Cycling

Soldaneg · 02/12/2009, 11:49 AM

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the world of saltwater aquarium and have a question regarding cycling. I have had water circulating in the system for about 1 or 2 weeks and on Sunday added about twenty pounds of live sand and some live rock rubble that a friend of mine has been using in his refugium for months. On Monday I bought about 50 lbs of live rock from a LFS and added it to the tanks. A few small crabs and some dead worms piggybacked along with the rock. I have been testing my water everyday since Monday and have yet to have any signs of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates. Is it possible that the used of "cycled" live sand and rock had enough nitrifying bacteria survived to make cycling on my new tank nonexistant?

Fish_wiz2 · 02/12/2009, 12:06 PM

i would give it some more time, might be a "trick" before things start showing

thegrun · 02/12/2009, 12:28 PM

Wait at least a couple of weeks! We've all been there, anxious to keep something live in the tank. A year from now you will not remember the wait, but you will remember your experience if you stock to soon, your tank crashes and you send the inhabitance of your tank to an early grave! The use of a friends live sand and rock should help speed up the process and reduce the spike, but a spike is still likely. If you have seen a "few dead worms", it is safe to assume there are many more hidden in the holes of your new live rock. After a couple of weeks, if your ammonia and nitrites are next to undetectable, you can try introducing some corals (corals before fish) or fish if a going for a fish only tank. Force yourself to limit your fish additions to no more than one fish a week (two small fish are usually okay). You can add more coral at a time as they do not add much (if any) bio-load to your tank.

alextheromanian · 02/12/2009, 12:50 PM

give it a nother week or two...maybe there wasnt enough dieoff in the live stuff you threw in there to cause a problem...

you might be right but giving it time is the right thing to do to be on the safe side of things.

02/12/2009, 11:49 AM	#1
Soldaneg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 7	Cycling Hi Everyone, I am new to the world of saltwater aquarium and have a question regarding cycling. I have had water circulating in the system for about 1 or 2 weeks and on Sunday added about twenty pounds of live sand and some live rock rubble that a friend of mine has been using in his refugium for months. On Monday I bought about 50 lbs of live rock from a LFS and added it to the tanks. A few small crabs and some dead worms piggybacked along with the rock. I have been testing my water everyday since Monday and have yet to have any signs of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates. Is it possible that the used of "cycled" live sand and rock had enough nitrifying bacteria survived to make cycling on my new tank nonexistant?

02/12/2009, 12:06 PM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	i would give it some more time, might be a "trick" before things start showing __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

02/12/2009, 12:50 PM	#4
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	give it a nother week or two...maybe there wasnt enough dieoff in the live stuff you threw in there to cause a problem... you might be right but giving it time is the right thing to do to be on the safe side of things. __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

02/12/2009, 12:28 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Wait at least a couple of weeks! We've all been there, anxious to keep something live in the tank. A year from now you will not remember the wait, but you will remember your experience if you stock to soon, your tank crashes and you send the inhabitance of your tank to an early grave! The use of a friends live sand and rock should help speed up the process and reduce the spike, but a spike is still likely. If you have seen a "few dead worms", it is safe to assume there are many more hidden in the holes of your new live rock. After a couple of weeks, if your ammonia and nitrites are next to undetectable, you can try introducing some corals (corals before fish) or fish if a going for a fish only tank. Force yourself to limit your fish additions to no more than one fish a week (two small fish are usually okay). You can add more coral at a time as they do not add much (if any) bio-load to your tank.