Quick Cycle or mini cycle?

FlamesFan · 04/08/2008, 08:24 PM

I got 130lbs of live rock shipped to me last thursday. 2 days after putting it in I tested for nitrates and the vile was so pink/purple I couldnt see through it registering a good cycle. Now 5 days after putting the rock in I test again and the vile shows the lightest shade of pink/purple indicating a nitrate level of 10. By tomorow it should register 0 by "theory".

The question im asking; Is my tank going through a mini cycle and going to cycle again after this? Or is this just really good rock and it might settle at zero? I've heard rumors of people having 7 day cycle times but the average here on reef central seems to be 3-4 weeks.

I was kinda banking on a long cycle as im leaving for vacation for a couple weeks with a room mate baby sitting the "cycling" tank, but if I could get some cleaners in there while im gone that would be a bonus.

demonsp · 04/08/2008, 08:27 PM

If the rock had little dieoff then a mini,lots of dieoff then major.Whats the ammonia level?

FlamesFan · 04/08/2008, 08:46 PM

Ammonia level test reports 0 ammonia in the tank.

FlamesFan · 04/08/2008, 11:02 PM

Once nitrates are at zero, will they not spike up? Im not sure if cycles fluctuate up and down.

Curtis1551 · 04/09/2008, 05:08 AM

My neighbor had a tank that I helped maintain and it cycled in only a few days. It was hard to believe, but the tank successfully sustained life.

04/08/2008, 08:24 PM	#1
FlamesFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 378	Quick Cycle or mini cycle? I got 130lbs of live rock shipped to me last thursday. 2 days after putting it in I tested for nitrates and the vile was so pink/purple I couldnt see through it registering a good cycle. Now 5 days after putting the rock in I test again and the vile shows the lightest shade of pink/purple indicating a nitrate level of 10. By tomorow it should register 0 by "theory". The question im asking; Is my tank going through a mini cycle and going to cycle again after this? Or is this just really good rock and it might settle at zero? I've heard rumors of people having 7 day cycle times but the average here on reef central seems to be 3-4 weeks. I was kinda banking on a long cycle as im leaving for vacation for a couple weeks with a room mate baby sitting the "cycling" tank, but if I could get some cleaners in there while im gone that would be a bonus.

04/09/2008, 05:08 AM	#5
Curtis1551 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 62	My neighbor had a tank that I helped maintain and it cycled in only a few days. It was hard to believe, but the tank successfully sustained life. __________________ ~Curtis 55 gal FOWLR -Citron Clown Goby -Lawnmower Blenny -Ocellaris Clownfish -Purple Urchin Current Tank Info: 55g FOWLR

04/08/2008, 08:27 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If the rock had little dieoff then a mini,lots of dieoff then major.Whats the ammonia level?

04/08/2008, 08:46 PM	#3
FlamesFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 378	Ammonia level test reports 0 ammonia in the tank.

04/08/2008, 11:02 PM	#4
FlamesFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 378	Once nitrates are at zero, will they not spike up? Im not sure if cycles fluctuate up and down.