Cycle question, not new but it is a newbie question

lastduke · 01/24/2010, 01:35 AM

Cycling the tank because of the relocation. The tank has been cycled with 1/4 live rock and 3/4 dry rock for 4 weeks. The Amonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate droped from 50ppm (I poured amonia in at the beginning of the cycle) to 10ppm.
I didn't turn on the light during the cycle. Unlike my previous cycles, there is no aglae bloom this time. Is that normal? Should I make a big water change to bring down the NO3 and add some livestock in?

reef_corgi · 01/24/2010, 04:32 PM

I never pour ammonia while cycling. I place a dead shrimp for a week during cycling and make a 50% water change after 4 weeks.
Added a 3 chromis which live for 2 weeks then start stocking slowly.

Octoshark · 01/24/2010, 04:35 PM

It is often recommended to lower lighting during cycling stages to prevent algae blooms, and I would say that may be one reason why you didn't get algae this time. As for the nitrate, you might want to wait and see if it naturally lowers by itself to be sure there is enough beneficial bacteria established before you add livestock.

wolmutt · 01/24/2010, 04:45 PM

I would do a water change to lower the nitrate. You would need to have a lot of live rock to get it to lower naturally, and it would take some time.

lastduke · 01/25/2010, 12:43 AM

i put a raw shrimp and a small bag of amonia. It shoudl be the reason why the Nitrate such high. I am going to give the tank one more week before I make WC, i am planning to do a 50% WC, it should bring down the No3 from 50-25ppm. Is it okay for clean screw and one fish?

wooden_reefer · 01/25/2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastduke

Cycling the tank because of the relocation. The tank has been cycled with 1/4 live rock and 3/4 dry rock for 4 weeks. The Amonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate droped from 50ppm (I poured amonia in at the beginning of the cycle) to 10ppm.
I didn't turn on the light during the cycle. Unlike my previous cycles, there is no aglae bloom this time. Is that normal? Should I make a big water change to bring down the NO3 and add some livestock in?

I think you don't need 10 ppm.

10 ppm certainly will kill a lot more existing lives on the rock than 1 ppm.

If you do not have lives to save when you cycle, you can use about 5 ppm ammonia in days 1, 14, and 21, possibly also day 28.

I prefer including a small amount of emusified shrimp togther with inorganic ammonia. All emusified shrimp is better but more odorous.

01/24/2010, 01:35 AM	#1
lastduke Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland,Oregon Posts: 1,323	Cycle question, not new but it is a newbie question Cycling the tank because of the relocation. The tank has been cycled with 1/4 live rock and 3/4 dry rock for 4 weeks. The Amonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate droped from 50ppm (I poured amonia in at the beginning of the cycle) to 10ppm. I didn't turn on the light during the cycle. Unlike my previous cycles, there is no aglae bloom this time. Is that normal? Should I make a big water change to bring down the NO3 and add some livestock in?

01/24/2010, 04:35 PM	#3
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	It is often recommended to lower lighting during cycling stages to prevent algae blooms, and I would say that may be one reason why you didn't get algae this time. As for the nitrate, you might want to wait and see if it naturally lowers by itself to be sure there is enough beneficial bacteria established before you add livestock. __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

01/24/2010, 04:32 PM	#2
reef_corgi Super Dog!!! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 67	I never pour ammonia while cycling. I place a dead shrimp for a week during cycling and make a 50% water change after 4 weeks. Added a 3 chromis which live for 2 weeks then start stocking slowly.

01/24/2010, 04:45 PM	#4
wolmutt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 46	I would do a water change to lower the nitrate. You would need to have a lot of live rock to get it to lower naturally, and it would take some time.

01/25/2010, 12:43 AM	#5
lastduke Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland,Oregon Posts: 1,323	i put a raw shrimp and a small bag of amonia. It shoudl be the reason why the Nitrate such high. I am going to give the tank one more week before I make WC, i am planning to do a 50% WC, it should bring down the No3 from 50-25ppm. Is it okay for clean screw and one fish?