AM I ready for CUC?

shuguley · 07/09/2008, 08:29 PM

June 18th
I started cycling my 55 gal tank with 80 lbs semi cured live rock and 60 lbs live sand.

July 2 - 4
Small ammonia/nitrite spike (neither ever went above .25)

July 5 - 7
Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 35

On July 8th I did 50% water change then my parameters were
Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 20

Today my parameters are
Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 20
PH = 8.2 - 8.3
Temp 79
Salinity = 35 PPT

I think my cycle is complete, am I right? Am I ready for a CUC now? At what level do nitrates become toxic to snails and crabs?

shuguley · 07/09/2008, 08:33 PM

Forgot to mention, my lights have been off the entire time during cycling, and since my nitrates spiked and ammonia and nitrites zeroed out, it now looks like my rock is becoming covered with corraline algae... mostly white and some orange-red.

Aquarist007 · 07/09/2008, 08:53 PM

You are almost there---when the nitrates are zero then you can start adding your clean up crew

MinnFish · 07/09/2008, 09:22 PM

Not yet grasshopper.

To Reef Central

peterpaul · 07/09/2008, 09:28 PM

patience is the key. wait until nitrates are 0

shuguley · 07/09/2008, 09:29 PM

Maybe I was hallucinating again..

I could have swore that I have read that once Ammonia and nitrites drop to 0 accompanied by a nitrate spike that this meant the tank was done cycling.

So, you guys are saying that my nitrates will drop to 0? Will this happen on its own, or do I need to do more water changes?

MinnFish · 07/09/2008, 09:41 PM

Not exactly, we all strive to reach nitrate at 0. Inverts are alittle more sensitive to nitrate than other livestock. It would be grand to have 0 nitrates. But, less than 30 will be okay IMO. Adding micro-algae to fuge, water changes are a few thing that will reduce nitrates. The most important thing here, is time. The tank has been up and running for 3+ weeks. Way to early to add CUC.
First, they have no establish food source to survive. Second, bouncing around during water changes (salinity ups and downs) are not good for inverts. Get the water parameter stable including cal, alk and ph. This alone should take you a few more weeks. Hope i could help and not hinder. Good luck.

Flipper62 · 07/09/2008, 09:42 PM

Time & water changes.......Your almost there...

Ya nitrates under 30 are good.....But you will get them to 0.0....Again.....time & water changes........

IMO....Wait until it gets there.......

shuguley · 07/09/2008, 09:55 PM

Thanks for all the replies!! I guess I got confused in the mass amounts of reading I have been doing.

I am so glad I asked here before doing anything, LFS is getting a shipment of snails and hermits tomorrow and I was going to pick up a few, guess I'll wait instead.

Should I run my lights to encourage/speed-up algae growth or should I leave them off?

MinnFish · 07/09/2008, 10:13 PM

Turn the lights on. The same as they would run, if you had livestock.

shuguley · 07/11/2008, 02:25 PM

New question...with my tank parameters the way they are and having completed 3 weeks of cycling, should I go ahead and add chaeto to my fuge or should I wait on that as well?

Allanira · 07/11/2008, 04:14 PM

Do the cheato. I am in the same boat as you right now. Nitrates are the only thing that is holding me back. Just wait until you get an algae bloom before you add anything except the cheato and doing water changes. Then you need to pull out the hair algae if you get any. Good luck.

Aquarist007 · 07/11/2008, 09:29 PM

I have posted some information on cycling on this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...3#post12930223

07/09/2008, 08:29 PM	#1
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	AM I ready for CUC? June 18th I started cycling my 55 gal tank with 80 lbs semi cured live rock and 60 lbs live sand. July 2 - 4 Small ammonia/nitrite spike (neither ever went above .25) July 5 - 7 Ammonia = 0 Nitrites = 0 Nitrates = 35 On July 8th I did 50% water change then my parameters were Ammonia = 0 Nitrites = 0 Nitrates = 20 Today my parameters are Ammonia = 0 Nitrites = 0 Nitrates = 20 PH = 8.2 - 8.3 Temp 79 Salinity = 35 PPT I think my cycle is complete, am I right? Am I ready for a CUC now? At what level do nitrates become toxic to snails and crabs?

07/09/2008, 08:53 PM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	You are almost there---when the nitrates are zero then you can start adding your clean up crew __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/09/2008, 09:41 PM	#7
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Not exactly, we all strive to reach nitrate at 0. Inverts are alittle more sensitive to nitrate than other livestock. It would be grand to have 0 nitrates. But, less than 30 will be okay IMO. Adding micro-algae to fuge, water changes are a few thing that will reduce nitrates. The most important thing here, is time. The tank has been up and running for 3+ weeks. Way to early to add CUC. First, they have no establish food source to survive. Second, bouncing around during water changes (salinity ups and downs) are not good for inverts. Get the water parameter stable including cal, alk and ph. This alone should take you a few more weeks. Hope i could help and not hinder. Good luck. __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

07/09/2008, 09:42 PM	#8
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Time & water changes.......Your almost there... Ya nitrates under 30 are good.....But you will get them to 0.0....Again.....time & water changes........ IMO....Wait until it gets there....... __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

07/09/2008, 10:13 PM	#10
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Turn the lights on. The same as they would run, if you had livestock. __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

07/09/2008, 08:33 PM	#2
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Forgot to mention, my lights have been off the entire time during cycling, and since my nitrates spiked and ammonia and nitrites zeroed out, it now looks like my rock is becoming covered with corraline algae... mostly white and some orange-red.

07/09/2008, 09:22 PM	#4
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Not yet grasshopper. *To Reef Central*

07/09/2008, 09:28 PM	#5
peterpaul Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 73	patience is the key. wait until nitrates are 0

07/09/2008, 09:29 PM	#6
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Maybe I was hallucinating again.. I could have swore that I have read that once Ammonia and nitrites drop to 0 accompanied by a nitrate spike that this meant the tank was done cycling. So, you guys are saying that my nitrates will drop to 0? Will this happen on its own, or do I need to do more water changes?

07/09/2008, 09:55 PM	#9
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Thanks for all the replies!! I guess I got confused in the mass amounts of reading I have been doing. I am so glad I asked here before doing anything, LFS is getting a shipment of snails and hermits tomorrow and I was going to pick up a few, guess I'll wait instead. Should I run my lights to encourage/speed-up algae growth or should I leave them off?

07/11/2008, 02:25 PM	#11
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	New question...with my tank parameters the way they are and having completed 3 weeks of cycling, should I go ahead and add chaeto to my fuge or should I wait on that as well?

07/11/2008, 04:14 PM	#12
Allanira Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 293	Do the cheato. I am in the same boat as you right now. Nitrates are the only thing that is holding me back. Just wait until you get an algae bloom before you add anything except the cheato and doing water changes. Then you need to pull out the hair algae if you get any. Good luck. __________________ "Why me?" Because I think God has a sense of humor. Current Tank Info: 55 gal fresh, and 55 gal salt with a 55 gallon sump 75 lb LR, live sand, 2 koralia 3s, 2 koralia 2s, 2 maroon clown, 1 green chromis, 1 firefish, 1 starry blenny, 2 red legged hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, 1 cleaner shrimp

07/11/2008, 09:29 PM	#13
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I have posted some information on cycling on this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...3#post12930223 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock