Cycle Complete but No Nitrates

BWine · 04/02/2009, 05:56 PM

I started the cycle on my 210 gallon tank with 2 pieces of shrimp back on March 8th. I used all RO/DI water. It has about 200 lbs of dry LR and 120 lbs of dry sand. The Ammonia shot up as high as 4.0 ppm. That lasted about a week and a half. The Ammonia went to 0 ppm and Nitrite went up to 2.0 ppm. The Nitrite slowly receded over the last week and a half. Both Ammonia and Nitrite have been at 0 ppm for the last 3 days. I didn't bother checking Nitrates during the cycle because I didn't think they mattered until the end of the cycle. With my Nitrites and Ammonia at 0 ppm, I tested my Nitrates to see how high it had gotten. But to my surprise, Nitrates tested at 0 ppm yesterday.

Yesterday's Parameters:

Temp = 79
Sg = 1.024
Nitrite = 0 ppm
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 0 ppm
Phosphate = 0.5 ppm
Ph = 8.0
Mg = 1110
Alk = 4.34
Cal = 380

I think my cycle is over so I did a 50 gallon water change today. What do you think? Is it unusual to have 0 Nitrates at the end of a cycle? Or do I need to get a new Nitrate test kit?

tspors · 04/02/2009, 06:06 PM

I would still wait until May 8th before adding clean up crew. To big of a tank to rush it. Coral add around June and wait till July before you add any fish. Or you can rush it an pray.

matt880305 · 04/02/2009, 06:09 PM

no most likely your tank is just clean. so otherword you have no nitrates as the test kit says. and also was ALL the live rock you have dry? if it is you need to get some that is not dry and seed the dry stuff
and same with the sand.
Matt

BWine · 04/02/2009, 06:13 PM

Yes, all of the rock was dry. I plan on adding a few small pieces to seed the rock.

stingythingy45 · 04/02/2009, 06:22 PM

It's cycled IMO.
I would start with a clean up crew(CUC).
Try some snails,blue legged crabs,peppermint or emerald crabs...ect...ect.One or two small fish will also be fine.
Then wait at least two weeks before adding more.
If you are planning corals you could try some zoas.Just plain ones,nothing high end.
This tank is CYCLED.And yes it is a good idea to go slow.

BWine · 04/02/2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
It's cycled IMO.
I would start with a clean up crew(CUC).
Try some snails,blue legged crabs,peppermint or emerald crabs...ect...ect.One or two small fish will also be fine.
Then wait at least two weeks before adding more.
If you are planning corals you could try some zoas.Just plain ones,nothing high end.
This tank is CYCLED.And yes it is a good idea to go slow.

I think that I'm going to pick up a CUC this weekend. I already have a pair of black and white ocellaris clowns in QT. They have another week before they go in the display tank.

04/02/2009, 05:56 PM	#1
BWine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brandywine, MD Posts: 230	Cycle Complete but No Nitrates I started the cycle on my 210 gallon tank with 2 pieces of shrimp back on March 8th. I used all RO/DI water. It has about 200 lbs of dry LR and 120 lbs of dry sand. The Ammonia shot up as high as 4.0 ppm. That lasted about a week and a half. The Ammonia went to 0 ppm and Nitrite went up to 2.0 ppm. The Nitrite slowly receded over the last week and a half. Both Ammonia and Nitrite have been at 0 ppm for the last 3 days. I didn't bother checking Nitrates during the cycle because I didn't think they mattered until the end of the cycle. With my Nitrites and Ammonia at 0 ppm, I tested my Nitrates to see how high it had gotten. But to my surprise, Nitrates tested at 0 ppm yesterday. Yesterday's Parameters: Temp = 79 Sg = 1.024 Nitrite = 0 ppm Ammonia = 0 ppm Nitrate = 0 ppm Phosphate = 0.5 ppm Ph = 8.0 Mg = 1110 Alk = 4.34 Cal = 380 I think my cycle is over so I did a 50 gallon water change today. What do you think? Is it unusual to have 0 Nitrates at the end of a cycle? Or do I need to get a new Nitrate test kit? __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 75 gal Sump/Refugium, MSX300a Skimmer, 4 AI SOL Blues Last edited by BWine; 04/02/2009 at 06:02 PM.

04/02/2009, 06:06 PM	#2
tspors Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Appleton, WI. USA Posts: 774	I would still wait until May 8th before adding clean up crew. To big of a tank to rush it. Coral add around June and wait till July before you add any fish. Or you can rush it an pray. __________________ Everything is Good with Moderation. Current Tank Info: 150 Gal Oceanic, 30g Sump, Gen-X PCX-150 2250 gph, Red Sea Clasic Turbo Skimmer, 18w Turbo Twist UV, Ocean Clear Filter w/live rock, Several Buckets,

04/02/2009, 06:13 PM	#4
BWine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brandywine, MD Posts: 230	Yes, all of the rock was dry. I plan on adding a few small pieces to seed the rock. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 75 gal Sump/Refugium, MSX300a Skimmer, 4 AI SOL Blues

04/02/2009, 06:22 PM	#5
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	It's cycled IMO. I would start with a clean up crew(CUC). Try some snails,blue legged crabs,peppermint or emerald crabs...ect...ect.One or two small fish will also be fine. Then wait at least two weeks before adding more. If you are planning corals you could try some zoas.Just plain ones,nothing high end. This tank is CYCLED.And yes it is a good idea to go slow. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

04/02/2009, 06:09 PM	#3
matt880305 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: montgomery, il Posts: 844	no most likely your tank is just clean. so otherword you have no nitrates as the test kit says. and also was ALL the live rock you have dry? if it is you need to get some that is not dry and seed the dry stuff and same with the sand. Matt