Cycling Question

[micielo719]

Ok, so on June 19 I started to cycle my 10 Gallon Quarantine tank and started it with a small raw shrimp. I have used RO/DI water & measured at 0 PPM. I have ghost fed the tank almost every single day just a very small pinch of food. I checked the water parameters every week. I am still reading .5 PPM with an API dropper tester. Nitrite is at 0, Nitrate is at 0, KH is at 120 and GH is at 180 (those were tested with the API test strip. Does this seem like my tank is still cycling ok? I know that my ammonia should be at 0 PPM. There is nothing in the tank besides 2 pcs of PVC. And the tank has a biowheel filter. I do see a little algae growing on the sides of the tank which I have not cleaned and also the water is and has remained cloudy since the beginning. I have the temp at 79-80* and 1.026 salinity. Just looking to make sure I am headed in the right direction.. Thanks for any and all help..

 

[Scoted]

I would say that it's not cycled. My tank ( 90 gallon system) cycled in 3-4 weeks and my 10 gallon qt tank with hob filter no live rock took 6-7 weeks to clear cycle. Go by the tests and use you time to do more reading. Good luck and take it slow!

 

[micielo719]

Kinda figured it wasn't yet.. Just thought if get another opinion. Thanks I have a 120g that I haven't even begun to start as I'm finishing up my stand. So hopefully I'll throw some live rock in that and have it cycle faster. Sucks waiting but it is what it is. I have been reading for months..

 

[Scoted]

Post some pics when you get the stand done.

 

[Isaacs55]

It's really not necessary to cycle a qt tank unless it's a permanent qt but even then you would need another tank for tank transfer method. No need for cycle though...

 

[micielo719]

It's a permanent QT tank. I was under the impression that as long as I didn't treat with copper that it would be fine to treat for ich without a tank transfer. I will only be getting 1 fish at a time and observing.

Scoted, I will post some pics for sure. It is a custom wall unit build.

 

[Isaacs55]

If you wanted to cycle your qt faster you could just put your bio wheel in a 5 gallon bucket or smaller and force the beneficial bacteria to grow exclusively on your bio wheel. That way when it's done cycling throw it in your qt and you should be good to go. If you cycle the bio wheel in your qt it'll take longer because most beneficial bacteria will only grow on your tank walls and whatever pvc you have in there...which is why it takes much longer to cycle...

 

[micielo719]

Another pic

 

[Isaacs55]

It's a permanent QT tank. I was under the impression that as long as I didn't treat with copper that it would be fine to treat for ich without a tank transfer. I will only be getting 1 fish at a time and observing.

Scoted, I will post some pics for sure. It is a custom wall unit build.

True but the proven method of eliminating ich is the TTM.
But if you say so...whatever works best for you bud. Just trying to help.

 

[Isaacs55]

Another pic

Beautiful stand!! Can't wait to see the end results.

 

[micielo719]

If it doesn't cycle in another week I'll try that. Thank you for the comments on the stand. Should have it done by next week. Thanks

 

[shifty51008]

If your not treating ich with copper or ttm how will you treat the ich? Hypo is the only other way but can be hard to keep sg levels constant on a small tank

 

[micielo719]

I thought about UV Sterilizer and Diatom Filters. I would rather not treat with copper if I can help it because if I do I will definitely need the tank transfer. Thoughts.. If I have to get another tank to do TTM then I will do so.

 

[Isaacs55]

If your not treating ich with copper or ttm how will you treat the ich? Hypo is the only other way but can be hard to keep sg levels constant on a small tank

+1
I have a 10 gallon nano and my SG goes from 1.025 to 1.026 in about 5-6 days. Fully oxygenated but no fan so not as much evap. Tank stays constant temperature of 78-79. No ATO...just add water every 3-4 days. Works for me.

 

[shifty51008]

I thought about UV Sterilizer and Diatom Filters. I would rather not treat with copper if I can help it because if I do I will definitely need the tank transfer. Thoughts.. If I have to get another tank to do TTM then I will do so.

That will not cure ich, it may kill some free floating ones but it wont catch them all

 

[micielo719]

Then it looks like another tank will be in the works. I am/will be doing and taking every precaution. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Isaacs55]

TTM is totally worth it. 12 days and a minimum of 4 transfers is way better... Instead of 72 days observation qt and nights praying it goes away or doesn't show up.
12 days and then only 4 weeks qt...that's 42 days of guaranteed ich free if you do it correctly.
It's genius

 

[micielo719]

I'm definitely doing the TTM... Thanks for your help guys!

 

[KingTriton1]

Good to see the progress! Is the main tank still is progress? If so I would do what I did and get a head start on the cycling.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2516348

Basically buy 8 lbs of healthy live rock (TBS live rock is my suggestion) and put into a ten gallon tank. Add additional surface for your bacteria to transfer (dry rock/matrix pond) and lots of filter floss inside the HOB filter. Don't run any carbon during this time. Feed the existing bacteria from the live rock with raw shrimp until the ammonia level reaches 2ppm. Once it reaches zero keep repeating until you have reached 2-3 weeks. I did this and moved my matrix and filter floss to the main uncycled tank. After 3 days I have added 8 shrimp all at once and it took 4 days to reach 2.0ppm (I was surprised to say the very least). Within 24 hours after my removal of shrimp the ammonia level was back at 0ppm. This will help cycle your quarantine as well as your display MUCH faster.

 

[micielo719]

Thanks kingTriton!! Yes, the main tank is still in progress as I will be doing a 3-sided foam wall. It is a long time coming. The stand is almost complete as I am just waiting for the doors to come in then everything goes off to paint. One more quick question, I just tested today and it seems like the tank has cycled, ammonia is at 0. Now my question, my tank is cloudy as I have never really cleaned it. I was wondering if I need to do a water change? It is a 10g tank so not sure how much? Thanks for your help.. I attached a pick of the stand so far... The left door will house all my electrical and the right door will house my ATO. Center will house my 40B sump. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks