Question about cycling

[sponger0]

I have a question about cycling but Im not a newbie. I just started the tank up on saturday. I have been checking the tank every other day for nitrites and ammonia. Nothign as of yet. Diatoms are growing. Pods are crawling. I used 60 lbs of sand and 55 lbs of live rock. The rock had been cured for a month. About half live and half dry. But it was in a tub for a month curing before the tank was running. Whats peoples opinion or thoughts on how the cycle is going?

[Alex1524]

lol! You are in the SAME exact position I am. I set up my tank saturday as well. Put in 57 lbs of live rock and 60lbs of sand and my rock is cured. And no spikes of anything. Its amazing how there's not really much info on cycling with CURED live rock. From what I've gathered we need to add a source of ammonia to get the cycle going. I threw in a raw shrimp yesterday. I put it in panty hose and kind of anchored it to the bottom so that the good stuff will colonize all over my sand bed. We'll see what happens. Im assuming patience is the key. Anybody have advice for sponger and myself?

[sponger0]

I threw in shrimp into the tank in the mid morning yesterday and tested last night. Nothing. Oh my tank is a 40 breeder with 55 gallons total volume.

When I started the curing of the rock, I threw in some shrimp there too and still didnt get ammonia

[jbonez]

wait until you see no ammonia or nitrites. soon after you will see nitrates after a few days or so of no nitrites & ammonia a very low nitrates then your good to go

[jbonez]

patience is key me friend, dont rush nothing in this hobby good luck

[sponger0]

I havent seen either. Just like my first tank, if I dont see any by 2 weeks, Im sure my tank is cycled. Yes I am being patient. Buts it so hard!!! lol

Maybe Ill take a wizz into my tank lol

[daplatapus]

Yeah, I started my first tank in Aug with 130 lbs of cured rock and dead sand, but after sticking in 2 shrimp and waiting 6 weeks I never saw any NH3, NO3, or NO2. Still haven't and I've now got 6 fish, some coral, shrimp and CUC. In my understanding, if you have the bacteria present, you never will see ammonia. Adding ammonia (or dead shrimp to give off ammonia from the decomposition process) is just to cultivate the beneficial bacteria. If it's already there, your tank will handle a bio-load equal to the amount of bacteria. I would give it 3-4 weeks min to make sure, but then start adding slowly to increase the bacteria concentration. You'll obviously need to keep a watch out for Nitrate (as the end product of the cycle) as only a decent size DSB or water changes will deal with that.
I'm totally open to correction if I'm wrong.... :)

[sponger0]

Yeah, I started my first tank in Aug with 130 lbs of cured rock and dead sand, but after sticking in 2 shrimp and waiting 6 weeks I never saw any NH3, NO3, or NO2. Still haven't and I've now got 6 fish, some coral, shrimp and CUC. In my understanding, if you have the bacteria present, you never will see ammonia. Adding ammonia (or dead shrimp to give off ammonia from the decomposition process) is just to cultivate the beneficial bacteria. If it's already there, your tank will handle a bio-load equal to the amount of bacteria. I would give it 3-4 weeks min to make sure, but then start adding slowly to increase the bacteria concentration. You'll obviously need to keep a watch out for Nitrate (as the end product of the cycle) as only a decent size DSB or water changes will deal with that.
I'm totally open to correction if I'm wrong.... :)

With 60 lbs of sand, I have a 2 inch sandbed. Not sure if that is considered dsb or not, but I wanted it for fish that like to play in the sand :)

[daplatapus]

yeah, I only went with about 1 1/2". I have a feeling I'll end up adding to that slowly over the next year, it's too shallow. It's my first SW tank, so I guess live and learn. My basement sump has about a 6" bed in the refugium that I think has been helping tremendously with my water quality. I think 3" and over is where it's considered deep, but that (like much of this hobby) varies with people's opinions ;)

[sponger0]

yeah, I only went with about 1 1/2". I have a feeling I'll end up adding to that slowly over the next year, it's too shallow. It's my first SW tank, so I guess live and learn. My basement sump has about a 6" bed in the refugium that I think has been helping tremendously with my water quality. I think 3" and over is where it's considered deep, but that (like much of this hobby) varies with people's opinions ;)

yeah I was going to add another 10-20 lbs of sand but decided against it. But I do like 2" sand bed. I think Ill go with that height now on in the future

[WetShepherd]

The same thing happened in my 55 with my rock. I've always assumed that when this happens it's just a matter of the requisite bacteria already being on the rock - which is all we really wait for to happen during a 'cycle'.

It sounds like you are in for a very smooth start ;)

[Alex1524]

Sponger, is your shrimp still in there? Did you check for ammonia today? Im curious as i am in the same boat as you.

[tspors]

Sit back and enjoy your empty tank for 2 months, Then add CUC. It's not just about cycling its more about stabalizing. Good Luck.

[DUPioneers]

Sit back and enjoy your empty tank for 2 months, Then add CUC. It's not just about cycling its more about stabalizing. Good Luck.

While I understand the mechanics of the quoted, my question is as follows:

Without waste-makers (i.e., fish...) what does the CUC eat when introduced into a cycled tank? Eachother's waste?

[snorvich]

While I understand the mechanics of the quoted, my question is as follows:

Without waste-makers (i.e., fish...) what does the CUC eat when introduced into a cycled tank? Eachother's waste?

You feed them. Pellets, mysis, or whatever.

[DUPioneers]

You feed them. Pellets, mysis, or whatever.

Ahhhh...gotcha. Thanks!!!