Cycling Question

$mooth · 06/12/2012, 11:34 AM

I have a cycling question. I just set up a 120 gallon tank with live rock online straight from the Fuji Island and some Largo Dry Rock. I put the live rock and dry rock in the tank with water 3 quarters full with two powerheads running on June 1st. since then I did two partial water changes and when I tested the water couple days ago it showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 20 ppm for nitrate. That seems super fast for the cycling process and wanted to know if that seems right. I had a saltwater tank before but don’t remember it being that fast. Any comments is appreciated! if its done cycling when can i start adding sps corals??? im planning on doing a sps tank

The dry rock is from here. nothing on it.
http://www.marcorocks.com/50poundbox...inentalus.aspx

thegrun · 06/12/2012, 11:43 AM

Did you ever get ammonia and/or nitrite readings above zero? If so and they dropped down to zero your initial cycle is complete. You are a long way from being ready to add SPS coral however. First off you are going to need to reduce your nitrate levels to zero as most SPS corals will not tolerate nitrates. Secondly you are going to want to be sure all your tank's chemistry (primarily alkalinity, calcium and magnesium) is stable and at the correct levels, for new tank owners this often takes six months. Many of the soft corals may be added without pristine water conditions but SPS demands the highest water quality and stability.

yh1185 · 06/12/2012, 11:56 AM

You have to add a source of ammonia (raw shrimp/ghost feeding) in order for a cycle to start/complete. Once you see an ammonia spike, and then 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and some value for nitrates. you know your cycle has run it's course. You should also see an algae bloom towards the end. (i like to let the bloom occur, and then let it go another week before i add stuff.)

As far as being ready for SPS. Yes it's recommended to wait 6months for the tank to become stable and blah blah blah. After my tank cycled i threw in my CUC, and some fish and some LPS/softies so i could verify that my tank could support corals. I measured my Ca/Alk/Mag/nitrates/nitrites throughout that month, so i could keep a watch on it. After about a month i decided to buy an SPS piece to try it out, and i had no problems. So yes it's recommended to wait a long time, but if your good about testing, and watching your params, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get some SPS in there in about a month or so. I just wouldn't go crazy and buy 1000$ worth of SPS right away. Ease your way into it. Good luck!

btw my tank does have a noticeable nitrates reading, and my sps are all doing fine with some nice polyp extension.

spkentchai · 06/13/2012, 01:12 AM

Go slow and be patience.

Michigan Mike · 06/13/2012, 06:29 AM

If nitrates are at 20 I think your good. Water change and start slow.

PMazz · 06/13/2012, 06:41 AM

Seems too good to be true. I would wait it out for a bit and keep testing every 12 hrs.

fishy888 · 06/13/2012, 08:17 AM

How much live rock do you have? I have experienced relatively quick cycles when using 1 lb/gallon of sand and 1 lb/gallon of live rock. My cycle took about 2 weeks. This was my last tank. I have one which is cycling but it will take longer as I am going for a patch reef style and will use a bit less than 1 lb/gallon of lr.

$mooth · 06/13/2012, 11:00 AM

i have 45lb of live rock from fuji, 10lb of live rock from LFS and 100lb of dry rocks from marco rocks. all are in about 80 gallons of water with a heater and two powerheads.

06/12/2012, 11:34 AM	#1
$mooth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 19	Cycling Question I have a cycling question. I just set up a 120 gallon tank with live rock online straight from the Fuji Island and some Largo Dry Rock. I put the live rock and dry rock in the tank with water 3 quarters full with two powerheads running on June 1st. since then I did two partial water changes and when I tested the water couple days ago it showed 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 20 ppm for nitrate. That seems super fast for the cycling process and wanted to know if that seems right. I had a saltwater tank before but don’t remember it being that fast. Any comments is appreciated! if its done cycling when can i start adding sps corals??? im planning on doing a sps tank The dry rock is from here. nothing on it. http://www.marcorocks.com/50poundbox...inentalus.aspx

06/12/2012, 11:56 AM	#3
yh1185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 279	You have to add a source of ammonia (raw shrimp/ghost feeding) in order for a cycle to start/complete. Once you see an ammonia spike, and then 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and some value for nitrates. you know your cycle has run it's course. You should also see an algae bloom towards the end. (i like to let the bloom occur, and then let it go another week before i add stuff.) As far as being ready for SPS. Yes it's recommended to wait 6months for the tank to become stable and blah blah blah. After my tank cycled i threw in my CUC, and some fish and some LPS/softies so i could verify that my tank could support corals. I measured my Ca/Alk/Mag/nitrates/nitrites throughout that month, so i could keep a watch on it. After about a month i decided to buy an SPS piece to try it out, and i had no problems. So yes it's recommended to wait a long time, but if your good about testing, and watching your params, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get some SPS in there in about a month or so. I just wouldn't go crazy and buy 1000$ worth of SPS right away. Ease your way into it. Good luck! btw my tank does have a noticeable nitrates reading, and my sps are all doing fine with some nice polyp extension. __________________ 40b, bh2000 skimmer, 48X3w Cree LED Eshine Systems with a sun-rise/set controller. 2X750gph koralia evolution powerheads

06/12/2012, 11:43 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Did you ever get ammonia and/or nitrite readings above zero? If so and they dropped down to zero your initial cycle is complete. You are a long way from being ready to add SPS coral however. First off you are going to need to reduce your nitrate levels to zero as most SPS corals will not tolerate nitrates. Secondly you are going to want to be sure all your tank's chemistry (primarily alkalinity, calcium and magnesium) is stable and at the correct levels, for new tank owners this often takes six months. Many of the soft corals may be added without pristine water conditions but SPS demands the highest water quality and stability.

06/13/2012, 01:12 AM	#4
spkentchai Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 12	Go slow and be patience.

06/13/2012, 06:29 AM	#5
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	If nitrates are at 20 I think your good. Water change and start slow.

06/13/2012, 06:41 AM	#6
PMazz Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 82	Seems too good to be true. I would wait it out for a bit and keep testing every 12 hrs.

06/13/2012, 08:17 AM	#7
fishy888 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 156	How much live rock do you have? I have experienced relatively quick cycles when using 1 lb/gallon of sand and 1 lb/gallon of live rock. My cycle took about 2 weeks. This was my last tank. I have one which is cycling but it will take longer as I am going for a patch reef style and will use a bit less than 1 lb/gallon of lr.

06/13/2012, 11:00 AM	#8
$mooth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 19	i have 45lb of live rock from fuji, 10lb of live rock from LFS and 100lb of dry rocks from marco rocks. all are in about 80 gallons of water with a heater and two powerheads.