Starting cycle

[mcgyvr]

A one time dose to 2 ppm is what you do..
Then test
when ammonia/nitrites hit zero you either consider it cycled or you dose up to 2ppm one more time and if the ammonia/nitrites are zero again after about 24 hours or so the tank is cycled..

 

[Ab129]

Thanks. I will get it up to 2 ppm tomorrow and then check nitrites.

 

[top shelf]

I plan on cycling my 150 with damsels, as I did my 26. The cycle was short and since I had live rock from LFS and live sand it worked out great.

Cycling a tank with fish or any live animal is extremely frowned up and highly unnecessary. With all the other ways recommended (personally I prefer pure ammonia) there is no need. It causes stress to the fish, can lead to damage of organs, and death.

 

[michael.lemke]

Get it all going and take a leek in it. Bacteria will help speed it up.


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[Ab129]

So I elevated the ammonia to 2 ppm on August 27 and have since done nothing but test ammonia and nitrites every couple days. Today on 9/4 I am still at 2 ppm ammonia and zero nitrites.
Is this normal or am I missing something?

 

[Jon0807]

No, at this point it's just a waiting game. No telling how long it will take. All systems are different

 

[Ab129]

So just to recap, 75 gal tank, caribsea dry rock and sand, dosed ammonia to 2.0 ppm on August 27.
Now, approximately 7 weeks later, ammonia at 0, nitrates around 10 ppm and nitrites around 2-5 ppm ( it's really hard to judge the color of the test compared to the chart).
It seems as though the nitrites are not coming down. There hasn't been much change in the last 3 weeks.
Nitrates first showed up on September 14 so that's been a month.
Does this seem within the realm of normal?

 

[allendehl]

Not that I'm any expert but that seems a bit too long. I helped my cycle by having a good amount of live rock and dosing MB7 daily. Its been only 8 days, my ammonia and nitrites are 0, and my nitrates 10ppm after a water change of a bit less than 50%. My cycle is over.

Update: Maybe you could dose some MB7 to help a bit.

 

[Bulldog39]

Does a refugium help the cycle process? Or should I add my chaeto after the tank cycles??

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[Jon0807]

So just to recap, 75 gal tank, caribsea dry rock and sand, dosed ammonia to 2.0 ppm on August 27.
Now, approximately 7 weeks later, ammonia at 0, nitrates around 10 ppm and nitrites around 2-5 ppm ( it's really hard to judge the color of the test compared to the chart).
It seems as though the nitrites are not coming down. There hasn't been much change in the last 3 weeks.
Nitrates first showed up on September 14 so that's been a month.
Does this seem within the realm of normal?

Seems that every system is different. I would not call it cycled until nitrites are at 0, and then add 2ppm of ammonia and see if it goes through the cycle within 24 hours.

 

[kenneth wolfe]

Heater, return pump, power heads = YES
Skimmer = Not necessary.

You can look at adding a quick cycle product to add the bacteria to get things started.

What?

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