Three Weeks + and still no ammonia

[ReefN0OB]

Hi guys, first post!

I tried looking for the answer to this for a while but that left me even more confused. Here is my situation.

I set up a 29 Gallon Reef with a 10 gallon sump. I used 20lbs live sand and 15lb live rock (straight from the ocean) as well as 15lbs dry rock. I stuck a clownfish (I know, bad idea) in there along with 2 turbo snails thinking that since I also used Dr Tims one and only that they would be fine. And they are. Including the two emerald crabs. As are the Xenia and two Zoa frags. (Tiny frags of each).

I have had the diatom bloom come and go as well as hair algae that was quickly taken care of by the turbo snails.

I want to add a few more bigger corals and another clown and lastly a flame Hawkfish but I was waiting on the cycle to complete first. But that's the problem, there is no cycle. I test it daily and there has never been any ammonia or nitrite. And the nitrates have always been so low that I am not sure if they are registering at all. Did the live rock and sand avert my cycle completely or is it just taking nearly a month to begin? Should I skip this weeks waterchange? I have never done a fish in cycle that took a month to start.....

 

[Ou8me2]

It's very likely with all the things you added, live sand, some live rock and DR. Tim's that you skipped it. Gonna be hard to tell since you have livestock in the tank. If you didn't have livestock or corals in the tank then you could have added some pure ammonia to test if the tank has cycled. I wouldn't advise that though since you have fish and corals.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Are you testing for nitrite or even more importantly, nitrate as well? If your live sand and rock are doing their job well, you may never see ammonia or nitrite, but unless you are doing something 'extra' to remove nitrate, it should be going up.

 

[mcgyvr]

The live rock/sand/bottle product cause the tank to be cycled instantly..
plain and simple.

 

[Goatonfly]

Dr. Tims will cycle a tank in 3-5 days, sometimes with little ammonia increase and zero detectable nitrites.

 

[ReefN0OB]

Thanks all.

Yep I daily test for nitrites and have never seen any at all. I still have no nitrate either. I change the water 10% every weekend and also my filter sock.

Well, maybe i'll pick up another creature today and keep an eyeball on the parameters. I just fear a crash from a delayed ammonia appearance:headwallblue:

 

[sde1500]

If you are worried then wait a few more weeks. No harm in doing so.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You aren't seeing any nitrate build up because you are doing water changes. IMHO you are good to go as far as the cycle is concerned.

Just remember, your tank still has 6 to 12 months of maturing to do. You will likely get a diatom bloom and an algae bloom... maybe even a bacteria bloom before things stabilize. Adding a fish or two shouldn't be an issue. But corals don't take well to any of the bad stuff in your near future so don't go crazy buying expensive corals.

 

[ReefN0OB]

Thanks all. Update: Still no amonia, nitrite or nitrate.

I do have a new fish, lawnmower blenny......i can't get him to eat much except the algae in the tank, which is pretty sparse now.....

 

[Ou8me2]

Thanks all. Update: Still no amonia, nitrite or nitrate.

I do have a new fish, lawnmower blenny......i can't get him to eat much except the algae in the tank, which is pretty sparse now.....

Yeah, probably not a good time to add such a fish until you get an algae bloom. I'm guessing you could try to put some Nori or some type of seaweed into see if he will munch on it. I have never owned one so I'm not an expert, but many fish will eat different foods. I would think they would enjoy most herbivore foods.

 

[surfingdude]

I did the same as you but added 2 small clowns...tho I used life rock rather then live rock. I had a very small rise in amonia, then a very small rise in nitrites...and after a little over a week...0 and 0, nitrates below 10. Iam new to all this and researched the heck out of it and the science and proof is there...Dr Tims stuff works as described, tho I used bio spira with the exact same affect. Iam amazed how many call it snake oil and almost didnt do it, but said what the heck, it certainly wouldnt hurt...so I did it and tested everyday. It did exactly as described. IMO, good stuff.

 

[ReefN0OB]

Hey all....well, almost 6 months later and never saw any spikes.....i do have a cyano issue, but thats a different story. I believe that Dr Tims does work as described