Simple Cycle Question

Mike P · 05/11/2011, 06:22 PM

When I started my cycle I didn't know I'd have to leave on a trip for 3 weeks, so I didn't get to get readings for the first three weeks. When I came back (after 4 weeks) I still had low readings of ammonia and Nitrites. I tested it again on Monday (a week later) and the Am and trites were at 0 and my trates were at .5 with a diatom bloom in my sump/fuge, but not the tank itself.

In my knowledge once the Am and trites are at 0 and trates are present, the cycle is done. Right? Another thing I'm curious about is the Diatoms. Can they form before the cycle is done?

Here are the readings I DO have:

04.01 - Started cycle with 2 shrimp
Trip
04.29 - am .20, trite .10 trate 1.0
05.04 - am .05 trite 0 trate 0
05.09 - am 0 trite 0 trate .5
05.11 - am 0 trite 0 trate .5

These numbers seem a little weird to me, but I'm thinking it should be right.
Regardless of anything I'm still going to wait and test it out for a little while longer. Would a good way to test it be to put in a decent amount of fish food and see if the Am spikes again in the next day or two?

ColaAddict · 05/11/2011, 06:28 PM

Your tank is cycled. nothing weird about those reading to me. Time to add a good clean up crew before adding fish/coral. Diatoms can appear anytime and are annoying as heck, even for more mature tanks. The clean up crew can start cleaning up the diatoms. You have to do a partial water change before you stock your tank though.

peppie · 05/11/2011, 07:35 PM

You should be good to go. It wont hurt to wait another week if you want. If it were me I would be on my way to the fish store for a CUC.

Seahorse NJRC · 05/11/2011, 07:38 PM

I would start to add some members of the CUC. This way they can start getting rid of the diatoms.

dzfish17 · 05/11/2011, 07:54 PM

It looks like your done but another week or two woudnt hurt. If you dont have a QT tank, now would be the time to get that set up.

Mike P · 05/11/2011, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the input. I thought it would be ok, but needed a couple opinions. I'm breaking down a 30g nano and another 50g reef eventually, so I'll be taking the CUC out of the nano for now, and add more as time goes on (it's a 180g). Just consolidating the two tanks. It has taken me these last two weeks to get all of the parameters exactly the same in all three.

I plan on doing a 30g water change this weekend before adding my first fish (which will also come out of the nano) a watchman).

Thanks again for all the input. We'll see how it all goes.

Mike P · 05/11/2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzfish17

It looks like your done but another week or two woudnt hurt. If you dont have a QT tank, now would be the time to get that set up.

Yeah, I might wait one week for the fish JUST in case. The QT is set up, I wanted to fill it a little more than half way up with the DT water after I do the water change.

05/11/2011, 06:22 PM	#1
Mike P Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Berea, OH Posts: 96	Simple Cycle Question When I started my cycle I didn't know I'd have to leave on a trip for 3 weeks, so I didn't get to get readings for the first three weeks. When I came back (after 4 weeks) I still had low readings of ammonia and Nitrites. I tested it again on Monday (a week later) and the Am and trites were at 0 and my trates were at .5 with a diatom bloom in my sump/fuge, but not the tank itself. In my knowledge once the Am and trites are at 0 and trates are present, the cycle is done. Right? Another thing I'm curious about is the Diatoms. Can they form before the cycle is done? Here are the readings I DO have: 04.01 - Started cycle with 2 shrimp Trip 04.29 - am .20, trite .10 trate 1.0 05.04 - am .05 trite 0 trate 0 05.09 - am 0 trite 0 trate .5 05.11 - am 0 trite 0 trate .5 These numbers seem a little weird to me, but I'm thinking it should be right. Regardless of anything I'm still going to wait and test it out for a little while longer. Would a good way to test it be to put in a decent amount of fish food and see if the Am spikes again in the next day or two?

05/11/2011, 07:54 PM	#5
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	It looks like your done but another week or two woudnt hurt. If you dont have a QT tank, now would be the time to get that set up. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

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05/11/2011, 06:28 PM	#2
ColaAddict Moved On Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northbrook Posts: 370	Your tank is cycled. nothing weird about those reading to me. Time to add a good clean up crew before adding fish/coral. Diatoms can appear anytime and are annoying as heck, even for more mature tanks. The clean up crew can start cleaning up the diatoms. You have to do a partial water change before you stock your tank though.

05/11/2011, 07:35 PM	#3
peppie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,883	You should be good to go. It wont hurt to wait another week if you want. If it were me I would be on my way to the fish store for a CUC.

05/11/2011, 07:38 PM	#4
Seahorse NJRC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 216	I would start to add some members of the CUC. This way they can start getting rid of the diatoms.

05/11/2011, 08:00 PM	#6
Mike P Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Berea, OH Posts: 96	Thanks for the input. I thought it would be ok, but needed a couple opinions. I'm breaking down a 30g nano and another 50g reef eventually, so I'll be taking the CUC out of the nano for now, and add more as time goes on (it's a 180g). Just consolidating the two tanks. It has taken me these last two weeks to get all of the parameters exactly the same in all three. I plan on doing a 30g water change this weekend before adding my first fish (which will also come out of the nano) a watchman). Thanks again for all the input. We'll see how it all goes.