Am I safe...

[mtaswt]

would it be safe to say that if my ammonia is 0, nitrites are 0, and my nitrates are 0, with two (2) raw shrimp in there that my cycle is complete? I'm going on my 3rd week of cycling!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Was your rock partially cured? It is possible if your rock was partially or mostly cured. I'd give it a few more days then test again. You did take the shrimp out right?

[rayn]

Possible. Mine was that quick with mostly cured LR and plain sand. Test again in a couple days like sugar magnolia said just to be sure.

[mgoblue]

The 0 reading on the nitrates would make me cautious. I would think you would be showing at least some nitrates if the ammonia and nitrite were being processed. Did you ever see any ammonia or nitrite?

+1 on the cured LR question.

How old are your tests and what brand are they? How many have you performed during the three weeks, and what were the readings?

[mtaswt]

The 0 reading on the nitrates would make me cautious. I would think you would be showing at least some nitrates if the ammonia and nitrite were being processed. Did you ever see any ammonia or nitrite?

+1 on the cured LR question.

How old are your tests and what brand are they? How many have you performed during the three weeks, and what were the readings?

Yes, I briefly saw a small spike. My rock was uncured, but it was a fresh batch from the LFS, or so he says. I trust him quite a bit as my brother has been dealing with him on the fresh water side for many many years.

My tests are brand new and they are API

Was your rock partially cured? It is possible if your rock was partially or mostly cured. I'd give it a few more days then test again. You did take the shrimp out right?

The shrimps are still in there! Almost completely decayed

[Palting]

IMO, there are two distinct possibilities, each at the opposite end of the spectrum.

1. You have primo cured live rock. Not only do you have the nitrobacter and nitrosomas to convert the ammonia to nitrate, you also have the denitrifying bacteria that's converting the nitrate to nitrogen gas. That would be really, really unusual, as the usual occurence is that the denitrification process lags behind, and you should see a rise or at least a steady level of some nitrate. But, who knows? Unusual things happen in this hobby. Does your rock have a lot of coraline and other algae?

2. Your rock is not live, but is/was completely dead. There is no bacteria to convert the decaying/rotting shrimp to make ammonia, and that can take a while to develop if there is no seeding live rock/live sand/bacteria in a bottle. Does your rock look mostly white?

[mtaswt]

IMO, there are two distinct possibilities, each at the opposite end of the spectrum.

1. You have primo cured live rock. Not only do you have the nitrobacter and nitrosomas to convert the ammonia to nitrate, you also have the denitrifying bacteria that's converting the nitrate to nitrogen gas. That would be really, really unusual, as the usual occurence is that the denitrification process lags behind, and you should see a rise or at least a steady level of some nitrate. But, who knows? Unusual things happen in this hobby. Does your rock have a lot of coraline and other algae?

2. Your rock is not live, but is/was completely dead. There is no bacteria to convert the decaying/rotting shrimp to make ammonia, and that can take a while to develop if there is no seeding live rock/live sand/bacteria in a bottle. Does your rock look mostly white?

My rock does not look mostly white, and I have seen some growth/changes to the live rock since I have introduced it to my tank. (couldn't tell you what it is, but it has changed--purple sponge like growth) If you look closely at the picture you can definately distinguish the live rock from the base rock.

[Floowid]

3 weeks is pretty quick, but if you got really good live rock to begin with...

Have you seen any algae growth? Look for orange/brown dusting of diatoms or a thin film of green algae. These are usually indicators of a completing or good cycle. As soon as you see diatoms you can put some clean up crew in there like snails and crabs. Take it slow and be rewarded in the end.

[PaulieReef]

The shrimps are still in there! Almost completely decayed

Arnt you suppose to take them out after 24 hours...you have had them in there for 3 weeks?!

[mtaswt]

Arnt you suppose to take them out after 24 hours...you have had them in there for 3 weeks?!

Haven't really heard a definate answer....some say leave them, and some say let them completely decay?

[mtaswt]

3 weeks is pretty quick, but if you got really good live rock to begin with...

Have you seen any algae growth? Look for orange/brown dusting of diatoms or a thin film of green algae. These are usually indicators of a completing or good cycle. As soon as you see diatoms you can put some clean up crew in there like snails and crabs. Take it slow and be rewarded in the end.

No growth to speak of....the tank has remained fairly clean. I've used filter socks throughout if this makes a difference?

[Palting]

Ok. I may get flamed for this, since some people may not like it. you may even not like it, but here is what I suggest.

You have been patient for 3 weeks, something may or may not be happening, and it's hard to tell. So, time to bite the bullet. Get a bottle of bacteria, Fritz-Zyme or Stability or whatever your LFS carries just to ensure that you have bacteria. I would not recommend getting another "live" rock or cup of sand or anything other than bottled bacteria since he sold you that rock that I question whether it's live or not. Then, get some cheap hardy fish, some psedochromis will do. Feed them, let them do the nasty business of pee and poop. Keep an eye on the ammonia. If there is no ammonia in 2 weeks, then you are golden. If you get an ammonia spike, then you know where you are in the cycle, and now have a problem but it's a problem easily solved. Either do multiple water changes to stay ahead of the ammonia, or give the fish back to the lfs for sfekeeping while you complete they cycle. Either way, you get an answer to "Where in the cycle am I?"

BTW, if you do above, make sure to get the shrimp out first.

[devilsthird]

I recently cycled my 75 gallon tank in 3 weeks. I had mixed base/live rock and used one shrimp. My live rock was covered in coralline algae when I purchased it. I saw the ammonia spike and then caught just a bit of some nitrite for a couple of days. I consulted with the LFS and added a CUC when I saw brown algae growth. I confirmed my tank was cycled when I waited 72 hours after acclimation for my Florida Cerith snails to move. I did the smell test and that's when I found out I had 8 dead snails rotting in my tank for 3 days. :thumbdown I anxiously removed them and tested my tank. Everything was at 0 and I was shocked. I was sure ammonia was going to be very high. The only problem I encountered was trying to get the smell of dead snails out of my nostrils. :eek: At least my hermits enjoyed some escargot.