30 Gallon QT tank wont cycle :(

Z

Zer0.

New member
So I am new to saltwater aquariums, however I am trying to start off on the right hand by quarantining all my fish before they go into the DT. I have none so far as DT just started cycling.

It has been 4 weeks since I first introduced an ammonia source to my 30 gallon QT tank and I am still seeing absolute 0 nitrItes. I used 0 TDS RODI water, I have a bare bottom glass tank, using a Fluval C4 HOB filter with extra biomax media in it (extra in place of the carbon) my temp is 81 degrees and stable, SG at 1.025 and stable, PH about 8.0, ammonia is at 3.0 nitrite 0.0 and nitrate 0.0. Also have two powerheads for surface agitation and water flow and dosed Seachem Stability for the first week and a half or so.

Not sure what is wrong here, feel like from what I have read not seeing nitrites at all by now is very unusal. :headwalls:

Considering just doing an uncycled QT since I can not get this one to cycle but would very much like to still QT fish. Any one have any estimate on how much and how often I would need to do WC to keep ammonia down? Plan on starting with a pair of occ. clowns then only one fish at a time after that.

Really appreciate any help, hopefully the DT cycling goes better.
 
You need an intial bacteria source such as a sponge or filter media from a cycled tnk. initial bacteria source to jump start a cycle. But remember you need a sponge or something in the filter for the bacteria to grow on. You can use some of the commercial bacteria sources such as StartSmart for saltwater to intiate the bacterial growth to help the cycle along.
 
coralsnaked said:
You need an intial bacteria source such as a sponge or filter media from a cycled tnk. initial bacteria source to jump start a cycle. But remember you need a sponge or something in the filter for the bacteria to grow on. You can use some of the commercial bacteria sources such as StartSmart for saltwater to intiate the bacterial growth to help the cycle along.
Click to expand...

I used Seachem Stability for the bacteria source and have a double portion of Fluval C-nodes for bio filtration surface.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...=pla&catargetid=530005150000091148&cadevice=c

So I think I have that covered, just started dosing in some brightwell microbacter7 bioculture just in case the Stability was bunk, I have no other ideas tho.
 
As you have seen in the QT thread maybe, I went a month of thinking my QT tank was cycling but I never built ammonia up high enough originally it turned out. When I put two raw shrimp tails (from the grocery store deli) in a month later to restart the cycle, ammonia spiked to 8.0 the next day and 2 weeks later im now spiking on nitrites w/ammonia at zero.

Also, I feel like I have read on here if nitrites are really high they wont register on any test....however eventually it should and Ive seen your numbers on the QT thread so yea that seems kinda weird. Is it possible you could have too much biomax or is that even possible? Maybe it takes longer with more biomax...idk...newb here
 
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Ryanrttu said:
As you have seen in the QT thread maybe, I went a month of thinking my QT tank was cycling but I never built ammonia up high enough originally it turned out. When I put two raw shrimp tails (from the grocery store deli) in a month later to restart the cycle, ammonia spiked to 8.0 the next day and 2 weeks later im now spiking on nitrites w/ammonia at zero.

Also, I feel like I have read on here if nitrites are really high they wont register on any test....however eventually it should and Ive seen your numbers on the QT thread so yea that seems kinda weird. Is it possible you could have too much biomax or is that even possible? Maybe it takes longer with more biomax...idk...newb here
Click to expand...

See my ammonia is around 3.0 ppm, I've always heard not to let it go above 5.0 ppm or it can actually slow things down (mainly sited from Dr.Tims fishless cycling instructions)

Glad yours finally got going at least, seems like we going thru everything at the same time for similar setups. By the way did you ever add any bacteria source? I.E. established live rock or sand? or bacteria in a bottle type product?

Thanks, guess ill keep waiting it out for now, would really like to do a cycled QT although Ive heard both ways advocated by well known reefers (sk8r says dont cycle, bnumair says do :lol:)
 
Glad yours finally got going at least, seems like we going thru everything at the same time for similar setups. By the way did you ever add any bacteria source? I.E. established live rock or sand? or bacteria in a bottle type product?
Click to expand...

We certainly are and no I didn't add any rock/sand/bacteria, just the shrimp and my tank is just a 20g with a HOB filter and a little biomax media and foam pad. No sand or LR per Bnumairs instructions.
 
best thing you could have done was use two different sources for the bacteria. Just wait couple weeks to see any changes in ammonia/nitrite. If no changes, then I would get some live rock rubble (couple small pieces) and remove when cycled, or a bio-carbon source to help feed the bacteria, or some common hermits with tiny pieces of flake food.
 
Can't really say why you're not seeing any nitrites, but just to clarify... you don't need a bacteria source. Saltwater and a source of ammonia is all you need, in addition to somewhere for the bacteria to live (HOB filter, live rock, etc). You'll get all the bacteria you need from the air, for free.
 
diegoluv said:
Put a piece of live rock from your cycled DT in it. That will have enough bacteria to begin the cycle.
Click to expand...

I just started cycling my Display tank yesterday so thats not much of an option :p

And just to make sure 3ppm ammonia is plenty right? Originally for first week shrimp decayed and took it up to about 1.0-1.5, took shrimp out, then about a week later I dosed ace ammonia as well as a couple fish flakes to bring it up to where it is now around 3.0. Haven't changed any water or really done anything else.
 
This is the fun part, waiting. you did all you can do pretty much. I personally wouldn't have dosed ammonia itself. The food should have been sufficient. Any ammonia is enough to start IME. Don't change any water until the tank is fully cycled. You could potentially pull out "seeded" water and replace it with sterile water which will prolong your wait even more. If you are using micobacter then I usually use it until I start to see a fall in ammonia, which is usually a couple days. But you shouldn't have to use the whole bottle. Just sit back and relax.
 
Might be your first lesson in what I have heard referred to as snake oils. I was very guilty of buying "bottles" thinking I was doing what was best, over time I have come to realize nature does it better. Not saying dosing doesn't have its place, I believe it does, but cycles are best left to Mother Nature IMO.

Personally, now, I wouldn't add anything to a tank unless I have tested and know I need it. I enjoy letting my tank go O'natural and supporting itself. I found if I forced my tank or added to much I only caused problems for myself.

Knowledge is your best friend and there is a lot around here!

Welcome to reefing!
 
Getting really discouraged. Main tank has been up two weeks now with ammonia between 3-4 ppm. And still 0 nitrites or nitrates feel like its following the same path as my QT that has been trying to cycle for like 2 months now and has gone no where. I'm about to give up before I can really even get started.

QT parameters: temp 79F, ammonia about 4.0 ppm, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, PH 8.0, alk. 11 KH, salinity 1.025
DT parameters are same except ammonia slightly lower and alk. is 6 KH. Not sure why its so much lower since I used same Lent marine salt mix.

Used ace janitorial ammonia as main source of ammonia, which I read is pretty common on here, as well as some fish flakes, QT originally started out with frozen shrimp method.
What am I doing wrong someone please help!
 
After doing some research it seems some other people that started with all dry rock and sand have also had this problem. I tested phosphate and it's at absolute 0. I'm thinking this may be the problem as apparently the bacteria need phosphate to break down ammonia. So I'm going to start ghost feeding some fish flakes every other day. Not sure if I should change our the water or not. Thinking I should just leave it unless ammonia gets crazy high like over 5ppm then just doing partial change to lower it. DT is 180 gallon so 100% WC would be very hard. QT is only 30 tho so I might try 100% WC in there to try an try both options. Also cranked up to 85ish as I hear this can help. Thanks for help. Trying to be patient. Wish me luck
 
Bit of an update I added 1 large peice of live rock to my main tank, and several piece of LR rubble into the QT a few days ago. The DT is showing nitrites now!!! woot woot! The Qt however is still not even tho its been set up like 3 times as long. O well I'm just happy my cycle in my main tank is under way, worse case scenario I guess I can just run an uncycled QT with frequent water changes. Not sure how often I would need to do a PWC on a 30 gallon with 1 or 2 small fish in it at a time.
 
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