A Really Fast Cycle?

[szl]

Hello all,

Last weekend I took the plunge (pun intended) into nano reef keeping. I began to cycle my tank which I had been planning for months.

Here is where I sit.

79-80f temp
Protein skimmer running the whole time
Lights 10 hours a day
vortech mp10 running on lagoon
25g tank with about 30lbs of live rock and 18lbs arag alive live sand.

I tested my water 3 days after starting and had high ammonia.

3 days after that I tested my ammonia again and it was zero, which was a little shocking to me. I then checked my nitrite and it was high around 2-3 ppm.

Today, 8 days after begining the cycle I checked my nitrite and it was zero. I checked my ammonia again and it was zero and double checked my nitrite and it too was zero.

I checked my nitrate and it was around 10 or 15.

Is it possible for a tank to cycle this fast? I have cycled FW many times and this is the time I add fish. Is it the same for SW? Once my ammonia and nitrite are zero am I good to add fish or do I need to wait for nitrate to reach zero?

Thanks

 

[Sk8r]

I've seen a 5 day cycle with a re-set-up, and yours nearly is. Put in one snail and see how it fares, then keep adding them while you put your first fish in qt.

 

[shifty51008]

if you used fully cured rock to start with then yes it is possible for a tank to cycle that fast. once your ammonia and nitrite levels reach 0 for a week do a good size water change to lower your nitrates and then you can add your first fish. I suggest you qt them first though

 

[whosurcaddie]

Yep what they said^^^^

 

[gone fishin]

What whosurcaddie said they said.

 

[szl]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate all your help

 

[theMatrix]

I had a 4day cycle. Diatoms on day 3. Clean up crew on day 4. Mostly snails and some crabs. Their doing good work. Also lowering phosphate and did a 20percent water change today. If i could...i almost would do a 80percent water change. Im tempted but the corals are growing great

 

[Sandrock.e46]

I've seen cycles after a week.... You could just try some cheap fish to test the waters...

 

[szl]

Well after everyones advice, I will keep testing my water through the week just to make sure its cycled. I hate the idea of putting any forms of life through undue stress so I want to be absolutely certain its safe.

This weekend I will put some CuC in the tank after a water change, and see how things go from there.

Thank you again!

 

[richieii]

you could be safe and put pure ammonia and see if she clears up

 

[Roccus]

personally I would not be running the skimmer while I cycle.. if it's a new skimmer that hasn't broken in yet it probably doesn't matter but while I'm cycling I don't want to remove anything that could mask future problems.. I want every bit of "bad" that is available... I'd add small amount of ammonia, measure parameters and then see how fast it converts.. when I can convert 2-4 ppm of Ammonia overnight with 0 Ammonia or nitrite 24 hours later I feel my tanks are ready for a LIGHT living bio load..

 

[laga77]

personally I would not be running the skimmer while I cycle

Actually, You want the skimmer running to fully oxygenate the water. Turn it down so it doesn`t pull stuff out but keep it running.

 

[JBeursken]

What next?

What next?

I've been in this for about 1 1/2 months...Where I'm at currently..
100 Gallon Tank
60lbs Live Sand, 90 lbs of Live Rock
Hydor Power Circulators 2
Hydor Controller
Eshopps Protein Skimmer
Turbo Twist UV Light
2 Kessil A360 Tuna Blue and 2 Kessil Spectral Controllers
Phosban Reactor not hooked up yet...getting there
Making my own RO/DI Water and have done 2 water changes.

Fish - Kole Tang
Fox Face
2 Clown Fish
Shrimp
Royal Gramma
Sailfin Tang

all is good to date, going to try adding some coral this week...

 

[WaReefer458]

I've been in this for about 1 1/2 months...Where I'm at currently..
100 Gallon Tank
60lbs Live Sand, 90 lbs of Live Rock
Hydor Power Circulators 2
Hydor Controller
Eshopps Protein Skimmer
Turbo Twist UV Light
2 Kessil A360 Tuna Blue and 2 Kessil Spectral Controllers
Phosban Reactor not hooked up yet...getting there
Making my own RO/DI Water and have done 2 water changes.

Fish - Kole Tang
Fox Face
2 Clown Fish
Shrimp
Royal Gramma
Sailfin Tang

all is good to date, going to try adding some coral this week...

Why 2 Kessil controllers? That was a waste of money!