Never Cycled

beeven · 06/01/2012, 02:30 PM

This question might have already been asked and answered on here, but I wasnt able to come up with anything through my searches. Sorry if this is a redundancy.

I'm in the process of re-setting up my 200G mixed reef. Its been up and running for almost a month now but the cycle never happened. My water parameters from day one: Temp 79, PH 8.1, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5-10ppm. At Day 28 my readings are exactly the same.

I used about 100lbs of my old dead "live" rock and seeded it with about 40lbs of new cured live rock. Protein skimmer has been running since week 1.

Does this mean I'm ready to add a small amount of cleaners to the party?

yh1185 · 06/01/2012, 02:32 PM

Did you add any fish food, or a raw shrimp? You need something in the tank to generate some ammonia for the cycle to occur.

beeven · 06/01/2012, 02:45 PM

I didn't. I had a couple of dead beetles and a moth in the tank when I was filling it with my RO/DI so I figured that would start up the party. But perhaps my filtration is too much. My protein skimmer and refugium set up are slightly over kill for my tank. I designed it that way on purpose because I'll be growing SPS and wanted super clean water. It worked for me when I had it running in the years past - it was a very successful tank.

Do you think the 5-10ppm Nitrates is coming from the cured live rock thats in there now? Does that make sense?

I'll see about ghost feeding it tonight a little bit food. Or I might pee in it a little, see if that starts off the Ammonia.

yh1185 · 06/01/2012, 02:50 PM

erm i wouldn't pee in it... (not sure if that was a joke) I'd take out the bugs and whatever. doesn't belong in a tank. Ghost feed fish food, or put a raw shrimp and let it degrade in the tank. You should see a large ammonia spike from either method.

CHSUB · 06/01/2012, 02:54 PM

i would say your done, i have set up many tanks using LR and i never get large NH3 spikes...add your cuc!

Empty Bottles · 06/01/2012, 03:13 PM

I'm not joking I was wondering if I could pee in my tank to start the cycle too. Well only halfway joking.

Donkeykong · 06/01/2012, 03:35 PM

Since you used some live rock and there was very little to nothing else producing waste you probably are cycled, I would add a small amount of snails and a few hermits and then test your water again after a few days.

thegrun · 06/01/2012, 06:54 PM

A quick test would be to pour in a teaspoon of pure ammonia (available at your local drug store) and take readings. It should drop to zero in a day or so, if not wait for the ammonia and nitrites to drop back down to zero.

James77 · 06/01/2012, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empty Bottles

I'm not joking I was wondering if I could pee in my tank to start the cycle too. Well only halfway joking.

I guess you could....might become a habit though. It could escalate into far worse as well.

Better to just add a dead shrimp and see what happens. Ammonia from the store is ok, just be sure it is 100% with no surfactants.

06/01/2012, 02:30 PM	#1
beeven Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 47	Never Cycled This question might have already been asked and answered on here, but I wasnt able to come up with anything through my searches. Sorry if this is a redundancy. I'm in the process of re-setting up my 200G mixed reef. Its been up and running for almost a month now but the cycle never happened. My water parameters from day one: Temp 79, PH 8.1, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5-10ppm. At Day 28 my readings are exactly the same. I used about 100lbs of my old dead "live" rock and seeded it with about 40lbs of new cured live rock. Protein skimmer has been running since week 1. Does this mean I'm ready to add a small amount of cleaners to the party?

06/01/2012, 02:32 PM	#2
yh1185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 279	Did you add any fish food, or a raw shrimp? You need something in the tank to generate some ammonia for the cycle to occur. __________________ 40b, bh2000 skimmer, 48X3w Cree LED Eshine Systems with a sun-rise/set controller. 2X750gph koralia evolution powerheads

06/01/2012, 02:50 PM	#4
yh1185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 279	erm i wouldn't pee in it... (not sure if that was a joke) I'd take out the bugs and whatever. doesn't belong in a tank. Ghost feed fish food, or put a raw shrimp and let it degrade in the tank. You should see a large ammonia spike from either method. __________________ 40b, bh2000 skimmer, 48X3w Cree LED Eshine Systems with a sun-rise/set controller. 2X750gph koralia evolution powerheads

06/01/2012, 02:54 PM	#5
CHSUB "Certified Hobby Expert" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 2,038	i would say your done, i have set up many tanks using LR and i never get large NH3 spikes...add your cuc! __________________ Goniopora Police _________________ building a 60"x36"x30" peninsula reef...follow at "NEW TANK BUILD" on reef discussion forum! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110638

06/01/2012, 03:13 PM	#6
Empty Bottles Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 291	I'm not joking I was wondering if I could pee in my tank to start the cycle too. Well only halfway joking. __________________ 60" 100 gallon Mixed Reef Currently under reconstruction. Current Tank Info: 100G Reef

06/01/2012, 02:45 PM	#3
beeven Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 47	I didn't. I had a couple of dead beetles and a moth in the tank when I was filling it with my RO/DI so I figured that would start up the party. But perhaps my filtration is too much. My protein skimmer and refugium set up are slightly over kill for my tank. I designed it that way on purpose because I'll be growing SPS and wanted super clean water. It worked for me when I had it running in the years past - it was a very successful tank. Do you think the 5-10ppm Nitrates is coming from the cured live rock thats in there now? Does that make sense? I'll see about ghost feeding it tonight a little bit food. Or I might pee in it a little, see if that starts off the Ammonia.

06/01/2012, 03:35 PM	#7
Donkeykong Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grover Beach CA Posts: 1,847	Since you used some live rock and there was very little to nothing else producing waste you probably are cycled, I would add a small amount of snails and a few hermits and then test your water again after a few days.

06/01/2012, 06:54 PM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	A quick test would be to pour in a teaspoon of pure ammonia (available at your local drug store) and take readings. It should drop to zero in a day or so, if not wait for the ammonia and nitrites to drop back down to zero.