Amonia/Nitrate/Nitrite Cycle?

Bruce Wayne · 01/03/2009, 02:30 AM

I have been told by a few different people about this cycle and their cycles don't match up? I have a 100 gallon with about 120 lbs of rock, about 70 was dead, sitting outside since july and the other 50 live rock, cured out of my 55 that I am upgrading from...I have been cycling for a little over a week now, I was planning on waiting another week and testing the water, if there are no phosphates or nitrates I was going to start moving livestock in...

I know everyone says to wait, wait, wait...I don't have a problem with waiting but I would like to know why, specifically...it does seem odd to me to wait a month with established live rock, I see coco pods at night, without knowing why...some people tell me to wait 6 months...

Michael · 01/03/2009, 02:46 AM

regardless of the timescale you think, you wont know without testing, best bet would have been to get a ammonia, nitrite and nitrate kit and test daily from the first day, writting all readings down, you would start to see the ammonia and nitrite rise then fall and at the same time nitrate start to rise, when the ammonia and nitrite were 0 for 2-3 days then you would have finished the initial cycle, a 20-25% water change would have helped reduce any nitrate formed and you could have started to add some cuc, if you never saw anything happen at all then youd know either way if it was cycled or not, i suggest getting some basic kits, the 3 i mentioned plus ph and get a thermometer for temperature and a refractometer for sg/salinity, this is a good start, get a log book and keep everything written down, when theres a problem and you solve it if it happens again then you have a written refernce to how to cure it, and

To Reef Central

sps1-2-b · 01/03/2009, 02:51 AM

IMO your cycle is done when ammonia and nitrite levels test zero. You could add your clean up crew and hardy fishes at this point. I think people say to wait six mos because the more sensitive livestock need a stable system. Some systems take up to a year to become stable. But I do recommend to go very slowly when adding livestock to let your beneficial bacteria keep up with the additions.

01/03/2009, 02:30 AM	#1
Bruce Wayne Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 297	Amonia/Nitrate/Nitrite Cycle? I have been told by a few different people about this cycle and their cycles don't match up? I have a 100 gallon with about 120 lbs of rock, about 70 was dead, sitting outside since july and the other 50 live rock, cured out of my 55 that I am upgrading from...I have been cycling for a little over a week now, I was planning on waiting another week and testing the water, if there are no phosphates or nitrates I was going to start moving livestock in... I know everyone says to wait, wait, wait...I don't have a problem with waiting but I would like to know why, specifically...it does seem odd to me to wait a month with established live rock, I see coco pods at night, without knowing why...some people tell me to wait 6 months...

01/03/2009, 02:46 AM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	regardless of the timescale you think, you wont know without testing, best bet would have been to get a ammonia, nitrite and nitrate kit and test daily from the first day, writting all readings down, you would start to see the ammonia and nitrite rise then fall and at the same time nitrate start to rise, when the ammonia and nitrite were 0 for 2-3 days then you would have finished the initial cycle, a 20-25% water change would have helped reduce any nitrate formed and you could have started to add some cuc, if you never saw anything happen at all then youd know either way if it was cycled or not, i suggest getting some basic kits, the 3 i mentioned plus ph and get a thermometer for temperature and a refractometer for sg/salinity, this is a good start, get a log book and keep everything written down, when theres a problem and you solve it if it happens again then you have a written refernce to how to cure it, and *To Reef Central* __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

01/03/2009, 02:51 AM	#3
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	IMO your cycle is done when ammonia and nitrite levels test zero. You could add your clean up crew and hardy fishes at this point. I think people say to wait six mos because the more sensitive livestock need a stable system. Some systems take up to a year to become stable. But I do recommend to go very slowly when adding livestock to let your beneficial bacteria keep up with the additions.