2nd Week Cycling Question

butchik · 02/13/2010, 10:06 AM

I'm on my 2nd week of cycling (40 gallon breeder, 45lbs deadrock, 40lbs sand, no lights, no skimmer). I started the cycle by placing a raw shrimp in the tank and it's still sitting there after 2 weeks. I've logged my cycle data below and the primary question I have is does everything looks normal? Do I need to do something to "improve" the cycle? Do I need to take the shrimp out at this point?

Day SG PH Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate
Day 1: 1.025 7.8 0.00 0.00 0
Day 3: 1.025 7.8 0.50 0.00 0
Day 5: 1.025 7.8 1.00 0.00 0
Day 7: 1.025 8.0 1.00 0.25 0
Day 10: 1.026 8.0 1.00 1.00 5
Day 12: 1.025 8.0 0.25 5.00 10
Day 14: 1.024 7.8 0.00 5.00 10

I did test for CA (420) and ALK (9) on Day 3 and haven't done one after that. I figure since they are okay then and there is no livestock in the tank that they should be fine for now. Thanks for any guidance.

Titeo · 02/13/2010, 10:11 AM

Do a water change and wait for your nitrate to goes down to 0-5

syrinx · 02/13/2010, 10:30 AM

Tank is cycling fine- no problems. There is no reason to worry about nitrate- nitrite will drop out in the next two weeks, then you can worry about water changes and nitrates. You can remove the shrimp if you want- but the bacteria are going to keep ahead of it in growth by this point.

02/13/2010, 10:06 AM	#1
butchik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central NJ Posts: 242	2nd Week Cycling Question I'm on my 2nd week of cycling (40 gallon breeder, 45lbs deadrock, 40lbs sand, no lights, no skimmer). I started the cycle by placing a raw shrimp in the tank and it's still sitting there after 2 weeks. I've logged my cycle data below and the primary question I have is does everything looks normal? Do I need to do something to "improve" the cycle? Do I need to take the shrimp out at this point? Day SG PH Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Day 1: 1.025 7.8 0.00 0.00 0 Day 3: 1.025 7.8 0.50 0.00 0 Day 5: 1.025 7.8 1.00 0.00 0 Day 7: 1.025 8.0 1.00 0.25 0 Day 10: 1.026 8.0 1.00 1.00 5 Day 12: 1.025 8.0 0.25 5.00 10 Day 14: 1.024 7.8 0.00 5.00 10 I did test for CA (420) and ALK (9) on Day 3 and haven't done one after that. I figure since they are okay then and there is no livestock in the tank that they should be fine for now. Thanks for any guidance. Last edited by butchik; 02/13/2010 at 10:16 AM.

02/13/2010, 10:11 AM	#2
Titeo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 75	Do a water change and wait for your nitrate to goes down to 0-5

02/13/2010, 10:30 AM	#3
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Tank is cycling fine- no problems. There is no reason to worry about nitrate- nitrite will drop out in the next two weeks, then you can worry about water changes and nitrates. You can remove the shrimp if you want- but the bacteria are going to keep ahead of it in growth by this point.