New Tank Cycle

jeff williams · 02/12/2009, 07:04 PM

Hello Everyone,

I am currently cycling a new tank and need some advice...

The tank is 150 gallons, and set up and running for about 4 months now. I used some live bacteria along with live sand from the start. The rock I used was not live but was cured before I put it in the tank. I have not been running my lights. I have been testing my water regularly. The readings are as follows:

Ammonia - 0.5
Nitrite - 2.0
Nitrate - 20

I have nothing in my fuge except the live sand bed. The skimmer has been off the whole time during cycle.

I am needing some advice on the next steps to take to further the process.

Thanks for the help!
Jeff

kraze3 · 02/12/2009, 07:09 PM

Turn that skimmer on. Get some cheato for your fuge.
What else, do you have LR, lights, heaters. powerheads, etc?

drparker · 02/12/2009, 07:11 PM

To Reef Central

You've got a great start going. You just need to wait until those levels drop. You'll see the ammonia got to zero then the nitrite. How long have been cycling so far? What do you want to keep.

jon99 · 02/12/2009, 07:16 PM

Was the rock dry or wet? Wet means it was most likely liverock even if it didn't look like there was much on it. From the looks of your readings I'm guessing that it was and had a good bit of die off on it. I'd run the skimmer to try to clean up the water a little bit. Do a few water changes and see if that helps lower your levels a bit. I'd leave the lights off for now to avoid algae problems. I think your next step should be to wait and let the ammo, nitrate, and nitrite levels drop. You can speed this process along by running skimmer and water changes.

jeff williams · 02/12/2009, 08:12 PM

I have a large power head circulating the tank. I would like to set up a mixed reef tank eventually. I don't have a heater at the moment, planning on getting one whenever needed, however my house stays 75Âº year around.

I havent had any lights running to avoid the algae problems.

What kind of plant species do you recomend for the fuge? I have heard of a few but can't remember the names.

Speaking of lights, I have been looking into the Outer Orbit by Current. The one with 3 x 250w halides and the 8 x T5HO. I am still up in the air about the light system I would like to use, so any advice would be very helpful...

Thanks again, Jeff

jeff williams · 02/12/2009, 08:16 PM

Oh, and the rocks I used were dry. But I cured them in a container for 2 weeks with water and ammonia.
Everything has been in the tank cycling together for about a month so far...

Thanks again, J

thegrun · 02/12/2009, 08:22 PM

The lack of a heater could be part of the problem (slow cycle). With the lights out and evaporation, your water temperature is probably to low to get a quick cycle. Try bringing your temperature up to 78 with a heater (two at half the required wattage is a better choice) to speed the process up. 4 months is a very long time for a tank to cycle, I applaud you patience.

jeff williams · 02/12/2009, 08:31 PM

I'm sorry- I meant to say 4 weeks.

drparker · 02/12/2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeff williams
Speaking of lights, I have been looking into the Outer Orbit by Current. The one with 3 x 250w halides and the 8 x T5HO. I am still up in the air about the light system I would like to use, so any advice would be very helpful...

I have an Outer Orbit, works great, good quality. However I wish I would have gone with separates instead of an all in one. I'd like to change part of my lighting and now have the problem that I have to change it all at once. So the expense of purchasing a whole new lighting system and add the fact that I can't reuse parts of the old.

Kwikdraw · 02/12/2009, 10:05 PM

You really need something to jump start your cycle. You used dry rock which will not help start the cycle and the live sand, if it's the bag stuff, might not be enough either. Uncured live rock, damsels, or the shrimp method is what most will use.

I'm new also and my 75g tank took about 2 1/2 weeks to cycle. I used the shrimp method. Checkout my thread and see if it helps.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1555230

tims28gnano · 02/12/2009, 10:12 PM

To Reef Central

jeff williams · 02/12/2009, 10:41 PM

thanks again for the advice...

just bought some cheato for the fuge along with a heater...

still thinking about the lights though.

I did use the raw shrimp method for creating the ammonia to aid in the cycle... I am guessing all of the instant ocean bacteria is working well, hince why I have the lower ammonia readings, and my nitrate and nitrite levels are higher...

I turned the skimmer on and collectine good skimmate now.

thanks again, J

alleykat81 · 02/12/2009, 10:44 PM

Just please don't use damsels or any other fish to cycle your tank, as mentioned above.

possys · 02/13/2009, 12:40 AM

you can have the acticin blue light on and go to google find more information about cycling a new tank.

possys · 02/13/2009, 12:43 AM

by the way. when I cycling my new tank i did use one yellow tail damsels and she still alive and doing very well today.

w16227 · 02/13/2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by possys
by the way. when I cycling my new tank i did use one yellow tail damsels and she still alive and doing very well today.

While adding a hardy fish like a damsel will work - there are so many better ways to cycle a tank that do not involve placing an animal into the equivalent of a raw sewage tank that there is absolutely no reason to do so.

Additionally - Damsels are very aggressive and will most likely harass any other tank mates that are added later. Can't blame them for being grumpy - after what some people put them through.

Best bet - don't use a live fish to cycle your tank.

02/12/2009, 07:04 PM	#1
jeff williams Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	New Tank Cycle Hello Everyone, I am currently cycling a new tank and need some advice... The tank is 150 gallons, and set up and running for about 4 months now. I used some live bacteria along with live sand from the start. The rock I used was not live but was cured before I put it in the tank. I have not been running my lights. I have been testing my water regularly. The readings are as follows: Ammonia - 0.5 Nitrite - 2.0 Nitrate - 20 I have nothing in my fuge except the live sand bed. The skimmer has been off the whole time during cycle. I am needing some advice on the next steps to take to further the process. Thanks for the help! Jeff __________________ J

02/12/2009, 07:16 PM	#4
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Was the rock dry or wet? Wet means it was most likely liverock even if it didn't look like there was much on it. From the looks of your readings I'm guessing that it was and had a good bit of die off on it. I'd run the skimmer to try to clean up the water a little bit. Do a few water changes and see if that helps lower your levels a bit. I'd leave the lights off for now to avoid algae problems. I think your next step should be to wait and let the ammo, nitrate, and nitrite levels drop. You can speed this process along by running skimmer and water changes. __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/12/2009, 08:12 PM	#5
jeff williams Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	I have a large power head circulating the tank. I would like to set up a mixed reef tank eventually. I don't have a heater at the moment, planning on getting one whenever needed, however my house stays 75Âº year around. I havent had any lights running to avoid the algae problems. What kind of plant species do you recomend for the fuge? I have heard of a few but can't remember the names. Speaking of lights, I have been looking into the Outer Orbit by Current. The one with 3 x 250w halides and the 8 x T5HO. I am still up in the air about the light system I would like to use, so any advice would be very helpful... Thanks again, Jeff __________________ J

02/12/2009, 08:16 PM	#6
jeff williams Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	Oh, and the rocks I used were dry. But I cured them in a container for 2 weeks with water and ammonia. Everything has been in the tank cycling together for about a month so far... Thanks again, J __________________ J

02/12/2009, 08:31 PM	#8
jeff williams Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	I'm sorry- I meant to say 4 weeks. __________________ J

02/12/2009, 07:09 PM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	Turn that skimmer on. Get some cheato for your fuge. What else, do you have LR, lights, heaters. powerheads, etc?

02/12/2009, 07:11 PM	#3
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	*To Reef Central* You've got a great start going. You just need to wait until those levels drop. You'll see the ammonia got to zero then the nitrite. How long have been cycling so far? What do you want to keep.

02/12/2009, 08:22 PM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The lack of a heater could be part of the problem (slow cycle). With the lights out and evaporation, your water temperature is probably to low to get a quick cycle. Try bringing your temperature up to 78 with a heater (two at half the required wattage is a better choice) to speed the process up. 4 months is a very long time for a tank to cycle, I applaud you patience.

02/12/2009, 10:05 PM	#10
Kwikdraw Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 147	You really need something to jump start your cycle. You used dry rock which will not help start the cycle and the live sand, if it's the bag stuff, might not be enough either. Uncured live rock, damsels, or the shrimp method is what most will use. I'm new also and my 75g tank took about 2 1/2 weeks to cycle. I used the shrimp method. Checkout my thread and see if it helps. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1555230

02/12/2009, 10:12 PM	#11
tims28gnano Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Jones Beach Posts: 343	*To Reef Central*

02/12/2009, 10:41 PM	#12
jeff williams Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6	thanks again for the advice... just bought some cheato for the fuge along with a heater... still thinking about the lights though. I did use the raw shrimp method for creating the ammonia to aid in the cycle... I am guessing all of the instant ocean bacteria is working well, hince why I have the lower ammonia readings, and my nitrate and nitrite levels are higher... I turned the skimmer on and collectine good skimmate now. thanks again, J __________________ J

02/12/2009, 10:44 PM	#13
alleykat81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 187	Just please don't use damsels or any other fish to cycle your tank, as mentioned above.

02/13/2009, 12:40 AM	#14
possys Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 188	you can have the acticin blue light on and go to google find more information about cycling a new tank.

02/13/2009, 12:43 AM	#15
possys Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 188	by the way. when I cycling my new tank i did use one yellow tail damsels and she still alive and doing very well today.