Question on cycling and nitrates

daninflipflops · 08/06/2012, 09:40 AM

I recently setup a JBJ 28g, and purchased 40 lbs of live rock from an established tank locally, along with 20-30 lbs of live sand. i never let the rocks dry out and put them in my tank with matching temp/salinity. its been a little over a week now and i think i am done cycling.

for the first few days i had a raw shrimp in the tank and wasnt registering any ammonia levels. so i started dosing it with a few tablespoons on pure ammonia, and checked right after adding it and the ammonia was around 1ppm. the next day it was zero. i also have been measuring nitrites and those are zero now as well. nitrates are up to around 5ppm recently. i have probably added liquid ammonia 2-3 times and zero'd out the ammonia/nitrite.

my question is if my tank is fully cycled, or are you not considered cycled until the nitrates are zero as well? starting to get a couple of spots of algae, but nothing major. can i order a CUC?

Michael · 08/06/2012, 09:48 AM

do a water change now and they will soon drop, I reckon your done with the ammonia spike and ready for some snails.

thegrun · 08/06/2012, 10:45 AM

Yes, you initial cycle is complete. Nitrates do not normally drop on their own, water changes and/or some type of nitrate export system (like macro algaes in your refugium) are the way to get their levels down. Add your clean-up crew and a week later you can add a fish (try to keep the fish additions at one a week). Hardy corals may be added at anytime now that the cycle is done.

08/06/2012, 09:40 AM	#1
daninflipflops In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 208	Question on cycling and nitrates I recently setup a JBJ 28g, and purchased 40 lbs of live rock from an established tank locally, along with 20-30 lbs of live sand. i never let the rocks dry out and put them in my tank with matching temp/salinity. its been a little over a week now and i think i am done cycling. for the first few days i had a raw shrimp in the tank and wasnt registering any ammonia levels. so i started dosing it with a few tablespoons on pure ammonia, and checked right after adding it and the ammonia was around 1ppm. the next day it was zero. i also have been measuring nitrites and those are zero now as well. nitrates are up to around 5ppm recently. i have probably added liquid ammonia 2-3 times and zero'd out the ammonia/nitrite. my question is if my tank is fully cycled, or are you not considered cycled until the nitrates are zero as well? starting to get a couple of spots of algae, but nothing major. can i order a CUC?

08/06/2012, 09:48 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	do a water change now and they will soon drop, I reckon your done with the ammonia spike and ready for some snails. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

08/06/2012, 10:45 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, you initial cycle is complete. Nitrates do not normally drop on their own, water changes and/or some type of nitrate export system (like macro algaes in your refugium) are the way to get their levels down. Add your clean-up crew and a week later you can add a fish (try to keep the fish additions at one a week). Hardy corals may be added at anytime now that the cycle is done.