Newbee Questions on cycle

[Dr RBG]

Have new Red Sea Reefer 450 about 100 gal total. It was set up about 3 weeks ago with live sand and live rock. was told to wait a few weeks No ammonia spike. Added 2 clown fish about a week ago. and have been feeding frozen Mysis shrimp once a day. Still no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite. I thought I was going to see something in this family.

2 questions

Is the tank ready for more fish or coral?

I would like to add more sand and rock. is this ok now?

Thanks

 

[TokiHacker]

Have new Red Sea Reefer 450 about 100 gal total. It was set up about 3 weeks ago with live sand and live rock. was told to wait a few weeks No ammonia spike. Added 2 clown fish about a week ago. and have been feeding frozen Mysis shrimp once a day. Still no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite. I thought I was going to see something in this family.

2 questions

Is the tank ready for more fish or coral?

I would like to add more sand and rock. is this ok now?

Thanks

WELCOME TO REEF CENTRAL! :ape:

On another note though... We need to make sure that you are cycled before you add fish... due to adding the fish I would not add anything else for a while and keep a close eye. Id add a clean up crew (assuming you are having something to clean up) usually you want to cycle a tank with pure ammonia or ghost feeding. Please refer above this thread to the stickies. And if there is any other questions please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[mcgyvr]

Live sand + live rock + 3 weeks is almost certainly sufficient to ensure a tank is cycled in that time frame..

If the rock was sourced locally and kept "damp" then there could be very little die off and sufficient bacterial populations already to not show a cycle at all or a very small one..
Even if shipped and still fairly damp a cycle may not even be noticed..

If you aren't seeing ammonia that enough is proof IMO to say you are good to go..

 

[Blitzer]

When you say live sand and live rock, can you expand? Was it direct from another tank and fresh? Or uncured dry live rock?

 

[Dr RBG]

sand and rock

sand and rock

the sand came in a sealed package and the rock was cured, Thats what they told me at the store. They set it all up but I have trouble getting a definate answer. The staff seems to have different concepts.