Cycle

[Saltwater Guy]

I posted this in a different thread not in regards to my cycle and only got one response so I was wondering if you could help me out.

My tank has been up and running for a week its a 29g Bio Cube I am using 30lbs of fully cured live rock from an established tank. The rock has not been out of the water except to move it from a bucket into the tank.

I am using a seachem test kit and my readings are as follows

Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
Free Ammonia 0
Total Ammonia 0.1

Is it possible that I am fully cycled or that my cycle has not even started? In my other post the person stated that my tank would not cycle if I use fully cured live rock.

I am thinking about putting a clown in my tank today but I dont want to rush it if my tank is not cycled. Or maybe by putting the clown in my tank it will help it cycle......

Im lost, thanks for the help in advance.

 

[fatdaddy]

That is correct. If you're using cycled live rock, then the tank won't cycle. Of course, every system takes a while to come into equilibrium, and a week is not a very long time.

However, a clown fish is a hardy species, so you're probably fine to put it in at this point.

 

[Saltwater Guy]

I figured that I would go with one clown and monitor the situation very closley. I know the lfs owner very well and if my levels get out of line I could take him back for the time being.

If I use dry base sand would this induce a cycle?

 

[r0bin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13230899#post13230899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fatdaddy
That is correct. If you're using cycled live rock, then the tank won't cycle. Of course, every system takes a while to come into equilibrium, and a week is not a very long time.

However, a clown fish is a hardy species, so you're probably fine to put it in at this point.

Right on! What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[WhiteLightsaber]

With that little ammonia, there is nothing to seed your cycle. The bacteria on the rock will die off after a short time with nothing to seed it. You will likely see your cycle happen as soon as you add a fish in.

 

[fatdaddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13231535#post13231535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saltwater Guy
If I use dry base sand would this induce a cycle?

First, you don't need to cycle. Cycling occurs because you have too much nutrients in the system. For example, I had my tank set up for 6 months, but it cycled after I added decent lighting. I had so much phosphate and nitrates in my system, that the lighting kicked off out of control growth.

Cycling occurs with uncured live rock because of all the organisms that died during shipment are rotting and releasing nutrients. This results in an out of control growth that eventually recedes and reaches equilibrium as anaerobic bacteria release nitrogen.

However, it's just as reasonable to come to equilibrium with live rock, sand, and sufficient time without all the out of control growth. However, anaerobic bacteria takes much longer to establish, so that's the reason for the time lag and why establishing equilibrium takes so long.

So, to answer your question, no, dry sand won't kick off an out of control cycle.

However, you could use my housesitter's technique where you just seriously overefeed the tank for two weeks and kick off an out of control cycle. This killed off most of my fish, but it did cycle the tank. (Not recommend.)

 

[thewashcaps]

IMO i would start with a blue demsel before I would put in a clown cheap fish if it dies your not out alot.