Cycling a new tank

JMcGarva · 02/19/2015, 02:23 PM

Hey all my tank is just almost a week old. How long should I wait until I see any spikes. My ammonia levels are 0 the highest has been .25ppms. The pH levels have been 8.2 to 8.4. Nitrite levels are 0. The highest they got were .25ppms. The nitrate was at 5.0ppms but now are 0ppms.

gone fishin · 02/19/2015, 02:26 PM

Did you add anything to raise the ammonia level? Ghostfeed the tank, toss in a deli shrimp, add some pure ammonia.

JMorris271 · 02/19/2015, 02:28 PM

Cycle usually takes about 4 or so weeks. How much rock is in there? What are you using to start the cycle?

Kyle461 · 02/19/2015, 02:42 PM

Same exact scenario and numbers on my end so don't feel alone. I'm going to try and add raw ammonia to boost the ammonia. I have about 40-50 lbs of live/base rock and added "live" sand. If after adding ammonia it drops back to 0 ppm and my nitrites go up, then my assumption is the tank is still cycling and I play the waiting game!

Chungy · 02/19/2015, 02:50 PM

Get some pure ammonia, dose to 2ppm, test. If all ammonia gets converted into nitrate within 24 hours period, you're good to go. Otherwise, re-dose until that happens.

Kyle461 · 02/25/2015, 10:32 AM

Dosed ammonia to around 2.0 ppm. Should I be seeing nitrites soon? I feel like I've been at zero for a couple of days and nothing is happening. Makes me worried.

Lizzy_lray · 02/25/2015, 10:49 AM

Are you using cured live rock? If so the ammonia spike can be very little. Mine only went barley over 25ppm and I used nothing to start a spike I simply waited and when it went to zero I waited another few days and added CUC

Kyle461 · 02/25/2015, 10:52 AM

I have base rock that was seeded with live rock that I brought from a saltwater tank I've been running in my classroom for about a year now as a FOWLR for aquatics students to keep up. Transport was less than an hour to get it to my house. I also added "live sand" (not sure how live it was) bought from the LFS.

Lizzy_lray · 02/25/2015, 11:24 AM

Hmm I don't know to much about seeding or how long it takes to grow enough bacteria to start the cycle. You may need to add a shrimp and see if it goes up then back down

Lizzy_lray · 02/25/2015, 11:27 AM

Seems like that type of setup would take much longer then a week

02/19/2015, 02:23 PM	#1
JMcGarva Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 198	Cycling a new tank Hey all my tank is just almost a week old. How long should I wait until I see any spikes. My ammonia levels are 0 the highest has been .25ppms. The pH levels have been 8.2 to 8.4. Nitrite levels are 0. The highest they got were .25ppms. The nitrate was at 5.0ppms but now are 0ppms.

02/19/2015, 02:26 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Did you add anything to raise the ammonia level? Ghostfeed the tank, toss in a deli shrimp, add some pure ammonia. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

02/19/2015, 02:42 PM	#4
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Same exact scenario and numbers on my end so don't feel alone. I'm going to try and add raw ammonia to boost the ammonia. I have about 40-50 lbs of live/base rock and added "live" sand. If after adding ammonia it drops back to 0 ppm and my nitrites go up, then my assumption is the tank is still cycling and I play the waiting game! __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

02/25/2015, 10:32 AM	#6
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	Dosed ammonia to around 2.0 ppm. Should I be seeing nitrites soon? I feel like I've been at zero for a couple of days and nothing is happening. Makes me worried. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

02/25/2015, 10:49 AM	#7
Lizzy_lray Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 295	Are you using cured live rock? If so the ammonia spike can be very little. Mine only went barley over 25ppm and I used nothing to start a spike I simply waited and when it went to zero I waited another few days and added CUC __________________ Currently 20 gallon Nano 12lbs tonga liverock ~still cycling Current Tank Info: Established is December 2015 20 gal high nano reef. A beautiful mix of softies, LPS, SPS mix i love different textures and movements

02/19/2015, 02:28 PM	#3
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	Cycle usually takes about 4 or so weeks. How much rock is in there? What are you using to start the cycle?

02/19/2015, 02:50 PM	#5
Chungy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 54	Get some pure ammonia, dose to 2ppm, test. If all ammonia gets converted into nitrate within 24 hours period, you're good to go. Otherwise, re-dose until that happens.

02/25/2015, 10:52 AM	#8
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	I have base rock that was seeded with live rock that I brought from a saltwater tank I've been running in my classroom for about a year now as a FOWLR for aquatics students to keep up. Transport was less than an hour to get it to my house. I also added "live sand" (not sure how live it was) bought from the LFS. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

02/25/2015, 11:24 AM	#9
Lizzy_lray Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 295	Hmm I don't know to much about seeding or how long it takes to grow enough bacteria to start the cycle. You may need to add a shrimp and see if it goes up then back down __________________ Currently 20 gallon Nano 12lbs tonga liverock ~still cycling Current Tank Info: Established is December 2015 20 gal high nano reef. A beautiful mix of softies, LPS, SPS mix i love different textures and movements

02/25/2015, 11:27 AM	#10
Lizzy_lray Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 295	Seems like that type of setup would take much longer then a week __________________ Currently 20 gallon Nano 12lbs tonga liverock ~still cycling Current Tank Info: Established is December 2015 20 gal high nano reef. A beautiful mix of softies, LPS, SPS mix i love different textures and movements