Is it possible to cycle a tank in 7 days?

Neowind · 02/09/2013, 09:46 PM

So I am not a newbie to the reef community, but I am experiencing something I have never seen before and figured this would be the best place to get a few answers

I setup a 4 gallon pico reef tank 7 days ago. The LR was transported 5 minutes accross town under water from the tank it was taken from. It was cured LR. I used sand from 3 different established reef aquariums and also transported them in their on tank water 5 minutes accross town. All three tanks I had them scoop up detrius to help boost the cycle.

I do not have an ammonia test, but do have Nitrite and Nitrate test. On day 5 I decided to test the water and I noticed my Nitrates was 160 and Nitrites were reading 10. The saltwater used was RO/DI and mixed over 72 hours. On day 6 the readings had changed to Nitrates 5 and Nitrites 0.

Day 7 I get a Diatom bloom. Readings 5 Nitrate 0 Nitrite.

So is it possible my tank cycled in 7 days? Anything I should try to verify? Thanks for any feedback.

Twisted · 02/09/2013, 09:54 PM

Using all cured live rock, live sand from established tanks? I am surprised that you would cycle at all. It would have been about the same as if you had just broke down and moved a tank.

cap032 · 02/09/2013, 09:55 PM

I would think its impossible for nitrates to go from 160 to 5 in a month, let alone in a day. Your test kit is either bad or its reading nitrites in the nitrate test as well.

Neowind · 02/09/2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted

Using all cured live rock, live sand from established tanks? I am surprised that you would cycle at all. It would have been about the same as if you had just broke down and moved a tank.

I used all new water and threw out the water that the rock was transported in. Also it was just a scoop from each tank. Also the detrius was from large Tangs and I only have 5lbs of LR since its a 4g tank. Not sure if that caused a small spike?

Neowind · 02/09/2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cap032

I would think its impossible for nitrates to go from 160 to 5 in a month, let alone in a day. Your test kit is either bad or its reading nitrites in the nitrate test as well.

Yea i thought that was strange also. It is API test kit. Something happened for sure though as the diatom bloom came right after that.

bnumair · 02/10/2013, 12:18 AM

all other parameters and test kits issues aside...... a tank can cycle fast if rocks used are cured and transported properly causing few to non die off and using sand from established places. in other words importing enough bacteria in and on rocks and sand that can get hold fast enough will cause a minor to no cycle. yes its possible.

solitude · 02/10/2013, 10:12 PM

Don't rush it. Let natures take its course. It will cost you when you rush things.

whitemarlin · 02/11/2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neowind

Yea i thought that was strange also. It is API test kit. Something happened for sure though as the diatom bloom came right after that.

The test for nitrate was compromised by the amount of nitrite, thats why you got the reading you did from the nitrate test.

thegrun · 02/11/2013, 08:45 AM

I would still strongly suggest testing for ammonia before adding, but yes using precured live rock a 7 day cycle is possible. livestock

keithhays · 02/11/2013, 09:29 AM

I am not sure this is all that different from when I move an aquarium across the room; there isn't much of a cycle. I would still be testing for everything for another week to be certain.

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

Northside Reef · 02/11/2013, 10:02 AM

using all cured sand and rock amounted to a spike caused by the kicked up detritus since the bacteria needed was already established.

IMO test until all readings are 0 and then it's a matter of opinion. I would still let the tank stabilize for a week, do a water change and then start slowly adding live stock.

wooden_reefer · 02/12/2013, 12:04 AM

A cycle will never be completed in 7 days. That is, from a baseline of almost no nitrification bacteria to the medium laden with them will take at least 17-18 days.

But it is possible to augment a weakly cycled medium with just one application of ammonia in 7 days. The nitrification bacteria population can increase several folds in 7 days.

02/09/2013, 09:46 PM	#1
Neowind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 702	Is it possible to cycle a tank in 7 days? So I am not a newbie to the reef community, but I am experiencing something I have never seen before and figured this would be the best place to get a few answers I setup a 4 gallon pico reef tank 7 days ago. The LR was transported 5 minutes accross town under water from the tank it was taken from. It was cured LR. I used sand from 3 different established reef aquariums and also transported them in their on tank water 5 minutes accross town. All three tanks I had them scoop up detrius to help boost the cycle. I do not have an ammonia test, but do have Nitrite and Nitrate test. On day 5 I decided to test the water and I noticed my Nitrates was 160 and Nitrites were reading 10. The saltwater used was RO/DI and mixed over 72 hours. On day 6 the readings had changed to Nitrates 5 and Nitrites 0. Day 7 I get a Diatom bloom. Readings 5 Nitrate 0 Nitrite. So is it possible my tank cycled in 7 days? Anything I should try to verify? Thanks for any feedback.

02/10/2013, 12:18 AM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	all other parameters and test kits issues aside...... a tank can cycle fast if rocks used are cured and transported properly causing few to non die off and using sand from established places. in other words importing enough bacteria in and on rocks and sand that can get hold fast enough will cause a minor to no cycle. yes its possible. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/11/2013, 10:02 AM	#11
Northside Reef Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chanhassen, MN Posts: 1,294	using all cured sand and rock amounted to a spike caused by the kicked up detritus since the bacteria needed was already established. IMO test until all readings are 0 and then it's a matter of opinion. I would still let the tank stabilize for a week, do a water change and then start slowly adding live stock. __________________ Back again for more fun! See how much fun by checking out my home page. Current Tank Info: 280 Gallon Display, 92 gallon Cube Clown and anemone tank. 700 gallon filter shed that ties it all together.

02/09/2013, 09:54 PM	#2
Twisted Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 1,221	Using all cured live rock, live sand from established tanks? I am surprised that you would cycle at all. It would have been about the same as if you had just broke down and moved a tank.

02/09/2013, 09:55 PM	#3
cap032 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 611	I would think its impossible for nitrates to go from 160 to 5 in a month, let alone in a day. Your test kit is either bad or its reading nitrites in the nitrate test as well.

02/10/2013, 10:12 PM	#7
solitude Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: california Posts: 58	Don't rush it. Let natures take its course. It will cost you when you rush things.

02/11/2013, 08:45 AM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would still strongly suggest testing for ammonia before adding, but yes using precured live rock a 7 day cycle is possible. livestock

02/11/2013, 09:29 AM	#10
keithhays Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,259	I am not sure this is all that different from when I move an aquarium across the room; there isn't much of a cycle. I would still be testing for everything for another week to be certain. Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

02/12/2013, 12:04 AM	#12
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	A cycle will never be completed in 7 days. That is, from a baseline of almost no nitrification bacteria to the medium laden with them will take at least 17-18 days. But it is possible to augment a weakly cycled medium with just one application of ammonia in 7 days. The nitrification bacteria population can increase several folds in 7 days.