Fast cycle without nitrite?

jselzler1 · 09/10/2012, 08:45 PM

Hello All,

I dont even want to ask the questions given the timeframe I understand about cycling but please someone give input. This is my first saltwater tank.

I have 55g corner. Stablized salinity and temperature over labor day weekend. Found a source of 70lbs LR having been cured for 5 months only 10 minute drive from home. I put all this LR in tank immediately on 3 Sept. I believe there was very little if any die off. I pulled ~10lbs out for my final aquascape. New sand substrate went in on 3rd. This was not live sand.

Ammonia tests on 3,4,5 september were 0. So after testing on 5 semptember I added 3 shrimp. Didn't test on 6th. On 7th ammonia was up to 0.5, 1.0 on 8th, 0.5 on 9th, and 0.2 today. During this entire time I have had readings of 0.0 for nitrite. The 8th I measured first reading of nitrate, 2.0, then 10.0 on 9th, now 20.0 today. I have not added any off the shelf bacteria or other supplements.

Is it time to pull out the shrimp and let the ammonia go to zero? Will I ever see any nitrites? After ammonia goes to zero & nitrites remain at zero, is this considered cycled, even in this short of time? Is this typical when starting with 100% good, cured, LR?

Thanks,

Jason

thegrun · 09/10/2012, 08:52 PM

You can pull the shrimp they have done their job. You will often not see nitrites until the ammonia has nearly zeroed out when using partially cured live rock, if at all. If you don't see any nitrites after a week of your ammonia zeroing out consider the initial cycle complete. You will need to make a large water change after the cycle is complete to reduce your nitrates.

coralsnaked · 09/11/2012, 11:02 AM

Sounds like you are in stage III of cycle. Shrimp should already be out.
Wait till:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 2 or less

Then do a 20% water change, retest after one day if all is same or better add your CUC and retest daily for one week, doing water changes at 10% if needed.

Happy Reefing

Fretfreak13 · 09/11/2012, 01:47 PM

I think you're fine. When my tank cycled the bacteria converted the nitrites over so fast that I didn't catch them at all when I tested. It went from .20 ppt ammonia one day and 0 on the other two, to three days later 0 on ammonia, 0 on nitrites, and .10ppt on nitrates.

Probably just converted over very quickly. From what it seems, it depends on how "live" your rock is and how much bateria and micro- organismsalreadty exists on it when you put it in your tank. Mine was very live, and even with a mega spike with the shrimp like you did, my whole tank finished cycling and went back to good parameters in only five days.

Pull that shrimp out (probably reeks, so plug your nose!), let the numbers ballence out, do a little water change, and off you go!

09/10/2012, 08:45 PM	#1
jselzler1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Shirley, MA Posts: 5	Fast cycle without nitrite? Hello All, I dont even want to ask the questions given the timeframe I understand about cycling but please someone give input. This is my first saltwater tank. I have 55g corner. Stablized salinity and temperature over labor day weekend. Found a source of 70lbs LR having been cured for 5 months only 10 minute drive from home. I put all this LR in tank immediately on 3 Sept. I believe there was very little if any die off. I pulled ~10lbs out for my final aquascape. New sand substrate went in on 3rd. This was not live sand. Ammonia tests on 3,4,5 september were 0. So after testing on 5 semptember I added 3 shrimp. Didn't test on 6th. On 7th ammonia was up to 0.5, 1.0 on 8th, 0.5 on 9th, and 0.2 today. During this entire time I have had readings of 0.0 for nitrite. The 8th I measured first reading of nitrate, 2.0, then 10.0 on 9th, now 20.0 today. I have not added any off the shelf bacteria or other supplements. Is it time to pull out the shrimp and let the ammonia go to zero? Will I ever see any nitrites? After ammonia goes to zero & nitrites remain at zero, is this considered cycled, even in this short of time? Is this typical when starting with 100% good, cured, LR? Thanks, Jason

09/11/2012, 01:47 PM	#4
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	I think you're fine. When my tank cycled the bacteria converted the nitrites over so fast that I didn't catch them at all when I tested. It went from .20 ppt ammonia one day and 0 on the other two, to three days later 0 on ammonia, 0 on nitrites, and .10ppt on nitrates. Probably just converted over very quickly. From what it seems, it depends on how "live" your rock is and how much bateria and micro- organismsalreadty exists on it when you put it in your tank. Mine was very live, and even with a mega spike with the shrimp like you did, my whole tank finished cycling and went back to good parameters in only five days. Pull that shrimp out (probably reeks, so plug your nose!), let the numbers ballence out, do a little water change, and off you go! __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

09/10/2012, 08:52 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You can pull the shrimp they have done their job. You will often not see nitrites until the ammonia has nearly zeroed out when using partially cured live rock, if at all. If you don't see any nitrites after a week of your ammonia zeroing out consider the initial cycle complete. You will need to make a large water change after the cycle is complete to reduce your nitrates.

09/11/2012, 11:02 AM	#3
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Sounds like you are in stage III of cycle. Shrimp should already be out. Wait till: Ammonia = 0 Nitrites = 0 Nitrates = 2 or less Then do a 20% water change, retest after one day if all is same or better add your CUC and retest daily for one week, doing water changes at 10% if needed. Happy Reefing