When will cycle start?

[gistsc]

It has been three days now, added 45 lbs of cured live rock to 29 gal tank. As of day three, no signs of NH, NO2 or 3. All read 0. Does this mean the tank will not cycle? Also, when Can I start to add snails and crabs. I have about 12 snails and 5 crabs from old set-up?

Thx again.

 

[zoomfish1]

If the rock was fully cured and you got no die off, you may not have much of a cycle. I would let it be at -0- for a week or two before I would be sure there is no cycle.

You could add your clean up crew in about a week of -0- readings.

 

[PatMayo]

If you added cured live rock you will not have a cycle in most cases. That's the way it works. You will only get a cycle if the live rock is un-cured. You are ready to go.

I started my tank with fully cured live rock and never had a cycle. I waited 2 weeks before adding anything and tested all long. Never had a thing.

I would wait a couple days and then add a cleanup crew. You could also add 1 small fish. The key is not to add too much too quickly.
You want to give the bio system time to adjust to the new load. The live rock has the bio system within it that is why you will not get a cycle. If you put un-cured live rock in the tank what happens is you have critter die off in the rock. When they die off they create the ammonia and nitrates, nitrites. Since the rock has already been cured it's already gone through that process.

Good luck and have fun. Go very slow.

Regards,

Pat