I started my 55g on 10/3, using fish food to start the cycle. I have about 45# of marco rocks and 9# of live rock. On 10/6 my parameters were Amm-4ppm, Nitrites-.5ppm, Nitrates-0. On 10/10, Amm-1ppm, Nitrites 5ppm, Nitrtates-10ppm. Today, 10/13, Amm-0ppm, Nitrites-5ppm, Nitrates-10ppm. Salinity has remained a constant 1.026, Ph-8.4, Temp-80. This seems awful quick to be at this point in the cycle. Should I introduce additional source of Ammonia? Or, is my cycle on track and I should just leave it alone. Also, the tank already went throught the diatoms. they are clearing up now. With no light, except ambient light from the room, should I expect an algae outbreak? Thanks for the help.
Need Reassurance
- Thread starter ag92
- Start date
RyanMcLaughlin
In Memoriam
Once you have no nitrites or ammonia put some more food in or a piece of shrimp and let it cause ammonia and if you have a spike that goes away quickly then you can add a cuc. If that goes well add 1 fish. Go very slow as to not shock your system.
RyanMcLaughlin
In Memoriam
No once the bacteria are there your fine unless you cause them to die. You could do it to help build up your system though.
Gwynhidwy
Meat Popsicle
You will have to keep feeding your bacteria until you add your clean up crew, or the bacteria that have developed will die and your tank will have to cycle again when you finally do add a clean up crew and fish. If you just add a clean up crew and don't add any fish, you'll need to feed the clean up crew.
If the rocks you added were pretty clean, which in my experience Marco rocks usually are, that's not an abnormal cycle.
If the rocks you added were pretty clean, which in my experience Marco rocks usually are, that's not an abnormal cycle.
Assurance? There are no assurances in this hobby. 
As was said, take it slow and easy. You seem to be on the right track.
As was said, take it slow and easy. You seem to be on the right track.
Albanets202
New member
add some live sand from an established aquarium. It will speed up things. 10 days is normal. Ammonia-consuming bacteria grow fast, nitrite-converting ones grow MUCH slower.
2 weeks from now, I would (take this with a grain of salt though
add one mushroom, xenia and zoa. These are very hardy corals. Get dirty cheap ones . Observe them closely.
Do not add damsels if you do not intent to keep them. Nasty little fishes they are, and impossible to catch.
2 weeks from now, I would (take this with a grain of salt though
add one mushroom, xenia and zoa. These are very hardy corals. Get dirty cheap ones . Observe them closely. Do not add damsels if you do not intent to keep them. Nasty little fishes they are, and impossible to catch.
