Back after 20 years - cycling advice

[gimmea250swb]

I purchased an established waterbox 60 and the prior owner sold off most of his livestock. I got it with a clown, purple tang, zoas and a Japanese toadstool which I think complicates my cycle a bit. I was able to take about 20 gallons of the old tank’s water. Up and running for 2 weeks now. Ammonia and nitrite appear to be zero and nitrates around 50 this weekend. I did a 10 gallon water change but haven’t measured again. Fish are happy and eating everything in front of them. Zoas are out. Toadstool has very short polyps that haven’t extended. Diatoms are forming.

All my reading suggests not turning on lights during cycle, but I’ve got the coral. Do I just power through as is? I have no CUC and haven’t added pods. Happy to wait through the ugly period unless things have changed in the last two decades.

I’m traveling now, but know I need to update my tank specs.

 

[griss]

Did the tank come with live rock? If so, you may have a minimal to no cycle. Since you're showing no ammonia or nitrites, I've thinking you're pretty much through the cycle if there was one.

I personally, always run the lights during a cycle. That's because I always use at least some live rock and want to provide light for any photosynthetic creatures on the rock.

If you want to be sure of the cycle, you can add a bacterial additive like Microbacter7 or similar.

 

[gimmea250swb]

Thank you sir! Yes, it came with about 30-40 lbs of LR. I added some Life Rock- where was that stuff 20 years ago?? And LEDs and Apex??? Don’t get me started…

Any guidance on when to add a CUC?

 

[griss]

No problem.

The problem with rock these days is there is no South Pacific real live rock. All the sources for good rock back in the day (Fiji, Tonga, Marshall Islands, etc.) have banned the collection of live rock.

You can get aqua/maricultured rock. Tampa Bay Saltwater and Gulf Live Rock both offer Gulf aquacultured rock. KP Aquatics and Marco Rocks offer Florida Keys aquacultured rock. Walt Smith makes rock from concrete, shells and sand and then aquacultures it in the waters around Fiji. And, you can occasionally find Australian live rock but, it is pretty pricy at around $25/lb. I've personally ordered KP's rock twice now and been very happy with the amount of life and hitchhikers.

For LEDs, I'm a recent convert from MH to LED so, I won't profess to know a lot about them.

For controllers, I'm currently using the Apex on my 40 and have been pretty happy with it so far. I'm really only using it to control skimmer, return pump, heaters, media reactor pump, moonlights and monitoring pH and temp.

I got a used Hydros system from a friend who left the hobby and I'm planning on using that on the upgrade (150 gallon) I'm in the process of doing.

As far as CUC, if you're still reading zero on the ammonia and nitrites, I'm add them now. I don't know if you ever ordered from Reef Cleaners but they have a great variety and good pricing. They also have some nice pre-built CUC packages that includes shipping cost.

 

[Guygettnby]

Sadly reefcleaners isn't the cheapest option anymore. That fact that they charge shipping on everything offset the prices, for me atleast. I found local sources that were cheaper. They were always my go to for CUC, but this time around I refused to use them and pay the extra charges.

If the tank you bought came with live rock and substrate/sand already. You most likely will never even get a cycle or it would be very small. Possibly never even notice it happening. I would go get that CUC at this point.

I still have yet to even use a controller. Have come close many time's, but never pulled the trigger.

LED lights are great, but I will forever be a fan of MH and T5/VHO fixtures. I have never managed to get that same shimmer effect with LED lights. Yet I have converted all my tanks to LED fixtures over 10 years ago.