My 55 gal Cycle

Oceanminded · 08/13/2013, 05:47 PM

Started my first SW tank cycle (EVER!) today at 12 pm. Tested the water at 6 pm. To my 55 long I added 55 lbs of live rock, 20 lbs of live sand, and 20 lbs dry sand. Didn't add BioSpira or anything like that. The live rock has been in a big tank (bin really) at the LFS for a couple months with light/flow/heat/etc but they add new rock they get in on top so that doesn't mean mine is cured. Most of my pieces came from the bottom (most coralline algae) but I'll just watch and wait to see what the water tells me.

Today's reading at 6 pm:

Temp 78F
SG 1.025
Ph 8.3
Alk 13.4
NH3 1.00 ppm
NO2 0.00 ppm
NO3 20 ppm

I'll be updating regularly feel free to chime in with your thoughts/advice on water parameters.

Oceanminded · 08/13/2013, 07:05 PM

Rockscaping:

Before: a bunch of rocks fell in my tank...

After: created a bunch of caves/hidey holes/tunnels and freed up a bunch of swimming space. Left two big flat(ish) rocks for fish who like that kind of thing and for lower light-loving corals.

Oceanminded · 08/13/2013, 07:06 PM

double post.

AmberFL03 · 08/13/2013, 07:11 PM

It's looking nice so far, what do you plan to put in it?

Oceanminded · 08/13/2013, 08:49 PM

LPS dominated and the following fish/inverts (approved by snorvich

)
Tuxedo urchin
Pair of clowns (false percs)
Pair of black and white chromis
Prawn goby & pistol shrimp
Yellow and green clown goby

Oceanminded · 08/14/2013, 06:00 AM

AM Reading:

Temp 78F
SG 1.025
Ph 8.1
Alk 13.5
NH3 2.00 ppm
NO2 0.50 ppm
NO3 20 ppm

Went into the living room to test the water this morning and wow the smell hit me like a train (very sensitive sense of smell).

I knew to expect it but it still caught me by surprise -- I had dusted/swept/mopped the whole living room before I realized it was probably emanating from my innocent-looking tank sitting against the wall, not caused by my beagle and 2 cats sleeping on the couch. I've read this only lasts a couple of days? *fingers crossed* Any advice on using Fabreeze/candles/other remedies?

thegrun · 08/14/2013, 07:19 AM

You have a good strong cycle going (you have noticed!). I would try to avoid chemicals/candles or anything else that could add pollutants to your tank. Simply open the windows, letting the room air out is best. The smell could be short lived but I have had it last over a week before, hence my wife's no more cycling live rock in the house ultimatum which I am bound to follow religiously. Keep us posted.

Oceanminded · 08/14/2013, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

You have a good strong cycle going (you have noticed!). I would try to avoid chemicals/candles or anything else that could add pollutants to your tank. Simply open the windows, letting the room air out is best. The smell could be short lived but I have had it last over a week before, hence my wife's no more cycling live rock in the house ultimatum which I am bound to follow religiously. Keep us posted.

I will, luckily it is right near a window. The smell had subsided noticeably by the time I got home (about 3 hrs later), so hopefully it will be short lived. Will be doing another test in a couple of hours.

Oceanminded · 08/14/2013, 02:44 PM

Just did another test. Smell is totally gone, water is crystal clear, and I saw two asterina stars and some snails cruising around on the rocks. I'm assuming this is a good sign.

Temp 78F
SG 1.025
Ph 8.0
Alk 10.8
NH3 0.00 ppm
NO2 0.00 ppm
NO3 35 ppm

Should I "ghost feed" or just continue to watch and test for another couple of days?

thegrun · 08/14/2013, 02:49 PM

Yes, that is a good sign. I suspect the rock was fully cured and the brief cycle was caused by dead organics in the live sand. I would wait at least three days and if during that time you do not see any signs of ammonia or nitrites, make a big (30% at a minimum) water change to help bring down the nitrates and add your clean-up crew. Good times!

Oceanminded · 08/14/2013, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Yes, that is a good sign. I suspect the rock was fully cured and the brief cycle was caused by dead organics in the live sand. I would wait at least three days and if during that time you do not see any signs of ammonia or nitrites, make a big (30% at a minimum) water change to help bring down the nitrates and add your clean-up crew. Good times!

Awesome! I think you're right about the sand. Hopefully in a few days I'll be good to go for the water change!

Oceanminded · 08/15/2013, 03:32 PM

Another day with 0 ammonia and nitrites.

Temp 78F
SG 1.024
Ph 8.0
Alk 11
NH3 0.00 ppm
NO2 0.00 ppm
NO3 20 ppm

I've got a diamond watchman goby at the LFS they've had in quarantine for me. Hopefully I'll be able to add him next week!

Brianmil7516 · 08/15/2013, 04:17 PM

one additional thing you want to test for is magnesium. should be 1300, alot of people new to the hobby do not test for it but it is the key to locked in CA and ALK. consider magnesium the "parking brake" for Calcium and Alkalinity

Oceanminded · 08/15/2013, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianmil7516

one additional thing you want to test for is magnesium. should be 1300, alot of people new to the hobby do not test for it but it is the key to locked in CA and ALK. consider magnesium the "parking brake" for Calcium and Alkalinity

That is a great tip, thank you! I had read that somewhere but I guess it slipped my mind...thanks for the reminder!

Brianmil7516 · 08/15/2013, 05:40 PM

so once your cycle is complete, and yes it can take 8-12 WEEKS... and no there are no miracle potions to speed this along.. Start a test readings log.. Test weekly at the same time ( I.E Sunday mornings @ 9AM).. log the test result and any observations you have about tank conditions..

Your best bet is to go 6 weeks LIGHTS OFF, after the 6th week add your CUC then start putting the lights on for a few hours a day.. increasing the time weekly, once you get to week 12 you should be at your full lighting schedule...

at this point do a water change.. dial in Mag (1300), then Ca (400-450) and Alk (8.3-9.3)... change top off water to Kalk,, in a perfect world the rest is easy..... (but you know how that goes.. )

Oceanminded · 08/18/2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Yes, that is a good sign. I suspect the rock was fully cured and the brief cycle was caused by dead organics in the live sand. I would wait at least three days and if during that time you do not see any signs of ammonia or nitrites, make a big (30% at a minimum) water change to help bring down the nitrates and add your clean-up crew. Good times!

Did my water change, CUC added (crabless), all is well! Preparing for my first fish (diamond goby and tribal blenny in QT).

08/13/2013, 05:47 PM	#1
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	My 55 gal Cycle Started my first SW tank cycle (EVER!) today at 12 pm. Tested the water at 6 pm. To my 55 long I added 55 lbs of live rock, 20 lbs of live sand, and 20 lbs dry sand. Didn't add BioSpira or anything like that. The live rock has been in a big tank (bin really) at the LFS for a couple months with light/flow/heat/etc but they add new rock they get in on top so that doesn't mean mine is cured. Most of my pieces came from the bottom (most coralline algae) but I'll just watch and wait to see what the water tells me. Today's reading at 6 pm: Temp 78F SG 1.025 Ph 8.3 Alk 13.4 NH3 1.00 ppm NO2 0.00 ppm NO3 20 ppm I'll be updating regularly feel free to chime in with your thoughts/advice on water parameters. __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/13/2013, 07:05 PM	#2
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	Rockscaping: Before: a bunch of rocks fell in my tank... After: created a bunch of caves/hidey holes/tunnels and freed up a bunch of swimming space. Left two big flat(ish) rocks for fish who like that kind of thing and for lower light-loving corals. __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/13/2013, 07:06 PM	#3
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	double post. __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/13/2013, 08:49 PM	#5
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	LPS dominated and the following fish/inverts (approved by snorvich ) Tuxedo urchin Pair of clowns (false percs) Pair of black and white chromis Prawn goby & pistol shrimp Yellow and green clown goby __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/14/2013, 06:00 AM	#6
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	AM Reading: Temp 78F SG 1.025 Ph 8.1 Alk 13.5 NH3 2.00 ppm NO2 0.50 ppm NO3 20 ppm Went into the living room to test the water this morning and wow the smell hit me like a train (very sensitive sense of smell). I knew to expect it but it still caught me by surprise -- I had dusted/swept/mopped the whole living room before I realized it was probably emanating from my innocent-looking tank sitting against the wall, not caused by my beagle and 2 cats sleeping on the couch. I've read this only lasts a couple of days? fingers crossed Any advice on using Fabreeze/candles/other remedies? __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on-- Last edited by Oceanminded; 08/14/2013 at 06:13 AM.

08/13/2013, 07:11 PM	#4
AmberFL03 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 246	It's looking nice so far, what do you plan to put in it?

08/14/2013, 07:19 AM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You have a good strong cycle going (you have noticed!). I would try to avoid chemicals/candles or anything else that could add pollutants to your tank. Simply open the windows, letting the room air out is best. The smell could be short lived but I have had it last over a week before, hence my wife's no more cycling live rock in the house ultimatum which I am bound to follow religiously. Keep us posted.

08/14/2013, 02:44 PM	#9
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	Just did another test. Smell is totally gone, water is crystal clear, and I saw two asterina stars and some snails cruising around on the rocks. I'm assuming this is a good sign. Temp 78F SG 1.025 Ph 8.0 Alk 10.8 NH3 0.00 ppm NO2 0.00 ppm NO3 35 ppm Should I "ghost feed" or just continue to watch and test for another couple of days? __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/14/2013, 02:49 PM	#10
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Yes, that is a good sign. I suspect the rock was fully cured and the brief cycle was caused by dead organics in the live sand. I would wait at least three days and if during that time you do not see any signs of ammonia or nitrites, make a big (30% at a minimum) water change to help bring down the nitrates and add your clean-up crew. Good times!

08/15/2013, 03:32 PM	#12
Oceanminded Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NC Posts: 126	Another day with 0 ammonia and nitrites. Temp 78F SG 1.024 Ph 8.0 Alk 11 NH3 0.00 ppm NO2 0.00 ppm NO3 20 ppm I've got a diamond watchman goby at the LFS they've had in quarantine for me. Hopefully I'll be able to add him next week! __________________ Liz 55 gallon reef since 7/2013 10 gallon reef since 11/2013 happy biologist by day, angry bartender by night --ramble on--

08/15/2013, 04:17 PM	#13
Brianmil7516 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 36	one additional thing you want to test for is magnesium. should be 1300, alot of people new to the hobby do not test for it but it is the key to locked in CA and ALK. consider magnesium the "parking brake" for Calcium and Alkalinity

08/15/2013, 05:40 PM	#15
Brianmil7516 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 36	so once your cycle is complete, and yes it can take 8-12 WEEKS... and no there are no miracle potions to speed this along.. Start a test readings log.. Test weekly at the same time ( I.E Sunday mornings @ 9AM).. log the test result and any observations you have about tank conditions.. Your best bet is to go 6 weeks LIGHTS OFF, after the 6th week add your CUC then start putting the lights on for a few hours a day.. increasing the time weekly, once you get to week 12 you should be at your full lighting schedule... at this point do a water change.. dial in Mag (1300), then Ca (400-450) and Alk (8.3-9.3)... change top off water to Kalk,, in a perfect world the rest is easy..... (but you know how that goes.. )