Cycle this fast possible?

lougotzz · 04/04/2009, 06:31 PM

Hello, today I added cured fiji rock to my tank. I got a question. I decided to take an ammonia test for fun about 3 hours ago, I didnt think ammonia would actually register in the small amount of time the rock has been in (2-3 hours). My ammonia was registered at .5, so about 3 hours passed and I decided to see if it went up anymore. The ammonia registered as 0. So I decided to tank a nitrite test, and I am having registered nitrites. When you use cured rock does it always cycle the tank this fast? This is my first salt tank so I am not used to the cycle process. In a fresh water tank cycling takes so long to get registered nitrites. I have heard of other tanks cycling fast, but this seems really fast. Does this seem right?
Thanks, Lou.

HighlandReefer · 04/04/2009, 06:45 PM

Cured rock should have a good supply of bacteria come with it. Any food or dead items which can be found on cured rock can produce ammonia. If there are ample bacteria in this rock, then they will act on it quickly. Ammonia test kits are notoriously inaccurate. I do not have complete faith in their readings.

Nitrite in salt water is not toxic like it is in fresh water. I would not worry about the nitrite, except that it can cause false high nitrate readings using many of the nitrate test kits.

IMHO, the main thing to do when starting a new tank is to go slow on the number of fish and organisms you add. I would add only one at a time and watch your nitrates and phosphates. If your system cannot handle the increases in fish wastes and fish food, the nitrate and phosphate readings can go through the roof and lead to additional costs and headaches on your part.

lougotzz · 04/04/2009, 06:47 PM

When is it safe to add fish then? On a fresh tank I wait until the ammonia nitrite reads 0, and the nitrates are under 20. How do I tell with salt?

HighlandReefer · 04/04/2009, 06:56 PM

In a new saltwater tank, watching ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are the critical parameters I watch regarding adding new fish and coral. If any go up beyond the recommended parameters than I would not add any more. Allowing a good period of time between fish additions is a smart way to go. This will allow enough time to see any increases in these parameters from the new fish additions (fish excrement & unused fish food). Many reefer's biggest mistake is overfeeding the occupants of their tank.

Randy has written some very good articles that you may find helpful:

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

lougotzz · 04/04/2009, 09:35 PM

Alright, I will check my parameters in a couple of days or so, give the rock a chance to settlie in. One thing I think is really cool, I can see a worm burrowing through my sand. I can already tell salt blows fresh away.

04/04/2009, 06:31 PM	#1
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Cycle this fast possible? Hello, today I added cured fiji rock to my tank. I got a question. I decided to take an ammonia test for fun about 3 hours ago, I didnt think ammonia would actually register in the small amount of time the rock has been in (2-3 hours). My ammonia was registered at .5, so about 3 hours passed and I decided to see if it went up anymore. The ammonia registered as 0. So I decided to tank a nitrite test, and I am having registered nitrites. When you use cured rock does it always cycle the tank this fast? This is my first salt tank so I am not used to the cycle process. In a fresh water tank cycling takes so long to get registered nitrites. I have heard of other tanks cycling fast, but this seems really fast. Does this seem right? Thanks, Lou.

04/04/2009, 06:45 PM	#2
HighlandReefer Team RC Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist Posts: 14,591	Cured rock should have a good supply of bacteria come with it. Any food or dead items which can be found on cured rock can produce ammonia. If there are ample bacteria in this rock, then they will act on it quickly. Ammonia test kits are notoriously inaccurate. I do not have complete faith in their readings. Nitrite in salt water is not toxic like it is in fresh water. I would not worry about the nitrite, except that it can cause false high nitrate readings using many of the nitrate test kits. IMHO, the main thing to do when starting a new tank is to go slow on the number of fish and organisms you add. I would add only one at a time and watch your nitrates and phosphates. If your system cannot handle the increases in fish wastes and fish food, the nitrate and phosphate readings can go through the roof and lead to additional costs and headaches on your part. __________________ Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system

04/04/2009, 06:56 PM	#4
HighlandReefer Team RC Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Entomologist Posts: 14,591	In a new saltwater tank, watching ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are the critical parameters I watch regarding adding new fish and coral. If any go up beyond the recommended parameters than I would not add any more. Allowing a good period of time between fish additions is a smart way to go. This will allow enough time to see any increases in these parameters from the new fish additions (fish excrement & unused fish food). Many reefer's biggest mistake is overfeeding the occupants of their tank. Randy has written some very good articles that you may find helpful: The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php Reef Aquarium Water Parameters http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm __________________ Cliff Babcock Intestests: Digital Microscopy; Marine Pest Control; Marine Plants & Macroalgae Current Tank Info: 180 g. mixed reef system Last edited by HighlandReefer; 04/04/2009 at 07:02 PM.

04/04/2009, 06:47 PM	#3
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	When is it safe to add fish then? On a fresh tank I wait until the ammonia nitrite reads 0, and the nitrates are under 20. How do I tell with salt?

04/04/2009, 09:35 PM	#5
lougotzz Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,524	Alright, I will check my parameters in a couple of days or so, give the rock a chance to settlie in. One thing I think is really cool, I can see a worm burrowing through my sand. I can already tell salt blows fresh away.