed if you want to do a reef. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef, 46g predator tank, 25g fuge, 39g frag/fuge, 70g sump, 29g clown tank.

12/23/2013, 10:39 PM	#3
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	I'd wait a bit longer to make sure before adding any fish. A typical cycle last anywhere from 6 - 12 weeks.

12/24/2013, 09:18 AM	#4
PirateToast Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 537	6-12 weeks? I've always heard 4-6 weeks and that a good rule of thumb is that if you can add ammonia in the morning and return in the evening to see zero ammonia and nitrites, you're good to go.

12/24/2013, 06:39 PM	#5
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	Thought I'd throw this in as well - QTing fish is recommended for at least 8 - 13 weeks. 6 - 12 weeks is the norm DEPENDING on the QUALITY of your live rock.

12/24/2013, 06:50 PM	#6
Doogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 135	6-12 weeks seems a bit long. Maybe for dry rock but not for live sand and rock (at least IME). And 8-13 weeks for QT? That seems a bit conservative too but to each his own; just do your research you will be fine. Anyways 10ppm nitrates is fine for most fish and pretty much any LPS. Good luck and welcome to the hobby!