Is my tank cycled?

[skyrye7]

Hi

I have cycled my tank using live rocks and live sand. I added Dr Tim's One and Only nutrifying bacteria as well and added a pair of clownfish to help cycle the tank.

After almost 2 weeks, I just did a water test.

Ammonia is 0
Nitrite is 0
Nitrate is 0


There are lots of algae on the rocks and I have yet to add any clean up crew.

Does this mean my tank is cycled and I can start adding clean up crews?

 

[Fsarmien]

What test kit are you using? That's a pretty fast cycle. What size tank and did you put a shrimp to help start the cycle?

 

[skyrye7]

I am using API test kit.

fast because I used Dr Tim's ONe and Only and cycle it with a pair of clownfish.

My tank size is 180 gallon (5 feet)

 

[brandon429]

The tank was already cycled when you put in live rock that was cycled

You will get the same readings on day two that you will get two years from now....cycling is for dry systems.

Ready to go

 

[FTDelta]

No and stop what you're doing. Adding fish during a cycle is inhumane and cruel! There is no such thing as a quick cycle - even if you add additives (which is a no-no as well). Stop adding additives and let your tank cycle naturally as nature intended.

A cycle usually last 8 - 12 weeks. Follow quarantine protocal. QT also takes about 8 - 12 weeks.

You need to read and research everything about saltwater aquaria keeping before doing anything else. Slow down!

Test strips are garbage so invest in a really good quality test kit.

 

[brandon429]

Again, live rock doesnt lose its bacteria when simply moved from one tank to another

Post pics ill tell you some details

You never had any cycle and one is not about to come. Cycling for weeks is for dry rock systems.

Need to see tank shot pictures to see if its big enough for two clown fish at any stage.

You are using API test kits right? Post a pic of the ammonia test readout I'd like to see the color

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Im no expert but i have to lean towards agreeing with brandon. It should only take 8-12 weeks for a completely dry/fresh start type of setup.

He added live sand and live rock. I don't have a comment about the addition of the fish but we don't know if they were dded right away or just recently anyway i wouldn't use fish to help cycle as there are better ways.

But i just bought a used 120 and aside from keeping most the sump bioballs(im converting slowly away from them) And all the LR, added new playsand/live sand mix to the DT and Refugium. And aside from a tiny bit of die off and a mini cycle so to speak my tank did not see a cycle it was ready to go after i got my temp and salinity in check.

 

[Fsarmien]

Yeah there's also a chance he didn't even start the cycle. Nice start btw. I would love a 100+ gallon tank!!

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Very true. Op have you seen any nitrate at all yet? plus api nitrate is kinda crap IMO ..

 

[skyrye7]

I have thrown away the results of the test kit but am pretty sure ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is at 0ppm.

The picture might not be clear but you can see the green algae growing on the rocks...

How can I be sure that my tank is cycled??

 

[H.reidi.MN]

That's what were trying to say if everything is at zero then its either cycled or hasent even started or gone through a mini one yet... if you can remove and hold any live critters out of the tank you can dose the tank with ammonia and then test to see how the tank reacts. If your ammonia goes away right away and you see a spike in nitrite then nitrate and your levels drop to zero you should be cycled. There are instructions on how to cycle or dose with ammonia if you search around

 

[brandon429]

We can tell it off these pics alone here is a few ways.

Live critters are emitting ammonia every minute and they wont live in the presence of it, you know its being converted.

If any of the live rock has a sponge or a spot of coralline or the tiny tubeworms associated with live rock its cycled. If it set in a holding tank for months at the lfs its cycled etc, you can ask about the origin of live rock when buying, few retailers are out to stone deceive plus with the benthic growth a trained eye doesn't need more than one glance to know its cured = cycled

Get the algae off your rocks before it gets bad, add a few corals, go. That's how you know its cycled

 

[appellativo]

I agree with brandon, if you started with CURED live rock, you won't see much cycle (already as enough bacteria to process waste!) as long as you don't dump ridiculous amounts of fish in all at once.

 

[robotman]

No and stop what you're doing. Adding fish during a cycle is inhumane and cruel! There is no such thing as a quick cycle - even if you add additives (which is a no-no as well). Stop adding additives and let your tank cycle naturally as nature intended.

A cycle usually last 8 - 12 weeks. Follow quarantine protocal. QT also takes about 8 - 12 weeks.

You need to read and research everything about saltwater aquaria keeping before doing anything else. Slow down!

Test strips are garbage so invest in a really good quality test kit.

My tank cycled in 2 days with all live rock and live sand and a fuge O_O 9 weeks in and still no spikes.

 

[robotman]

I have thrown away the results of the test kit but am pretty sure ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is at 0ppm.

The picture might not be clear but you can see the green algae growing on the rocks...

How can I be sure that my tank is cycled??

you should be okay, even though im new at this, all live rock and all live sand, start with a fish maybe 2, watch your levels over the next few days.

Add some turbo snails Cerith snails and nAssarius snails, you can choose if you want emerald crabs and hermits

 

[zaitmi]

wait for a couple of weeks and you should be fine.

 

[BlindZide]

Do you have a QT tank? If so, what you could do is get yourself "A" fish, 1 and only 1. Put it in and see what the levels do. IF it spikes you can remove the fish to the QT tank until the cycle finishes without risking death.

If you don't have a QT. You can risk it and put a fish in if you want. Again only do 1 fish, just 1. If the levels spike the fish will feel the pain and may survive, and may not.

Again, the importance of a QT tank is shown here.

 

[FTDelta]

My tank cycled in 2 days with all live rock and live sand and a fuge O_O 9 weeks in and still no spikes.

Again - there is no such thing as a quick cycle. If you don't have the patience to let your tank cyclke as nature intended, you don't belong in this hobby. I'm sorry, I don't buy it into your claim your tank is completely cycled in 2 days.

 

[jjmg]

I'm not sure the additive did much, but if you added live rock, live sand and fish (I wouldn't have added fish so soon) and your readings are correct then your tank has cycled.

With that said, slow down!!!!

Allow your tank to get a bit more stable. Start adding a cleaning crew slowly in a week or so and don't add any more fish for a while. Get rid of the GHA, it will only get worse if you try to rush things.

I'm not a believer in having a really hard cycle, take it slow, do water changes and allow the bacteria to catch up as each new addition is made. Enjoy your new tank.

 

[jrozzi]

Did you check your levels every day. Part of the cycle is tje ammomia spiking so to say its been 5 days and lvls are 0 leaves a lot of questions. I would say by the looks of your rock it never cycled at all.