cycling question

mrpergo · 09/13/2013, 11:34 AM

I'm setting up a 20 gal QT at the same time I'm setting up my 75 gal FOWLR DT.
My QT is 20 gal with a hagen HOB with heater and power head and 2 bags of bio ceramic in it.
I put a shrimp to start cycle (well I used a piece of Talopia but fresh all the same) after like 4 days the ammonia got to 4.0 everything else at .0. It's been that way for a week. Should I be ghost feeding or something ?
I have the same problem with my rock I have in a 32 gal bucket, both have heater and power heads and yet I get ammonia reading but nothing else, am I doing something wrong ?

chirojosh · 09/13/2013, 12:18 PM

Sounds like it just needs some more time. Ive cycled tanks in the past and didnt see an ammonia drop for 2 weeks. Stay the course. No need to continue to ffed, you have the ammonia spike now let it ride.

UTCReefer · 09/13/2013, 12:22 PM

Did you try seeding the bacteria into your system? Adding a piece of LR from an established tank should kick things off.

AdamSabina · 09/13/2013, 12:27 PM

I've alway done bacteria in a bottle.

In my QT I have bio balls on one side and I dosed the bacteria the day I added the clowns. Never saw a cycle. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm. Going on 2 weeks

What you're doing should work just as well I've always just been impatient

RClever82 · 09/13/2013, 12:30 PM

When I first set up my tank and started the cycle similar problem my amonia went up and nothing else happened for a few weeks. I didn't have any where near by that sold saltwater fish or live rock so I drove 3 hours to a "deathco". As much as I hate to admit it they helped a lot. They sold me on a powdered bacteria in a blue container, can't remember the name of it for the life of me. But one tsp and over the next two weeks nitrites spiked then nitrates and then nothing. I've since seeded new tanks with rock from my tank and never has worked ask quickly. But either way its all a waiting game, just need to be patient. I'm sure though if you have a petco in your area or your lfs may know what it the product is called or a similar one.

chirojosh · 09/13/2013, 12:37 PM

Man. I have had ZERO success with these bacteria in a bottle things.

RClever82 · 09/13/2013, 01:24 PM

I tried instant oceans once and didn't seem to help much but other have talked about having great results. I guess a lot of the liquid ones temp and storage in transport might be a reason. That's why when they suggested the dried powder I figured I'd give it a shot. Right now I've been reading about vodka dosing giving your bacteria a boost and think I may give it a try. But still researching it for now, besides not sure if it would help excel a tank cycle since everything is still just starting to grow.

mrpergo · 09/13/2013, 01:50 PM

I don't have a problem waiting I just wanted to make sure that I didn't need to do something else. I just got back from picking up my 75 gal tank so I will hopefully get that set up over the weekend. I have dry rock curing in a bucket in the garage. I can use that water to put in my tank right ? (32 gal Brute ) It's been cycling a couple of weeks.

09/13/2013, 11:34 AM	#1
mrpergo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hilton,N.Y. Posts: 398	cycling question I'm setting up a 20 gal QT at the same time I'm setting up my 75 gal FOWLR DT. My QT is 20 gal with a hagen HOB with heater and power head and 2 bags of bio ceramic in it. I put a shrimp to start cycle (well I used a piece of Talopia but fresh all the same) after like 4 days the ammonia got to 4.0 everything else at .0. It's been that way for a week. Should I be ghost feeding or something ? I have the same problem with my rock I have in a 32 gal bucket, both have heater and power heads and yet I get ammonia reading but nothing else, am I doing something wrong ?

09/13/2013, 12:27 PM	#4
AdamSabina Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,426	I've alway done bacteria in a bottle. In my QT I have bio balls on one side and I dosed the bacteria the day I added the clowns. Never saw a cycle. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm. Going on 2 weeks What you're doing should work just as well I've always just been impatient Last edited by AdamSabina; 09/13/2013 at 12:34 PM.

09/13/2013, 12:18 PM	#2
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	Sounds like it just needs some more time. Ive cycled tanks in the past and didnt see an ammonia drop for 2 weeks. Stay the course. No need to continue to ffed, you have the ammonia spike now let it ride.

09/13/2013, 12:22 PM	#3
UTCReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 652	Did you try seeding the bacteria into your system? Adding a piece of LR from an established tank should kick things off.

09/13/2013, 12:30 PM	#5
RClever82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Warren, PA Posts: 21	When I first set up my tank and started the cycle similar problem my amonia went up and nothing else happened for a few weeks. I didn't have any where near by that sold saltwater fish or live rock so I drove 3 hours to a "deathco". As much as I hate to admit it they helped a lot. They sold me on a powdered bacteria in a blue container, can't remember the name of it for the life of me. But one tsp and over the next two weeks nitrites spiked then nitrates and then nothing. I've since seeded new tanks with rock from my tank and never has worked ask quickly. But either way its all a waiting game, just need to be patient. I'm sure though if you have a petco in your area or your lfs may know what it the product is called or a similar one.

09/13/2013, 12:37 PM	#6
chirojosh Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 229	Man. I have had ZERO success with these bacteria in a bottle things.

09/13/2013, 01:24 PM	#7
RClever82 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Warren, PA Posts: 21	I tried instant oceans once and didn't seem to help much but other have talked about having great results. I guess a lot of the liquid ones temp and storage in transport might be a reason. That's why when they suggested the dried powder I figured I'd give it a shot. Right now I've been reading about vodka dosing giving your bacteria a boost and think I may give it a try. But still researching it for now, besides not sure if it would help excel a tank cycle since everything is still just starting to grow.

09/13/2013, 01:50 PM	#8
mrpergo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hilton,N.Y. Posts: 398	I don't have a problem waiting I just wanted to make sure that I didn't need to do something else. I just got back from picking up my 75 gal tank so I will hopefully get that set up over the weekend. I have dry rock curing in a bucket in the garage. I can use that water to put in my tank right ? (32 gal Brute ) It's been cycling a couple of weeks.