Cycling? 2 weeks, nothing

[scubaD]

We have had our 70G with 38G sump up and running for 2 weeks now. Have cheato and live sand in sump. Dead washed dried rock in the display. Dry sand with a cup of live sand in display also. There has been nothing. No Ammonia, Nitrate, or Nitrite. What should we be doing? Do we need to somehow force a cycle? If not how long do we need to wait? If so what do we need to do?

Thanks,
David

 

[Blown 346]

The daed washed rock is why you arent cycling, you need some established rock or or uncured or semi cured rock.

The dead base rock doesnt have any life on it therefore there is no bacteria to feed off of it. A easy way is to get a cocktail shrimp for the store and let it sit in the tank for a day or two and let it rot. That should start your cycle.

 

[kenny77]

you need to seed some ammonia in your tank. maybe a dead shrimp or a piece or clam. or just go peeing in your tank. vodka could work to. and if not well a shot of vodka for you and a shot of vodka to the tank. there are many wasy to star a cycle.

but just to be in the safe line. go with the shrimp. that will boost your ammonia sky high, then you will see how the cycle start.

 

[fareforce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9702842#post9702842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kenny77
you need to seed some ammonia in your tank. maybe a dead shrimp or a piece or clam. or just go peeing in your tank. vodka could work to. and if not well a shot of vodka for you and a shot of vodka to the tank. there are many wasy to star a cycle.

but just to be in the safe line. go with the shrimp. that will boost your ammonia sky high, then you will see how the cycle start.

Vodka wont start the cycle. It just provides a simple sugar to fuel bacteria growth once the cycle has started.. This can sometimes speed up the cycle process.

Peeing in your tank will work, but can be tricky to aim up the high sometimes..

Shrimp is the best way to go. Make sure they are raw uncooked shrimp. Black Tiger Prawns work good. get about 3 or 4. Most people say drop them in, but I suggest putting them in a nylon stocking, and putting them in. It makes it a lot easier to retrieve the remains when done.

 

[scubaD]

OK, I heard about the shrimp method, but I had heard against it too. Just wanted to be sure before I did anything potentially stupid. Thanks for the confirmation.

As for Peeing, I am pretty tall, but then again the top of the tank is probably 5 feet off the floor.

Thanks again, I will be hitting the grocery store on the way home from work today.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I've read somewhere that the plain jane, cleaning ammonia works also.

What is the ingredient that the ammnoia should not contain though?

 

[scubaD]

so the shrimp are in, in stockings for easy removal. How long do we leave them in? How do we know when to take them out? Wait to see ammonia? How much Ammonia before taking them out?

Thanks,
David

 

[SquidHC]

With no live rock in your tank it may take abit of time for it to get started. It would probably help alot to go to your LFS and get a bag of live rock rubble. My LFS has a whole bin of it and its free. This will get some more bacteria into your tank to start it going.

 

[Blown 346]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9711394#post9711394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scubaD
so the shrimp are in, in stockings for easy removal. How long do we leave them in? How do we know when to take them out? Wait to see ammonia? How much Ammonia before taking them out?

Thanks,
David

I would let the shrimp stay in the tank so it starts to rot. Maybe 2 days or so, or until you have a ammonia reading.