What to do

[bchiefen]

So I let my tank cycle for a week , I got my water that was filtered from the ocean and I went to buy two white tailed damsels and I only acclimated them for 30 minutes and he hasn't ate or came out of the cave for a full day

 

[schryvertime]

Doesn't it take a month or two for a tank to truly cycle?

 

[bchiefen]

Idk my uncle has a reef tank and he said it would cycle faster because I got water that was already filtered?

 

[bchiefen]

I'm not sure though

 

[schryvertime]

Yea I wasn't sure about that part. Do you have a test kit?

 

[bchiefen]

No I went to test it at the reef shop I need to buy one

 

[bchiefen]

Do you think that's a bad cave too? It like Goes 2 or 3inches more and there's no opening? Is it bad for the water flow?

 

[jraker]

no. the cycle is when all of your bacteria is established. get some api test kits. you will first get an ammonia spike, and then a nitrite spike, and then a nitrate spike. give the damsels back to the LFS immediately. cycling with fish is BAD

 

[Marchillo]

Plus ocean water isn't good for our tanks unless retrieved from miles away from shore.

 

[chimmike]

OP:

time to stop, step back, and start doing some research. This is not a hobby that can be rushed.

Adding fish 1 week after setup is a bad idea. Adding damsels as first fish is also a bad idea. VERY aggressive fish and WILL bully others that you add later.

 

[rsain]

What to do

^^^ exactly.

Test kits. Get them TODAY. Test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Post results here.

In the mean time go read the entire sticky post called SETTING UP (
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074) and REEF CHEMISTRY (Dirt-simple chemistry MUST-knows for tank health
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2152814) Learn from it. Slow down or you will soon be parting with much money (unnecessarily), killing critters, and likely quitting the hobby.

The cycle could take a while. Or not. Your test kits will tell you. Follow the data, be patient, read read read, ask INFORMED questions, be patient. Did I mention to be patient?

-ryan