No Cycle?

[Village Idiot]

I've my my 1st SW tank up and going for about a week now. I'm using RO/DI water, my ammonia/nitrite/nitrate all are 0. I threw in some frozen bloodworms a couple of days ago to provide a cycle incentive. Salinity is 1.026 (refractometer-measured) and the pH is steady at 8.3, temp 79. My ~100 pounds of LR came from a local reefer when he broke down one of his tanks. I tested the water that the rock was stored in -- it had no ammonia/nitrite.

To the point, I'm noticing what looks like green hair algae growing on some of the LR, and the skimmer is starting to produce some brown gunk. Since my LR seemingly was fully cured, will I not have a cycle? Should I go ahead and add a cleanup-crew to get ahead on the algae? I have 1 small red hermit crab that hitched in on the LR and he's quite happy having the entire 90 to himself.

 

[fareforce]

It is possible to not have a cycle. To be sure I would throw about 3 uncooked shrimp (I use Black Tail) in there for a few days and see if the rock can handle the ammonia they produce.. If you still see nothing you should be good to go.

BTW the lone hermit in there will love you forever for putting raw shrimp in the tank all for him! =)

 

[jer77]

I agree, it is very possible to have no cycle. Infact this is the way it should be if you have access to already cycled media like from an already established tank. I only had to cycle my first 20g tank and since then and 4 tanks later that LR has served as the cycled media for my other tanks. I also got LR that was cured in tanks with fish that had little or no die-off, which helps. Actually, I did have to cycle one batch of uncured rock, but that was in a bucket.

 

[drummereef]

Yes, it is very possible to not have a cycle if the live rock was fully cured/aged. I would continue to test for another 7 days just to make sure there is no mini-cycles and if all is good then go ahead and add the cleanup crew.

 

[papagimp]

Agreed, definatly keep testing to be on the safe side. Also keep in mind that just because you are not seeing a cycle take place, does not mean your tank an handle a full bioload right now. Add livestock slowly and carefully when your tank is ready. This will allow for the bacteria filtering your system to catch up to new addition.

 

[Village Idiot]

I looked closer, now there are diatoms starting to grow. Things NEVER happened this fast in my FW tanks!

 

[stevebla]

no cycle

no cycle

My last two tanks with cured live rock never showed amonia or nitarate. Don't think this is the same as a stable mature tank go slow.

 

[Village Idiot]

Definitely not adding fish for a while. My only concern now is a clean-up crew so the algae does not take over.