Unfortunately Another Cycle Question

bu11itt · 09/27/2012, 02:48 PM

Quick question regarding the cycle on my 75gallon. Tank started with ~100 lbs dry rock and has a 3”-4” sandbed of dry sand. First a background of significant events and test results…

9/1/12 – Add ~ 6lbs live rock from LFS to supplement ~100lbs dry macrorocks. Add table shrimp in mesh bag
9/8/12 – Add ~2lbs of coralline covered live rock from different LFS
9/11/12 – Begin ghost feeding tank flakes and pellets (not really too stringent with this but doing it at least every other day)
9/17/12 – Check refractometer calibration, find it was off low; take approximately 3.5 gallons water out of sump and replace with RO/DI
9/19/12 – Add 6oz Dr. Tim’s One and Only (had the bottle already, so I figured why not)

Test Data

My question is regarding the rocks current state. I am not trying to rush into introducing fish (my YWG has at least 4 more weeks left in QT) but I have no algae growth, no bacterial bloom; the dry rocks are just as white as they were when I first put them in the tank. Based on the NH3 readings being zero since the 13th (excluding the 16th which could have been a operator error in reading the API NH3 test or I could have gotten a little overzealous on the flake feeding a day or two before) has the N2 cycle completed?

I am just wondering about timing for slowly adding a CUC which I plan to do it in stages. Due to my lack of bio-diversity from my very small amount of live rock I plan to start with a small assortment of bristle worms, a few nerite and strombus snails and some pods from IPSF, followed later by reefcleaners.org CUC. Is it appropriate to add the first stage of the CUC now?

Thanks.

Zappo · 09/27/2012, 03:41 PM

Have you been lighting the tank? If it's been in the dark, it probably won't show many signs of life. It sure looks like the cycle is complete, though. As for the CUC, I'd wait until you have signs of things growing in the tank. A good supply of food next month doesn't help them eat today. Add them when the rocks stop looking like they did the day you bought them. There's usually a green or brown tint that shows up before the initial algae explosion.

bu11itt · 09/29/2012, 06:23 AM

I had thought about the lack of light probably being an issue. I'm putting together some DIY LED fixtures and haven't really been rushing them because I didn't think I needed them yet.

I'll try to get them finished soon, but in the meantime would a 6,500k CFL or two in the canopy help to promote growth?

Zappo · 09/29/2012, 11:02 AM

There's no hurry. The only things that actually require light are corals and algae. You don't have corals yet, and algae is usually undesirable. With saltwater, unless the tank has sprung a leak, taking your time is never a bad thing. Skip the CFL bulbs. That's one kind of growth that you really shouldn't be trying to promote in the DT unless you're planning to fill it with algae grazers. There's nothing wrong with leaving the tank dark until you're ready to start adding livestock. It'll help stop the tank from being overrun with hair algae. For now the only thing that could use attention is the nitrate level. If it goes any higher, some of your planned cleanup crew might suffer.

09/27/2012, 02:48 PM	#1
bu11itt Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southwest, LA Posts: 122	Unfortunately Another Cycle Question Quick question regarding the cycle on my 75gallon. Tank started with ~100 lbs dry rock and has a 3”-4” sandbed of dry sand. First a background of significant events and test results… 9/1/12 – Add ~ 6lbs live rock from LFS to supplement ~100lbs dry macrorocks. Add table shrimp in mesh bag 9/8/12 – Add ~2lbs of coralline covered live rock from different LFS 9/11/12 – Begin ghost feeding tank flakes and pellets (not really too stringent with this but doing it at least every other day) 9/17/12 – Check refractometer calibration, find it was off low; take approximately 3.5 gallons water out of sump and replace with RO/DI 9/19/12 – Add 6oz Dr. Tim’s One and Only (had the bottle already, so I figured why not) Test Data My question is regarding the rocks current state. I am not trying to rush into introducing fish (my YWG has at least 4 more weeks left in QT) but I have no algae growth, no bacterial bloom; the dry rocks are just as white as they were when I first put them in the tank. Based on the NH3 readings being zero since the 13th (excluding the 16th which could have been a operator error in reading the API NH3 test or I could have gotten a little overzealous on the flake feeding a day or two before) has the N2 cycle completed? I am just wondering about timing for slowly adding a CUC which I plan to do it in stages. Due to my lack of bio-diversity from my very small amount of live rock I plan to start with a small assortment of bristle worms, a few nerite and strombus snails and some pods from IPSF, followed later by reefcleaners.org CUC. Is it appropriate to add the first stage of the CUC now? Thanks. __________________ - bu11itt

09/29/2012, 06:23 AM	#3
bu11itt Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southwest, LA Posts: 122	I had thought about the lack of light probably being an issue. I'm putting together some DIY LED fixtures and haven't really been rushing them because I didn't think I needed them yet. I'll try to get them finished soon, but in the meantime would a 6,500k CFL or two in the canopy help to promote growth? __________________ - bu11itt

09/27/2012, 03:41 PM	#2
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	Have you been lighting the tank? If it's been in the dark, it probably won't show many signs of life. It sure looks like the cycle is complete, though. As for the CUC, I'd wait until you have signs of things growing in the tank. A good supply of food next month doesn't help them eat today. Add them when the rocks stop looking like they did the day you bought them. There's usually a green or brown tint that shows up before the initial algae explosion.

09/29/2012, 11:02 AM	#4
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	There's no hurry. The only things that actually require light are corals and algae. You don't have corals yet, and algae is usually undesirable. With saltwater, unless the tank has sprung a leak, taking your time is never a bad thing. Skip the CFL bulbs. That's one kind of growth that you really shouldn't be trying to promote in the DT unless you're planning to fill it with algae grazers. There's nothing wrong with leaving the tank dark until you're ready to start adding livestock. It'll help stop the tank from being overrun with hair algae. For now the only thing that could use attention is the nitrate level. If it goes any higher, some of your planned cleanup crew might suffer.