Is the cycle complete?

[GregJames]

The tank has been running for about 2 weeks now. The ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0, and the nitrate level is 5.
I added 5 snails, 5 crabs, and a clown a couple days ago, and they seem to be doing great. The clown is pretty active and has been utilizing the entire tank, as well as darting after food when fed.

The only thing that is weird, is that there is a fairly dense "fog" swirling in the tank, and the filter doesn't seem to be able to clear it. It has been there for about 4 days now with the same consistency.

Any suggestions?

 

[GregJames]

Furthermore, the pH level is 8.0

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Did you ever see ammonia spike? Did you start with good live rock and live sand as in was it a setup tank that you purchased and moved to your house or was it a start from scratch.

 

[GregJames]

I did have ammonia; I wouldn't say it spiked, but it was definitely high... The tank was a saltwater tank about a year ago and stored in a garage empty until I set it back up a few weeks ago.

 

[Irishman360]

I did have ammonia; I wouldn't say it spiked, but it was definitely high... The tank was a saltwater tank about a year ago and stored in a garage empty until I set it back up a few weeks ago.

Usually if you want to make sure if your tank is fully cycled by spiking it up to 2PPM and if it resets to zero in 24hrs then it would be good to go, as well as nitrite.

The fog could be various things. If your tank is dirty or your sand bed didn't get rinsed out it could be that. Using filter socks might help clear it up as well.

 

[GregJames]

The sand is very fine, so I'm afraid that may be it.. The live rock will be in soon, but would it be beneficial to add crushed coral on top of it to keep it from getting stirred up as much?

I didn't rinse it when I got it because I didn't want to lose any bacterias that were already in it prior to the cycle.

 

[MrsReefK]

You don't currently have live rock in the tank? When you add live rock, this is going to trigger your tank to cycle.

 

[GregJames]

No, I did the live sand and I have been phantom feeding it. Floated a shrimp for a little bit also

 

[Lunchbox360]

sounds like your tank cycled =]

 

[DSREEFER]

You want your live rock to be in the tank when you are cycling because that is where the bacteria will live. the live rock also has some organic material on it and in it that will decompose producing ammonia and help start your cycle. Where you already have fish in the tank I would clean the rocks before putting them in the tank to reduce how much of an ammonia spike and cycle you get.