Cycled tank without nitrates

SuperNemo · 09/15/2010, 09:29 PM

hi, my tank has been cycling for 8 weeks now, i used the raw shrimp method with base rock and dry sand (a total of three medium size shrimp has been added and dissolved).

The cycle has completed, but i dont seem to have any nitrates. It just seems strange. There is no algae on the rock either.

I have been testing every other day after week 7 and amnoina, nitrite are at zero.

i am currently feed the tank with half a raw shrimp to keep bacteria live while i research a CUC and looking into a pair of true percula (clown fish)

so my question is, is it possible to have a fully cycled tank without a spike in nitrate.

Tuscaquatics · 09/15/2010, 09:38 PM

Pretty strange. Did you ever get an ammonia spike?

What size tank? How much rock? What sort of filtration?

Give more details.

Mavrk · 09/15/2010, 09:59 PM

The nitrate could have been absorbed into the rock (it might leech out later). Right now I would say your bacteria can handle livestock equal to about 1 shrimp

Put in a few snails and see how they do. You are going to have to stock slowly because of the lack of critters. Try to get a little live sand or a single live rock or you won't have any of the little critters you want. The other option is to buy some pods.

SuperNemo · 09/15/2010, 10:08 PM

i got an amonia spike around week three. the tank is a 125G 72x18x22 tank (filled to approximately 13.5 inches) with a 55G sump with 13inch baffles and 15inch refug. total volume of water would be approximately 100G. The tank has 80lbs of sand and 150lbs of live rock.

I already have a plan to buy snails/pods from reefcleaners. I was just wondering about eh nitrate issue. maybe three shrimp doesn't produce enough of a nitrate lvl.

Mavrk · 09/15/2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperNemo

hi, my tank has been cycling for 8 weeks now, i used the raw shrimp method with base rock and dry sand

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperNemo

The tank has 80lbs of sand and 150lbs of live rock.

I already have a plan to buy snails/pods from reefcleaners. I was just wondering about eh nitrate issue. maybe three shrimp doesn't produce enough of a nitrate lvl.

You said base rock, so I assumed that it was not live rock. My mistake. If you have that then you should be good to go. However, I would not get a large CUC to start. You have no algae to feed them anyway, but also your tank is new. You can always add more later.

FWIW, I have had good experience with reefcleaners.org so you should be happy with them.

Edit: btw, you don't need the shrimp with live rock

SuperNemo · 09/16/2010, 02:20 AM

thanks mavrk, i'm planning on getting the cuc soon. also have plans to feed them dried seaweed for a while until i can get the tank more established.

i'm sure there are leftover shrimp bits in the sand and rock they can eat up.

julie180 · 09/16/2010, 09:31 AM

I would wait on the pods. They probably will not feed on dried algae.

09/15/2010, 09:29 PM	#1
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	Cycled tank without nitrates hi, my tank has been cycling for 8 weeks now, i used the raw shrimp method with base rock and dry sand (a total of three medium size shrimp has been added and dissolved). The cycle has completed, but i dont seem to have any nitrates. It just seems strange. There is no algae on the rock either. I have been testing every other day after week 7 and amnoina, nitrite are at zero. i am currently feed the tank with half a raw shrimp to keep bacteria live while i research a CUC and looking into a pair of true percula (clown fish) so my question is, is it possible to have a fully cycled tank without a spike in nitrate.

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09/15/2010, 09:38 PM	#2
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	Pretty strange. Did you ever get an ammonia spike? What size tank? How much rock? What sort of filtration? Give more details.

09/15/2010, 09:59 PM	#3
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	The nitrate could have been absorbed into the rock (it might leech out later). Right now I would say your bacteria can handle livestock equal to about 1 shrimp Put in a few snails and see how they do. You are going to have to stock slowly because of the lack of critters. Try to get a little live sand or a single live rock or you won't have any of the little critters you want. The other option is to buy some pods.

09/15/2010, 10:08 PM	#4
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	i got an amonia spike around week three. the tank is a 125G 72x18x22 tank (filled to approximately 13.5 inches) with a 55G sump with 13inch baffles and 15inch refug. total volume of water would be approximately 100G. The tank has 80lbs of sand and 150lbs of live rock. I already have a plan to buy snails/pods from reefcleaners. I was just wondering about eh nitrate issue. maybe three shrimp doesn't produce enough of a nitrate lvl.

09/16/2010, 02:20 AM	#6
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	thanks mavrk, i'm planning on getting the cuc soon. also have plans to feed them dried seaweed for a while until i can get the tank more established. i'm sure there are leftover shrimp bits in the sand and rock they can eat up.

09/16/2010, 09:31 AM	#7
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	I would wait on the pods. They probably will not feed on dried algae.