Can you give me an idea on how much longer this cycle will take?

[Lyotim88]

I'm cycling my 55 gal and my ammonia is 0, nitrite 5.0, nitrate 20. it's been cycling for a week and a half which i know is not long at all but any ideas on how much longer it's going to be? And what should i add first once it's cycled?

[steri]

Every tank is different. Some are faster, some tanke longer. Mine took a little under 3 weeks to cycle. I would guess you would need at least another week and a half or so for the tank to cycle.

Once it's cycled, I would add a fish that typically is easy to care for such as a clown of some type or a firefish. I would not add a damsel unless you are ready for that little guy to get aggresive with everything else that you add at later times.

[Lyotim88]

thanks. i'm not going to add a fish for a couple of months as advised by the marine biologist at my LFS. I was talking more along the lines of CUC, what should i add first? Hermits, snails, shrimp?

[ConsultantERP]

Once there is only Nitrates left, then do a water change(30% or more) then add your CUC

[thegrun]

Snails and Hermits first, shrimp a couple of weeks later. I would start with about 15 snails (mixed varieties) and 10 Hermits for a 55 gallon tank. If they can't keep up with the algae, you can add more. I believe it is best to start adding soft easy to care for corals before fish (there are differing opinions on that).

[tspors]

You also are rushing your tank. Too many people here want instant reef, First off how old is your tank when did you set up? Regardless of where you are in a cycle. You should wait 2 months from set up to add clean up crew. Then another 2 months before you add any fish. Unless you are planning on tearing your tank down in a year this is a long term hobby. 4 months is nothing. Your PH does not even stabilize for close to 60 days. I would wait but it's your tank.

[Lyotim88]

very intersting tspors, i've never heard that. I've had the water running in there for about 3 weeks. 2 weeks since i put in the sand and 1-1/2 weeks since i added the LR. I understand waiting to add the fish, but why wait to add the cuc? Won't i get overrun with algae? And when do you think i should start skimming?

[sdc19982002]

I would say do your corals first if your going for a reef tank. That way you'll know what fish are compatable . And there is no reason two wait 2 months for your clean up crew if your tank cycle is finished earlier. mine cycled in less than 2 weeks and was almost fully stocked in 4 months with no problems.

[returnofsid]

There's absolutely no proof, or even research to back up the statement that pH doesn't stabilize for 60 days. In fact, ph is controlled by your salt mix, not by you or by the cycle. The important elements of a cycle are Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. These can be followed and charted by testing. Once you're reading 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, you should have measurable levels of nitrates. At this point, your cycle is complete. However, I wouldn't recommend adding anything, other than a clean up crew, until you have undetectable or near 0 levels of nitrates. At that point, add slowly.

As for how long your cycle will take, every tank is different and the only reliable way to follow your cycle is to test.

[lkc]

+1
You're on the right track though....

[alextheromanian]

my 75 took a week and a half to START cycling...youre a week into it and your numbers are pretty low. keep in mind it may also have not started yet.


LFSs will sell you things to speed up cycling but they are expensive gimmicks. patience good water flow light and skimming will have your tank taken care of.


before its done you can AQUASCAPE...research the fish and whatever livestock you debate answering...

[KarlBob]

Originally posted by tspors
You should wait 2 months from set up to add clean up crew. Then another 2 months before you add any fish.

Wow. I've rarely seen recommended introduction times that long. I think you'll find plenty of people whose tanks have been running much longer than a year who did not follow that schedule.

Originally posted by Lyotim88
I was talking more along the lines of CUC, what should i add first? Hermits, snails, shrimp?

Some people would advise you never to add hermit crabs at all. All crabs are opportunistic omnivores (they can eat whatever they find), and many hermit crabs would rather kill snails for their shells than wait for the snails to die of old age. Some varieties are known to be more aggressive than others, and many people still love hermit crabs, but there are some who just don't believe in stocking them.

Whatever you decide to use in your crew, get a few different estimates of the number you need before you buy them. Not to say anything negative about your LFS in particular, but exaggerating the number of critters required to clean a given tank size is an easy way to beef up revenue a bit.

[canesfins]

I have a 150 gallon going for less than a week now. I have added sand, live rock and 3 "cycle fish" - school master, sergeant major and damsel. I have also added about 10 hermits to graze the live rock. I am getting some more live rock this weekend to contribute to the cycle. Right now all my readings are 0ppm so I am assuming nothing has begun yet. What other livestock can I add to contribute to the cycling (just rock and sand?)

[MartinEric]

Cycle is different for every tank I have a 15 gal I set up 6 years ago that took only a couple of weeks to cycle with pre-cured rock. Now I have a new 20 gal that is on its second week with pre-cured rock and still not cycled yet. IMO when ammonia, nitrite and nitrate (and you have seen the tank go through the stages by testing) and levels are 0 you are done with cycle. IMO dont add a clean up crew until you have something to clean up (algae, detritus, etc.).