Cycling... how am I doing?

[PurpleMonkey]

Hi, so I have my tank filled with water and started my cycle.

Setup:
29 biocube
filter floss for some filtration
30lbs new sand (plus 1/2lb live sand to seed)
20ish lbs BRS eco-saver reef rock (plus a chunk of live seed rock)

Filled on M June 20
F June 24 - Temp 21C (70F?), 1.024 specific grav., ammonia 0.5, nitrites and nitrates at 0, pH 8.2

Added a shrimp (uncooked) at the advice of a local reefer (provided the seed sand and rock) as the rock didn't have much die off on it. I have also started adding 5 mL of Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter7.

M June 27 - Temp 23C (73.4F?), 1.024 specific grav, ammonia 1.5, nitrites and nitrates at 0, pH 8.1


I have noticed some cyano/dino (reddish brown splotches on sand and rock) just show up yesturday.



How is my cycle coming along? Am I doing anything wrong? Right? Any constructive feedback is appreciated. Should I be doing something that I'm not? Thanks in advance!!

[MinnesotaTwins]

The reddish brown blotches are very good, and I would maybe go with about 75-77 degrees in the tank.

Other than that it looks like it is comin along nicely, just wait till Nitrite, nitrates and ammonia are at 0 and you are good to go :)

[Lynnmw1208]

you will see the ammonia slowly go down and nitrite spike, then nitrate. After this happens and everything is 0, you should be good to go, but remember to go slowly when adding things!

[PurpleMonkey]

Should I be adding or doing anything about the brown slime?

[sporto0]

Should I be adding or doing anything about the brown slime?


That is fairly common to all new systems, if you don't overstock & overfeed, keep up with regular maintenance ie: water changes etc., the cyano bacteria (slime) will go away on it's own.

[Virtuoso]

Brown fuzzy stuff attaching to rocks is fine and I think indicative that your cycle is progressing. Your CUC (especially the snails!) will love it and it'll be gone in 24 hours. Have patience with your cycle, it is frustrating but you'll find things start to seem almost hectic once it's done!

[PurpleMonkey]

so should i be adding my cuc now? my ammonia is still 1.5ish and no nitrites or nitrates

[huggybear1000]

so should i be adding my cuc now? my ammonia is still 1.5ish and no nitrites or nitrates
some people say yes some say no, ive done both and would probably just wait till ammonia and nitrite are at 0

[Michael]

so should i be adding my cuc now? my ammonia is still 1.5ish and no nitrites or nitrates

No don't do it, ammonia is leathel to all inverts, wait until your ammonia and nitrite have been 0 for 2-3 days, then do a 20-25% water change to dilute the nitrate formed and then you could think about adding some snails, I'd suggest only 4 in your 29 gallon as well, please don't purchase 70 mixed, on line, in the so called cuc deals, they will all perish from starvation if you do.


Mike

[pentrix2]

No don't do it, ammonia is leathel to all inverts, wait until your ammonia and nitrite have been 0 for 2-3 days, then do a 20-25% water change to dilute the nitrate formed and then you could think about adding some snails, I'd suggest only 4 in your 29 gallon as well, please don't purchase 70 mixed, on line, in the so called cuc deals, they will all perish from starvation if you do.


Mike

+1 on this. i added my CUC too soon and they pretty much all died. I learned the hard way in this hobby the key to keeping everything alive and healthy is, patience...

Pen

[PurpleMonkey]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm in Canada so most of those online CUC dealers don't work for me.