Tank cycling questions

Coralreef123 · 05/14/2014, 09:45 AM

Hello reefers! Last night i just added the LR,LS, and the filter im just using for flow and crushed LR. I know it takes about a month to get the levels stable. My questions are how often should i test the water for ph,nitrates, amonia etc? Should i be ghost feeding the tank? Right now im just letting it do its thing. Thanks.

Triggerfish · 05/14/2014, 10:17 AM

without a nitrogen source nitrifying bacteria will not grow.

add the nitrogen source. after about 2-3 weeks start testing nitrite once that hits zero good to go slowly.

chicagoreefer20 · 05/14/2014, 10:24 AM

There is usually die off from live rock, but wouldnt hurt to ghost feed or dose pure ammonia

zeroalpha · 05/14/2014, 10:29 AM

I was ghost feeding every other day and testing about every 2 to 3 days. I was told that once I saw an ammonia spike to just let the tank sit for about 3 to 4 weeks. I did exactly that. No water changes, didn't turn on the lights. Just let the process flow and checked my parameters of course. Good luck!

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 11:06 AM

when I started my cycle, I used Dr. tims bacteria, after I got the water rock and sand in, I tested the water to give me a base line, I added the bacteria and the recommended amount of ammonia, and then tested once a day at the same time of day(I did this to make sure I had an accuate reading)..you may not have to test every day but did because I was able..once I started seeing my ammonia drop I added more ammonia, I did this until My nitrites went to 0. it took about 2 weeks

Coralreef123 · 05/14/2014, 12:54 PM

Are you sure i need th nitrogen source to cycle the tank? Ive heard alot that people use live rock, live sand, and powerheads. Any opinions on this? Will the tank cycle with just live rock and sand?

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 03:05 PM

Bacteria is a living thing, so it needs food, food, waste will break down to ammonia, which feeds the bacteria, Then that is processed in to nitrites, and then finally nitrates..this is the short and sweet version..So yes you need the ammonia to start the process..There could be enough dead matter on the live rock to start the process but if there is not, then your bacteria will die off

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 03:07 PM

Also you can start the process with a piece of raw shrimp from the grocery store, I didn't do that way I went the Dr. tims route..

MinnFish · 05/14/2014, 03:59 PM

Yes, you can start your cycle with LR/LS. It might take longer to cycle. It also depend on how cured the LR. UNCURED LR alone will have enough die off to start a cycle. CURED LR alone will cause a very weak cycle. But, ghost feeding cured LR will get a cycle going. Good luck.

05/14/2014, 09:45 AM	#1
Coralreef123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 46	Tank cycling questions Hello reefers! Last night i just added the LR,LS, and the filter im just using for flow and crushed LR. I know it takes about a month to get the levels stable. My questions are how often should i test the water for ph,nitrates, amonia etc? Should i be ghost feeding the tank? Right now im just letting it do its thing. Thanks.

05/14/2014, 10:17 AM	#2
Triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 3,391	without a nitrogen source nitrifying bacteria will not grow. add the nitrogen source. after about 2-3 weeks start testing nitrite once that hits zero good to go slowly. Last edited by Triggerfish; 05/14/2014 at 10:32 AM.

05/14/2014, 10:29 AM	#4
zeroalpha Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 56	I was ghost feeding every other day and testing about every 2 to 3 days. I was told that once I saw an ammonia spike to just let the tank sit for about 3 to 4 weeks. I did exactly that. No water changes, didn't turn on the lights. Just let the process flow and checked my parameters of course. Good luck! __________________ "Do or do not, there is no try." Tank: 90G reef, 120lbs of live rock, .5 to 1 inch of medium sand, 2 eBay 165w LEDs, 3 hydor 1150 powerheads, sc302 180 skimmer in a 10g sump, 1 150w heater. Current Tank Info: Livestock: CuC: ~60 snails (Cerith, Nerite, Nassarius), 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 dwarf blue leg hermit

05/14/2014, 11:06 AM	#5
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	when I started my cycle, I used Dr. tims bacteria, after I got the water rock and sand in, I tested the water to give me a base line, I added the bacteria and the recommended amount of ammonia, and then tested once a day at the same time of day(I did this to make sure I had an accuate reading)..you may not have to test every day but did because I was able..once I started seeing my ammonia drop I added more ammonia, I did this until My nitrites went to 0. it took about 2 weeks __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

05/14/2014, 03:05 PM	#7
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	Bacteria is a living thing, so it needs food, food, waste will break down to ammonia, which feeds the bacteria, Then that is processed in to nitrites, and then finally nitrates..this is the short and sweet version..So yes you need the ammonia to start the process..There could be enough dead matter on the live rock to start the process but if there is not, then your bacteria will die off __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

05/14/2014, 10:24 AM	#3
chicagoreefer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 199	There is usually die off from live rock, but wouldnt hurt to ghost feed or dose pure ammonia

05/14/2014, 12:54 PM	#6
Coralreef123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 46	Are you sure i need th nitrogen source to cycle the tank? Ive heard alot that people use live rock, live sand, and powerheads. Any opinions on this? Will the tank cycle with just live rock and sand?

05/14/2014, 03:07 PM	#8
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	Also you can start the process with a piece of raw shrimp from the grocery store, I didn't do that way I went the Dr. tims route.. __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

05/14/2014, 03:59 PM	#9
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Yes, you can start your cycle with LR/LS. It might take longer to cycle. It also depend on how cured the LR. UNCURED LR alone will have enough die off to start a cycle. CURED LR alone will cause a very weak cycle. But, ghost feeding cured LR will get a cycle going. Good luck. __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle