Where's my cycle?

Jscwerve · 12/11/2015, 08:23 PM

Maybe I'm not being patient enough? I don't know. I set up this little 20 gallon tank to first get some of my dry rock to become live, and second, after I transfer the rock out, to act as a quarantine tank with few permanent residents.

Started the tank about 10 days ago. Started with 20lbs of the Carib Sea live sand, about 10lbs of live rock from the LFS and added about another 15 or so pounds from my big-box-o-dry-rock. Mixed up saltwater, and let er rip.

Initial water tests after two days running were phosphate 1.0, nitrate 5, and my salinity was a bit low at 1.020.

two days later did a 4 gallon (20%) water change with a higher salinity and brought it up to an acceptable 1.024 where it sits now. Also at this time I noticed several brittle star hitchhikers that had to come from LFS live rock as well as another small white starfish. Sponges on LFS live rock also growing well.

I had to go out of town for work for a few days, so I left it at that.

Testing today because things are popping up all over the tank now and I thought the numbers would be worse.

Phosphate 2.0, Nitrate big fat goose egg, salinity steady at 1.024, calcium 480, dkH 12.

I bought one of the "all in one" test kits and it doesn't have friggin ammonia or nitrites, so I'll get those numbers tomorrow.

Shouldn't at least the Nitrate be going up instead of disappearing? Stuff is spreading like crazy. Water is crystal clear.

Tank: 20 gallon tall
Flow: 2x Hydor Koralia 425s
Filter: canister with ceramic media and mesh filter (not the polishing mesh, the real coarse plastic stuff)
(before I catch an earful on this one, I am dilligent at cleaning this every other or every three days max. I've done the research, I know the issues that can be had. There is almost as much testimony out there praising them as there is bashing them.)
10lbs LFS cured live rock, 15 lbs dry.
Temp has been steady 80 since day one.

Just tell me I'm being impatient so I can go back to watching algae grow, lol.

daquan44 · 12/11/2015, 08:34 PM

Your phosphates are high. I keep mines below .03. Where did you get your dry/live rock?

Jscwerve · 12/11/2015, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daquan44

Your phosphates are high. I keep mines below .03. Where did you get your dry/live rock?

I knew that was high on phosphates, I actually thought they would be higher as well.

The wonderful world of Craigslist. It's good stuff. Former live rock that has been cleaned and whatever it is you do to make it turn stark white.

I wouldn't have used it if I wasn't starting from scratch, if it was crap I would only be out the $.75/lb I paid for it. It's mainly natural stuff:

daquan44 · 12/11/2015, 08:59 PM

I suspect that your rock is leeching phosphates into your tank. You might have to add GFO to your setup or lanthium chloride.

drillsar · 12/11/2015, 09:23 PM

I would sure check to see if Ammonia and Nitrites present. Your saying Nitrate is going down?

12/11/2015, 08:23 PM	#1
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	Where's my cycle? Maybe I'm not being patient enough? I don't know. I set up this little 20 gallon tank to first get some of my dry rock to become live, and second, after I transfer the rock out, to act as a quarantine tank with few permanent residents. Started the tank about 10 days ago. Started with 20lbs of the Carib Sea live sand, about 10lbs of live rock from the LFS and added about another 15 or so pounds from my big-box-o-dry-rock. Mixed up saltwater, and let er rip. Initial water tests after two days running were phosphate 1.0, nitrate 5, and my salinity was a bit low at 1.020. two days later did a 4 gallon (20%) water change with a higher salinity and brought it up to an acceptable 1.024 where it sits now. Also at this time I noticed several brittle star hitchhikers that had to come from LFS live rock as well as another small white starfish. Sponges on LFS live rock also growing well. I had to go out of town for work for a few days, so I left it at that. Testing today because things are popping up all over the tank now and I thought the numbers would be worse. Phosphate 2.0, Nitrate big fat goose egg, salinity steady at 1.024, calcium 480, dkH 12. I bought one of the "all in one" test kits and it doesn't have friggin ammonia or nitrites, so I'll get those numbers tomorrow. Shouldn't at least the Nitrate be going up instead of disappearing? Stuff is spreading like crazy. Water is crystal clear. Tank: 20 gallon tall Flow: 2x Hydor Koralia 425s Filter: canister with ceramic media and mesh filter (not the polishing mesh, the real coarse plastic stuff) (before I catch an earful on this one, I am dilligent at cleaning this every other or every three days max. I've done the research, I know the issues that can be had. There is almost as much testimony out there praising them as there is bashing them.) 10lbs LFS cured live rock, 15 lbs dry. Temp has been steady 80 since day one. Just tell me I'm being impatient so I can go back to watching algae grow, lol.

12/11/2015, 08:34 PM	#2
daquan44 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 75	Your phosphates are high. I keep mines below .03. Where did you get your dry/live rock?

12/11/2015, 08:59 PM	#4
daquan44 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 75	I suspect that your rock is leeching phosphates into your tank. You might have to add GFO to your setup or lanthium chloride.

12/11/2015, 09:23 PM	#5
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	I would sure check to see if Ammonia and Nitrites present. Your saying Nitrate is going down?