Noob cycle question

buttafuco13 · 06/16/2008, 07:51 PM

I set up my reef tank about 17 days ago. I have a Bc29 with about 25lb of Lr and 25lb Ls. I cycled with the lights off for about 12 days. i haven't had any outbreaks of any algae or diotoms. I am afraid to add livestock due to the fact I don't want to starve a CUC. Is this normal? I had the rock shipped in on second day air and seen a very small cycle.

My water parameters are: Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 5<10 Ph 8.4
Temp 80 SG 1.024

StevieTdrill · 06/16/2008, 08:04 PM

Turn the lights on and get your algae stages over. Let it sit out another week to be safe. Test again, do a water change. Let it sit. Add small clean up crew. Sit. Then add one small fish, do not rush this.

Did you see any ammonia or nitrite during the cycle?

buttafuco13 · 06/16/2008, 08:17 PM

What size water change would you recommend? It is a 29 but it is more like a 20/21 gallon 10/20/50% change?

jkrentz2515 · 06/16/2008, 09:30 PM

I do about 4-5 gallons every 2 weeks.

StevieTdrill · 06/17/2008, 08:46 AM

Recommended after your cycle to do a 20-30% water change.

Then after you tank gets running do 10% weekly

ddawson · 06/17/2008, 10:47 AM

Looking good. I'd up the SG to 1.025 or 1.026.

If you didn't see the cycle occur then the rock was pretty well cooked before you got it.

Start using the lights, and add a few snails to start with. They poop allot.

Check it daily to see if you get a mini cycle. Once that is clean start figuring out what your overall tank will be and start adding a few things.
I like to add fish last to give the pods time to get started.

weimers75 · 06/17/2008, 01:46 PM

I would hold off on the snails. If there's no algae, they won't be pooping

Turn on the lights and wait for a few days and add a small pinch of fish food to get the cycle going. If after a few days your parameters are still good, you can add a fish or a few hermits.

buttafuco13 · 06/17/2008, 05:07 PM

I wonder if the tank hasn't cycled yet with the no signs of any algae. I hate to add anything and the cycle start. I just know my girlfriend is getting a little impatient. haha

weimers75 · 06/18/2008, 08:48 AM

I'm not sure whether it has an impact or not, but I have never cycled a tank with the lights off, so that may play a role. Also, if you didn't add anything to kick start the cycle (like a small amount of food) then the bacteria might not have established itself. I'm not saying it hasn't cycled, but you should have noticed an ammonia and nitrate spike with the live rock alone...

I would turn on the lights, and add a pinch of food. If it has cycled, then you shouldn't see a spike from the addition of the food over the next few days, the bacteria do its job and will take care of it.

buttafuco13 · 06/21/2008, 04:22 PM

I put in some fish food then a day later I have a ditoms outbreak. Thanks for all the help guys!

06/16/2008, 07:51 PM	#1
buttafuco13 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Conway, Ar Posts: 5	Noob cycle question I set up my reef tank about 17 days ago. I have a Bc29 with about 25lb of Lr and 25lb Ls. I cycled with the lights off for about 12 days. i haven't had any outbreaks of any algae or diotoms. I am afraid to add livestock due to the fact I don't want to starve a CUC. Is this normal? I had the rock shipped in on second day air and seen a very small cycle. My water parameters are: Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 5<10 Ph 8.4 Temp 80 SG 1.024 Last edited by buttafuco13; 06/16/2008 at 08:12 PM.

06/17/2008, 10:47 AM	#6
ddawson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: San Mateo, CA Bay Area Posts: 872	Looking good. I'd up the SG to 1.025 or 1.026. If you didn't see the cycle occur then the rock was pretty well cooked before you got it. Start using the lights, and add a few snails to start with. They poop allot. Check it daily to see if you get a mini cycle. Once that is clean start figuring out what your overall tank will be and start adding a few things. I like to add fish last to give the pods time to get started. __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14, Rapid LED's

06/16/2008, 08:04 PM	#2
StevieTdrill Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 295	Turn the lights on and get your algae stages over. Let it sit out another week to be safe. Test again, do a water change. Let it sit. Add small clean up crew. Sit. Then add one small fish, do not rush this. Did you see any ammonia or nitrite during the cycle?

06/16/2008, 08:17 PM	#3
buttafuco13 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Conway, Ar Posts: 5	What size water change would you recommend? It is a 29 but it is more like a 20/21 gallon 10/20/50% change?

06/16/2008, 09:30 PM	#4
jkrentz2515 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mauerapolis Posts: 635	I do about 4-5 gallons every 2 weeks.

06/17/2008, 08:46 AM	#5
StevieTdrill Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 295	Recommended after your cycle to do a 20-30% water change. Then after you tank gets running do 10% weekly

06/17/2008, 01:46 PM	#7
weimers75 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toledo Posts: 614	I would hold off on the snails. If there's no algae, they won't be pooping Turn on the lights and wait for a few days and add a small pinch of fish food to get the cycle going. If after a few days your parameters are still good, you can add a fish or a few hermits.

06/17/2008, 05:07 PM	#8
buttafuco13 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Conway, Ar Posts: 5	I wonder if the tank hasn't cycled yet with the no signs of any algae. I hate to add anything and the cycle start. I just know my girlfriend is getting a little impatient. haha

06/18/2008, 08:48 AM	#9
weimers75 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toledo Posts: 614	I'm not sure whether it has an impact or not, but I have never cycled a tank with the lights off, so that may play a role. Also, if you didn't add anything to kick start the cycle (like a small amount of food) then the bacteria might not have established itself. I'm not saying it hasn't cycled, but you should have noticed an ammonia and nitrate spike with the live rock alone... I would turn on the lights, and add a pinch of food. If it has cycled, then you shouldn't see a spike from the addition of the food over the next few days, the bacteria do its job and will take care of it.

06/21/2008, 04:22 PM	#10
buttafuco13 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Conway, Ar Posts: 5	I put in some fish food then a day later I have a ditoms outbreak. Thanks for all the help guys!