Started tank 10 days ago have a question
- Thread starter boveia
- Start date
Bluetangclan
New member
Doubtful. Although I guess anything is possible. Throw a couple chunks of shrimp or something in there and watch your levels over a few days and see if there is a change. If there is a sudden spike and then it is gone the next day or two then yes you should be good. I think what will happen is it will kick off the cycle. Just my .02 but a 110 tank should not have cycled that fast.
mannyo_09
New member
It doesn't seem likely that it's cycled, but it could be.
Did you use any other chemicals to jump start the cycle? Is this the first time you test the water?
Best way to tell in my experience is to use the janitorial grade ammonia from ace hardware, dose to 1-2 ppm and test the water again in 24 hours. If your tank is cycled you'll have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. And about 10-20ppm of nitrate
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Did you use any other chemicals to jump start the cycle? Is this the first time you test the water?
Best way to tell in my experience is to use the janitorial grade ammonia from ace hardware, dose to 1-2 ppm and test the water again in 24 hours. If your tank is cycled you'll have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. And about 10-20ppm of nitrate
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I also put a bag of good bacteria in the water from LFS
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bluetangclan
New member
There should have at least been some spike visible. Bacteria doesn't grow over night, ok yeah it does, but not to the levels of a healthy tank for all three toxins.
MurphyLong
HMFIC
Do the ammonia trick. Add it slowly until it measured 1-2ppm on the tests, then the next day, test again. if it's back at zero, you're good to start adding slowly.
MurphyLong
HMFIC
Make sure it's the right kind, it CAN NOT be the kind with surfactants in it!
I have tested calcium 1 time, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate 3 times. salt very day. the live rock that I purchased was out of an established tank from a pet store in town. taken directly from the store to the tank with a bag of bacteria. same with sand. he also recommended two damsels for cycling purposes. so I got those.
the tank has a eshopps rs200 sump with skimmer, heater, and power head in the middle.
don't know if that matters
the tank has a eshopps rs200 sump with skimmer, heater, and power head in the middle.
don't know if that matters
tjm9331
New member
I'm not berating so please don't take this the wrong way but you should never use fish to cycle a tank, there are much better and safer ways to cycle.
That said do not use the ammonia trick with the damsels in the tank you will surely kill them.
If those damsels have been in there for 10 days, being fed and all and your results are still 0 then you are most likely cycled especially if you started with true live rock, although the 0 nitrates is a bit of a red flag for me.
I would let it go at least a month and see what happens, don't rush it, nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Enjoy the damsels for now.
That said do not use the ammonia trick with the damsels in the tank you will surely kill them.
If those damsels have been in there for 10 days, being fed and all and your results are still 0 then you are most likely cycled especially if you started with true live rock, although the 0 nitrates is a bit of a red flag for me.
I would let it go at least a month and see what happens, don't rush it, nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Enjoy the damsels for now.
Last edited:
billdogg
Well-known member
I agree that you are probably pretty well cycled by now.
I would be a bit wary of advice from the store that sold you damsels to cycle with. That has not been the standard method for at least 25 years. Anyone who would suggest that it's a good idea either doesn't have a clue, is 25 years behind the times, or just doesn't care and wants to sell you more fish when the damsels die. Or when they survive and take out any new additions - they are damsels after all.
I would be a bit wary of advice from the store that sold you damsels to cycle with. That has not been the standard method for at least 25 years. Anyone who would suggest that it's a good idea either doesn't have a clue, is 25 years behind the times, or just doesn't care and wants to sell you more fish when the damsels die. Or when they survive and take out any new additions - they are damsels after all.
