Cycled???

[kmdrysdale]

First, I want to be clear that if my tank is actually cycled, I will be shocked as it's just short of 3 weeks since I got my tank setup. I'm having some weird things going on though. My ammonia goes up and down between 0 and 0.25ppm, Nitrates have pretty much always been 0, and about 3-4 days ago the Nitrates started going up and are currently at 40ppm. Before 3-4 days ago Nitrates were always 0 as well. I have a 29 Gallon tank with about 20lbs of live rock in it, 10 lbs base rock, and 50 lbs of PFS for substrate. Anyone able to share with me how my nitrates continue to go up while I haven't seen any significant increase in ammonia or nitrites?

[Reefmedic79]

What test kits are you using? That can account for the slight changes of ammonia between tests.

The increase in Nitrates is a sign of the completing cycle, from the sound of it your tank is just now ending it's initial cycle. They go up without any increase in your ammo and nitrite numbers because the bacteria levels for those chemicals are high enough to consume it before reaching testable levels.

Are you feeding the tank? What do you have for livestock if any?

Now would be a good time to start water changes, BTW. IME, do a really large one 50-60% followed by 10% weekly from here on.

[kmdrysdale]

I'm using API test kits. I just got a small cleanup crew - about 10 snails and 3 scarlet legged hermits - acclimated last night. Would a 50-60% water change still be ok with having a cuc? Or just do frequent smaller changes?

[Reefmedic79]

Do a couple 25% then cut back to 10% weekly, IME.

Never really liked API, there is likely some slight variations between tests.

[kmdrysdale]

Are Sea Chem tests better?

[Reefmedic79]

Sea-chems tend to be better, although a little more difficult to use, IME. Salifert are what I go with, very user friendly, and very easy to read.

[kmdrysdale]

I will look for those in my area then. Thanks!

[kendrid]

Is PFS pool filter sand? I've read that it contains a lot of silicates and will cause major algae issues.

[kmdrysdale]

It is pool filter sand. Anything I read about it on saltwater forums said it was a great alternative to paying the extra for fish store sand.

[kendrid]

Originally Posted by kmdrysdale

It is pool filter sand. Anything I read about it on saltwater forums said it was a great alternative to paying the extra for fish store sand.

I use it in my discus tank so I figured I'd use it in my reef. I saw threads for and against it and I didn't want to take the risk so I paid the $25 for live sand.

[kmdrysdale]

I'll let you know how it works. It's in and been running for three weeks so far. Algae growth on suction cups and my little base bit of base rock. Sand has been pretty good so far. I've got 8 cerith snails now that have been crawling through my sand already.

[nynick]

Ammo and nitrites are continually being converted to nitrates that has nowhere to go untill you have some algae growing. Sounds perfectly normal.

[kendrid]

Cool. I hope it works out. This is a fun journey so far. I will need to remind myself of that when I get my first real algae outbreak or Aiptasia hitchhiker.

My kids & I found our first worm in our live sand today (no live rock yet). It's cool yet terrifying. Is it good, evil, indifferent?

[kmdrysdale]

We've been loving our hitchhikers - mostly. Had some majano anemone that the lfs said was a good thing on some of our live rock that we had to kill already. Besides that we've seen a mini bristle starfish, about 3 bristle worms, some Arthropods, and a little snail. We also have 2 small REAL featherdusters as well. It has been fun so far! Now our kids wake up and try to find all the snails and our 3 hermit crabs. The best day will be when we get to bring a "Nemo" home for our 2 year old son. He keeps asking when we will get a Nemo. Lol

[nynick]

99.99% of all hikers range from indifferent to good. Aiptasia is easy to get rid of as long as you catch it in time and don't wait untill you have 200 of them

[Mstark11]

I had something similar. Had 25lbs live sand, and 30lbs live rock when i started to cycle. (mixed in with 40lbs dry sand and 50lbs dry rock) and got exactly what you're describing right around when you described it. my ammonia never went above .25 and then everything stopped around week 3-4. Then out of nowhere, around week 5, ammonia went up to like.. 2, and nitrites went way way up and stayed up for the next 3 or so weeks. Some people like doing water changes during the cycle, and some swear against it, so I guess it's really personal preference.

I've always heard your cycle isn't done until your ammonia has spiked way up, then gone way down.

[kmdrysdale]

So your nitrates started rising? I'm concerned that the high nitrates will make it hard for my crabs and snails

[klwheat]

Yes, it sounds as though you have finished cycling. Most likely, the short cycle is due to the live rock in place. Now, just stock slowly and enjoy!

[Mstark11]

Don't worry too much about nitrates. Nitrates are only a problem when they're really high, it doesn't really bother fish, but it can brown corals, and it's hard on inverts like urchins.

Nitrite on the other hand is another story, that may very well kill your crabs and snails if it gets bad, which is just going to make your cycle worse.

[kmdrysdale]

Originally Posted by Mstark11

Don't worry too much about nitrates. Nitrates are only a problem when they're really high, it doesn't really bother fish, but it can brown corals, and it's hard on inverts like urchins.

Nitrite on the other hand is another story, that may very well kill your crabs and snails if it gets bad, which is just going to make your cycle worse.

Thanks for the reply. I will be watching and waiting for the nitrite spike I guess. Been testing twice daily now for about 3 days