All readings at Zero

[Beckmola24]

I just tested my 12, and all my readings were at Zero. I just put water in it about a week ago, but I added about 5 gallons of water from my 9 month old 20 and some sand. The PH is reading 8.3 and the salinity is at 1.024. Would putting already cycled water in the tank cause it to stabilize so quickly?? Thanks!

 

[jlehigh]

Ya know it may be that the tank has not begun the cycle yet. Is this the first time you have taken a reading? Is there any biload in the tank right now (fish/poopers)??

I put about 300lbs of LR into my 280gal setup about a month ago which had been curing for 9weeks with very little light. I too thought the tank had cycled awefully fast and thought the rock to be suspect and then BAM! Algae boom hit hard. Here two weeks later the I am now confident the cycle has completed..

 

[Beckmola24]

I know the 5 gallons that I put into the tank was completely cycled. I also put some live sand in the tank as well. So half of the water was completely cycled while the other half was new RODI water with oceanic salt. What I was wondering is since half of the water in the tank is cycled, would it keep a cycle from happening. I also have been adding a piece of food here and there for the bacteria to grow on.

 

[LakeEd]

Becky,

Its not the "water" that needs to do the cycling... its your sandbed and Live Rock. Is it possible that the live rock you put in your 12 was already cycled? If it wasn't "cured" rock, myself... I would still be patient before stocking this tank.

Ed

 

[Angelscrx]

When setting up a tank nothing works better than patience. Give it time to cycle and let the tank settle and you will be very happy with yourself.

 

[Beckmola24]

Thanks for the advise. I only have sand in my little tank. I took it out of my other tank. I will let it sit and cycle for awhile. Thanks again!

 

[Angelscrx]

Sounds like a wise choice

 

[Witfull]

if the sand came from an established tank, it is encapsulated with bacteria. and water from an established tank also has some free floating bacteria in it. add a small pinch of food to the tank and check the levels in a day. if it tests out fine its ready. also remember, if a tank is cycled and has no life in it the bacteria have nothing to feed on and will therefore die.

 

[Angelscrx]

Witfull are you saying if the tank tests ok after a day of being setting up it is ok to starting stocking it? I moved all of my sand and live rock added 75% aged water and 25% new and it tested fine for a few days then I had an ammonia spike. Just a thought.