cycle question

[yogisfriend]

Well, I have done everything to create a cycle--raw shrimp, addition of a few pounds of almost fully-cured live rock (I have about 45 lbs of fully-cured rock and about 100 lbs of base), Cycle . . .my ammo has stayed at 0 throughout and my nitrites are falling quickly. Nitrates are staying steady at 25. I haven't put any lights on yet. I feed the tank every other day with Reef Solutions.

Once nitrites hit 0, should I do a 50% water change and put the lights on for a few hours a day? How long after they stay 0 should I wait to see if I have an algae bloom before adding my clowns and clean-up guys?

My calc is at 440 (marine lab test-salifert on the way) and I haven't tested yet for mg (on the way). Alk is high, but I tested just after adding salt mixture, so I am waiting until tomorrow to re-test.

My gut says I should wait another 3-4 weeks before putting anything in the tank. I know it is normal to not have a big cycle because I used cured rock, but it makes me nervous. Hubby says we're going shopping the day after the nitrites hit 0 and we do a water change.

 

[chemisfun11]

I set up my tank very similarly. It's tough to know if you've even experienced a cycle when you use so much LR. Depends on how much dead or live stuff is on the rock. I didn't get an algae bloom until my lights were on and I added 3 small clowns and a six lined wrasse. The fish died, but not due to anything wrong with the chemistry of the water. I added a clean up crew to take care of the algae then slowly added the fish I wanted and smooth sailing ever since.

 

[yogisfriend]

I've had my clowns waiting in a qt for several weeks--last thing I want to do is kill them off! I'll wait for a couple of weeks after I get the lighting before I add a few of my cleaning crew--also in qt. If they make it, in go the clowns!
Thanks.

 

[bertoni]

If you have live rock, there's no need for the raw shrimp. Just wait for a few weeks of zero ammonia, and start adding animals slowly. Since you whacked the water quality with a shrimp, I'd definitely suggest a few 25% water changes to clean out any remaining toxins, etc.

 

[Avi]

I'm not sure why you'd be feeding the tank every other day with Reef Solutions at this stage. I wouldn't. Other than that, I'd just keep going in the way you are. I don't see any need for doing any significant water changes at all when the water quality is right according to testing.

As for the lights, I cured my tank with the lights on and never had a really significant algae problem. I suppose you do have a good skimmer running all the time, and if you do, algae shouldn't get out of control.

As soon as your water's in good shape, you can add some small things like hermit crabs and maybe some snails. I would go slow with adding things...after you do add some things like that to the tank, keep testing and make sure your water remains stable at good readings, and then after a few weeks, go ahead and add a fish or two, but that's all. Keep testing and the time between additions can get smaller and smaller as time goes on. But, I really believe that this kind of patience will pay off with generally better water conditions, less of the typical algae appearances that will happen in the first year or so.

 

[yogisfriend]

bertoni, I never did get any ammonia; I tested using salifert the first day and every one since--0 every time. I took a sample to my LFS and got the same result. That's why I added the shrimp a couple of days after setting up the tank and a couple of very small pieces of rock they had had curing for over 4 weeks. I can't shake the feeling that a cycle is lurking. Thought I'd head it off and get it over with. I have been known to kill.

Avi, I started the feeding before coming to RC. I was asking questions on another saltwater fish forum, and that's what I was told to do. Feedings will stop. I do have a good skimmer and started a phosban reactor yesterday.

Thanks to both for the advice. I guess the best thing for me to do is relax and test (and do water changes!)

 

[bertoni]

Sounds like a fine idea to me!