My Cycle Experience

spmorgan · 08/28/2012, 10:45 AM

After being out of the game for 7 years, I'm back with an IM 38 (see my build post). Anyway, thought I would post my cycling experience with this tank.

I purchased 25 lbs Caribsea Live Sand, used 15 lbs of dry rock, and used 20-25 lbs of live rock. I started with about 10 lbs of live rock.

I cycled using fish. I started with a Firefish Goby. I know, apparently this isn't in vogue anymore, but, I've always cycled with fish and never had any die off. I put the goby in after the tank was up for two days.

After a few days, I noticed that there wasn't really anything happening in the tank, with all parameters continuing to read 0 as best I could tell with API test kit. Ammonia was probably somewhere between 0 and .25, but you know those test kits...

So, I threw in a cleanup crew of a few snails and hermits. After a few more days, same deal. I decided to go ahead and move forward assuming the live sand and cured rock had already taken hold. I got a green bubble coral and two O Clowns around a week in.

Around day 9 I saw some diatoms bloom. This continued for about 4 days and died off. The bubble coral didn't seem to like the diatoms. He started to turn a bit brown. He also became an unwilling host for the two O clowns.

I picked up a Dendro and some purple mushrooms around day 12.

I then started to get some green algae around day 12. I've been running AI Sol LED's since day 1.

I'm currently on day 20. I have quite a bit of green algae growth (basic encrusting type) on my base rock that wasn't already covered in coralline. I have coralline starting to grow in several spots on my base rock where algae was.

I moved the bubble away from the clowns, and he is looking quite well now, having shed his brown color (I believe he picked up from the diatoms) and now turning green again. Everyone is eating a lot (dendro, bubble, fish, yes, even the hermits).

So, besides the current green algae bloom, I think the cycle has gone amazing. I don't really feel like the tank cycled through the N cycle at all because of the live sand and cured rock I put in as I never saw any Nitrite, Nitrate, or Ammonia (maybe a hair).

Shawn

spmorgan · 08/28/2012, 07:54 PM

Here is what the tank looked like on day 15, notice the green algae. I assume this is part of the nutrient cycle:

Fretfreak13 · 08/28/2012, 08:02 PM

Following. It's interesting to see someone do something different sometimes. I know it's not necessarily "right", but seeing as you started with all live rock and sand its obviously a bit different than someone who didn't.

Its somewhat refreshing to see that you haven't been flamed by random people here who are probably still new into the hobby themselves, but were told they needed to cycle a certain way and that you'll go to hell if you do it by any other means.

I love your scape, by the way. =)

dzfish17 · 08/28/2012, 08:59 PM

For a lot of us "old timers", cycling with fish was just the way we did it. Things are different today and there are other ways to cycle (pure ammonia, shrimp, or ghost feeding) without subjecting the fish to high ammonia levels. Like stated, you probably didnt see a spike because of the LR. Most of the folks on RC recommend a "fishless cycle" so I do the same.

Your tank looks great.

las · 09/02/2012, 12:56 PM

is it fair to assume that, using a proper amount of cured live rock and a protein skimmer from the start, you would skip the nitrogen cycle? almost like using a sponge filter from ur sump to start up a quarantine tank?

sporto0 · 09/02/2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by las

is it fair to assume that, using a proper amount of cured live rock and a protein skimmer from the start, you would skip the nitrogen cycle? almost like using a sponge filter from ur sump to start up a quarantine tank?

It is not fair to assume that at all, just because live rock is "cured" means nothing, it must have a dentrifying colony of bacteria living on it to make a difference with the nitrogen cycle, a protein skimmer does nothing for the cycle.

spmorgan · 09/02/2012, 04:29 PM

Wouldn't cured live rock contain plenty of bacteria? I mean, cured live rock generally means that it has gone through the die off (ammonia spike) and would have grown bacteria during that time. To me, rocks that are "cured" would mean that the rocks were cycled.

What other definition of "cured" would we have?

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liv...-Live-Rock.htm

planedoc · 09/02/2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmorgan

Wouldn't cured live rock contain plenty of bacteria? I mean, cured live rock generally means that it has gone through the die off (ammonia spike) and would have grown bacteria during that time. To me, rocks that are "cured" would mean that the rocks were cycled.

What other definition of "cured" would we have?

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liv...-Live-Rock.htm

I agree 100%.
One thing to remember is not all cured rock is equal. If you have it shipped you will have die off that needs addressed. I'm lucky to live within driving distance of PA and started my tank with no cycle. I still did not add any fish for 30 days I tested and never saw ammonia or nitrite or nitrate spike. 4 months later with 15 fish still nothing.

08/28/2012, 10:45 AM	#1
spmorgan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 31	My Cycle Experience After being out of the game for 7 years, I'm back with an IM 38 (see my build post). Anyway, thought I would post my cycling experience with this tank. I purchased 25 lbs Caribsea Live Sand, used 15 lbs of dry rock, and used 20-25 lbs of live rock. I started with about 10 lbs of live rock. I cycled using fish. I started with a Firefish Goby. I know, apparently this isn't in vogue anymore, but, I've always cycled with fish and never had any die off. I put the goby in after the tank was up for two days. After a few days, I noticed that there wasn't really anything happening in the tank, with all parameters continuing to read 0 as best I could tell with API test kit. Ammonia was probably somewhere between 0 and .25, but you know those test kits... So, I threw in a cleanup crew of a few snails and hermits. After a few more days, same deal. I decided to go ahead and move forward assuming the live sand and cured rock had already taken hold. I got a green bubble coral and two O Clowns around a week in. Around day 9 I saw some diatoms bloom. This continued for about 4 days and died off. The bubble coral didn't seem to like the diatoms. He started to turn a bit brown. He also became an unwilling host for the two O clowns. I picked up a Dendro and some purple mushrooms around day 12. I then started to get some green algae around day 12. I've been running AI Sol LED's since day 1. I'm currently on day 20. I have quite a bit of green algae growth (basic encrusting type) on my base rock that wasn't already covered in coralline. I have coralline starting to grow in several spots on my base rock where algae was. I moved the bubble away from the clowns, and he is looking quite well now, having shed his brown color (I believe he picked up from the diatoms) and now turning green again. Everyone is eating a lot (dendro, bubble, fish, yes, even the hermits). So, besides the current green algae bloom, I think the cycle has gone amazing. I don't really feel like the tank cycled through the N cycle at all because of the live sand and cured rock I put in as I never saw any Nitrite, Nitrate, or Ammonia (maybe a hair). Shawn

08/28/2012, 08:02 PM	#3
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Following. It's interesting to see someone do something different sometimes. I know it's not necessarily "right", but seeing as you started with all live rock and sand its obviously a bit different than someone who didn't. Its somewhat refreshing to see that you haven't been flamed by random people here who are probably still new into the hobby themselves, but were told they needed to cycle a certain way and that you'll go to hell if you do it by any other means. I love your scape, by the way. =) __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

08/28/2012, 08:59 PM	#4
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	For a lot of us "old timers", cycling with fish was just the way we did it. Things are different today and there are other ways to cycle (pure ammonia, shrimp, or ghost feeding) without subjecting the fish to high ammonia levels. Like stated, you probably didnt see a spike because of the LR. Most of the folks on RC recommend a "fishless cycle" so I do the same. Your tank looks great. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

08/28/2012, 07:54 PM	#2
spmorgan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 31	Here is what the tank looked like on day 15, notice the green algae. I assume this is part of the nutrient cycle:

09/02/2012, 12:56 PM	#5
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	is it fair to assume that, using a proper amount of cured live rock and a protein skimmer from the start, you would skip the nitrogen cycle? almost like using a sponge filter from ur sump to start up a quarantine tank?

09/02/2012, 04:29 PM	#7
spmorgan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 31	Wouldn't cured live rock contain plenty of bacteria? I mean, cured live rock generally means that it has gone through the die off (ammonia spike) and would have grown bacteria during that time. To me, rocks that are "cured" would mean that the rocks were cycled. What other definition of "cured" would we have? http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/liv...-Live-Rock.htm