New tank syndrome

AfreeKanBlakk · 09/13/2009, 06:04 AM

A few weeks ago I started to cycle my tank. Ammo reads 0. while Nitrites reads off the chart. Dark purple. I have a deep sand bed not live though and no rock. Will a tank cycle without Liverock/livesand? Nitrites have been reading off the chart for 2 weeks now not a single change. I tested it on my 210 fowlr so the test kit is valid. I guess I'm just in for a long wait. I added clams from the grocery store to reduce the trites. They burrowed under the sand and are thriving. Any input on tanks cycling with the bare minimums would be appreciated.

EnglishRebel · 09/13/2009, 06:52 AM

To Reef Central

You need to get some life rock so the bacteria in it can reduce your nitrates and cycle the tank. Without any bacteria either in the rock or sand there will be no breakdown of wastes.

muttley000 · 09/13/2009, 07:02 AM

It will happen eventually, but a lot faster if you would move some sand (a few cup fulls) from your other tank to seded you sand bed. Are you planning on adding rock to this system later?

AfreeKanBlakk · 09/13/2009, 07:07 AM

was thinking of adding a few pieces later. not too much as its for my daughters room. went with with fake corals just for design effects. might have to go sooner though since the cycle isn't appearing to start. my other tank is bare-bottom. if i bought a bag of live sand maybe 10 - 20 bag, do you think that would kick start things. only planning on having a few fish so the bio load shouldn't be a problem. maybe even a goby and sea horse. Tank dimensions are 5' long x 3 1/2' high x 8 inches wide.

username in use · 09/13/2009, 07:19 AM

just take a rock from your existing tank, break it into a bunch of "rubble", a few inches across each, and than spread them around the sand bed. It might help to just push them down into the sand liek a 1/4 of the rock. This will get some bacteria into there, and it will spread into the sand in no time. THis is how I set up my new tank that I was moving into, so I didnt want a ton of rock in there before I moved. Sand and some rubbble for like 2-3 weeks and it was perfect.

AfreeKanBlakk · 09/13/2009, 09:13 AM

How well does bio-spura work?

09/13/2009, 06:04 AM	#1
AfreeKanBlakk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	New tank syndrome A few weeks ago I started to cycle my tank. Ammo reads 0. while Nitrites reads off the chart. Dark purple. I have a deep sand bed not live though and no rock. Will a tank cycle without Liverock/livesand? Nitrites have been reading off the chart for 2 weeks now not a single change. I tested it on my 210 fowlr so the test kit is valid. I guess I'm just in for a long wait. I added clams from the grocery store to reduce the trites. They burrowed under the sand and are thriving. Any input on tanks cycling with the bare minimums would be appreciated. __________________ Sink or Swim

09/13/2009, 06:52 AM	#2
EnglishRebel Retired Rebel Reefer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Triad NC Posts: 1,902	*To Reef Central* You need to get some life rock so the bacteria in it can reduce your nitrates and cycle the tank. Without any bacteria either in the rock or sand there will be no breakdown of wastes. __________________ Alan "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " Sir Winston Churchill praising those young RAF pilots. August 20th 1940 Click on my name for drop down list and select "Visit EnglishRebels Home Page" for my build thread. Current Tank Info: 60x30x24 200G AO custom glass tank, basement equipment room, 30G and 55G Fuges, LifeReef sump & 30" skimmer.

09/13/2009, 07:07 AM	#4
AfreeKanBlakk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	was thinking of adding a few pieces later. not too much as its for my daughters room. went with with fake corals just for design effects. might have to go sooner though since the cycle isn't appearing to start. my other tank is bare-bottom. if i bought a bag of live sand maybe 10 - 20 bag, do you think that would kick start things. only planning on having a few fish so the bio load shouldn't be a problem. maybe even a goby and sea horse. Tank dimensions are 5' long x 3 1/2' high x 8 inches wide. __________________ Sink or Swim

09/13/2009, 07:19 AM	#5
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	just take a rock from your existing tank, break it into a bunch of "rubble", a few inches across each, and than spread them around the sand bed. It might help to just push them down into the sand liek a 1/4 of the rock. This will get some bacteria into there, and it will spread into the sand in no time. THis is how I set up my new tank that I was moving into, so I didnt want a ton of rock in there before I moved. Sand and some rubbble for like 2-3 weeks and it was perfect. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

09/13/2009, 09:13 AM	#6
AfreeKanBlakk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	How well does bio-spura work? __________________ Sink or Swim

09/13/2009, 07:02 AM	#3
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	It will happen eventually, but a lot faster if you would move some sand (a few cup fulls) from your other tank to seded you sand bed. Are you planning on adding rock to this system later?