Weird Cycle Question

stagger19 · 11/11/2010, 09:05 PM

Hi, Ive had a few salt tanks up before and took them down for different reasons. Each time I took the tank down and then restarted it, I would place the rock in a rubbermaid container, and in a few days it would smell really bad so I know it was starting to cycle. after a few weeks it was cured (ammonia and nitrite would drop to zero) and I would setup my tank with it.

Last sat I started to cycle my rock, and so far the Ammonia and Nitrite are still zero. I have a heater in the bucket along with a power head to circulate the water, the salt is in the normal range.

Any ideas?

stagger19 · 11/12/2010, 03:52 PM

Do you think the rock is not cycling due to not enough die off on the rock to cause ammonia spike?

KeMo · 11/12/2010, 04:06 PM

were did this rock come from ? If you took down the tank and placed the rock right into a rubbermaid with the heater and power head you might not see die off. I would add a raw piece of shrimp and see if you get an ammonia spike or any traces of it...

Palting · 11/12/2010, 04:47 PM

Agree with KeMo. Add the shrimp. If you see an ammonia spike, then it's cycling. If no spike or instead you get nitrates, then it's cured.

stagger19 · 11/12/2010, 04:48 PM

Thanks KeMo & Palting I was thinking of trying the shrimp and see.

The rock was stored in my garage in a rubber maid container since Spring. Ive recycled rock a few times before and never had a problem with it not cycling, normally a few days into the cycle and u know its cycling with the smell.

11/11/2010, 09:05 PM	#1
stagger19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 122	Weird Cycle Question Hi, Ive had a few salt tanks up before and took them down for different reasons. Each time I took the tank down and then restarted it, I would place the rock in a rubbermaid container, and in a few days it would smell really bad so I know it was starting to cycle. after a few weeks it was cured (ammonia and nitrite would drop to zero) and I would setup my tank with it. Last sat I started to cycle my rock, and so far the Ammonia and Nitrite are still zero. I have a heater in the bucket along with a power head to circulate the water, the salt is in the normal range. Any ideas?

11/12/2010, 04:06 PM	#3
KeMo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 357	were did this rock come from ? If you took down the tank and placed the rock right into a rubbermaid with the heater and power head you might not see die off. I would add a raw piece of shrimp and see if you get an ammonia spike or any traces of it... __________________ 39Gal Reef Tank. 40 Lbs Fiji LR , 25 Lbs Fiji LS DeltecMce600,MP10-es Specs-ph8.0-8.3,salinity1.024-6,calcium450,alkalinity,8.4-9.4,magnesium1400.Temp.77-78 Blue Mandarin,BTA,Mushroom,ToadStool,Torch,cuc Current Tank Info: 30 gal Reef

11/12/2010, 04:47 PM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Agree with KeMo. Add the shrimp. If you see an ammonia spike, then it's cycling. If no spike or instead you get nitrates, then it's cured. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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11/12/2010, 03:52 PM	#2
stagger19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 122	Do you think the rock is not cycling due to not enough die off on the rock to cause ammonia spike?

11/12/2010, 04:48 PM	#5
stagger19 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 122	Thanks KeMo & Palting I was thinking of trying the shrimp and see. The rock was stored in my garage in a rubber maid container since Spring. Ive recycled rock a few times before and never had a problem with it not cycling, normally a few days into the cycle and u know its cycling with the smell.