Cycling Question

[theMaroonClown]

I am setting up my 75 gallon and began cycling last week with a dead silverside which broke down. I am now using the Start Smart Complete beneficial bacteria and I'm also cycling with a damsel and some snails in my sump. There was one piece of live rock added and the little bag that contains some bioballs that come with my 13.5 gallon tank and a piece of cured Marshall Island dry rock. It had an ammonia spike of about .50 but I have not caught any nitrite or nitrate spike. Today I checked and ammonia was at 0 again nitrite was at 0 and nitrate was at 0. Could I be done cycling due to my live and cured rock? Also I know nitrates are at 0 due to the cheatomorpha I have in the sump as its already growing a bit. Should I try dosing a different bacteria to see if its cycled for sure or remove the damsel and dose some ammonia to be absolutely sure?

 

[mcgyvr]

Whats "cured dry rock"?
Just clean dry rock?

"Cured" IMO indicates its populated with bacteria and has already been through a cycling process to ensure any dead/decaying matter has already decomposed..

How much rock do you have in this tank? I'd expect near 75lbs.. Not 2 pieces as you seem to indicate unless those are 2 large pieces..

The problem with using bacteria in a bottle is that it can mask the identifiable ammonia/nitrite/nitrate steps..

Are you in a rush to start stocking?

At this point no one really knows if your tank is sufficiently cycled or not..
Your best bet though is to remove the damsel and dose ammonia up to 1ppm and see if its removed in under 24 hours..

 

[anthonys51]

What is your stocking plan.

What kinds of corals are you trying to keep


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[theMaroonClown]

I have near 75 lbs of rocks and 40 lbs of live sand. By cured dry rock I meant cured rock. I will be getting more actual live rock from a buddies tank and will be moving everything from my 13.5 to that tank and using that 13.5 for quarantine for the time being after everything is moved out. And no rush just was surprised that ammonia dropped and had no nitrite spike.

 

[theMaroonClown]

SPS dominant and small tangs for now and then upgrading to a bigger system in the future.

 

[anthonys51]

With live sand and enough live rock plus the bacteria and since you only added the silverside and only a little Fish it's possible you won't have a nitrite spike.
What type of bioload is in your 13 gallon tank.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[anthonys51]

SPS dominant and small tangs for now and then upgrading to a bigger system in the future.

Do you have experience with sps. ?

Most of my tanks I set up I add live rock dry rock and wait 3 days and add some corals and snails. Imo the live rock and sand will 100 percent have enough bacteria to keep up with the small bioload these snails and corals make I won't add any fish for 1-2 months
I am waiting for the rock to get coraline and other good stuff on it.

Also I feel Fish and adding ammonia just adds to the new tank algae blooms everyone gets and just tells you in a natural thing to happen

I don't get any of these thing when I set up my new tank. The dry rock will have a little brown algae/diatoms on it but never becomes and eyesore because the isn't any high nutrient machines in the tank yet aka fish


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[theMaroonClown]

Carib Sea Fiji Pink and currently i have two clowns one Picasso and one DaVinci, 2.5in Starry Blenny. Striped Goby with Pistol Shrimp(Goby is not going to the 75 because I am getting a Yasha Goby to pair with the Shrimp.) Cleaner Shrimp, Juvenile Vlamingi Tang and a 2in Philippine Yellow Tang. The Vlamingi will be going to a someone big pond system in the future.

 

[anthonys51]

How long has the 75 been running.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[theMaroonClown]

anthonys51 Yes was very successful with SPS in my 13.5 until I got a bad batch of AquaForest salt (tested and found out it was the salt) since then I have switched to tropic marin and am getting back into SPS. Have been getting growth on my Monti Cap and Undatas also getting growth on my Acros. Was ULN before thats why I added more fish just to get the nutrients up a bit. I know its overstocked for a 13.5 but nitrate and phosphates are where I want them.

 

[theMaroonClown]

about two weeks now and I know its supposed to take longer to cycle as there is not as much live rock in there just surprised there was no nitrite. Had the ammonia spike but no nitrite. Im in no rush cause I don't want to deal with algae blooms or anything. Never had that issue in the small tank so I don't want it to happen in the 75.

 

[anthonys51]

If your moving all the live rock from the 13 gallon and you don't have any ammonia from the silver side. I would feel safe to say your 75 bioload is strong enough to handle the few fish you have.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[sixty_reefer]

Wend you cycle a thank with live bacteria you won't experience the spike


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk