Curious about some chemistry

[ankjones]

Hey guys, I dont know if Im just impatient or what but my tank has been running for two weeks and the ammonia has been .25 for about 10 days and the nitrites have been zero. I know the cycle takes a little bit of time but HOW MUCH TIME!?!?
I would really like to put some red scarlet crabs in there to start cleaning up a little bit but I havent seen nitrites or nitrates at all.
Thanks

 

[jlehigh]

Not to discourage you but my 46gal took 3 months to make it through the initial cycle.. On the other hand by all measurable standards my 280 cycles in less than 3 weeks.

 

[wrightme43]

Did you use live rock? Have you tried adding live sand? Usually in my experience 2 weeks when I use live rock, and a little live sand I will have 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrites. Everyone has different experinces. If you are using dry sand, crushed coral, or live rock that had a very rough transit period. It can take longer. Do you know anyone near by that can give you a cup of thier sand? I like aragalive if you can find a bag of that it should help you a lot. JMHO. I only can share what has worked for me. Everyone has a differnt opinion, because of different experinces. I hope that helps you. Steve

 

[Angelscrx]

Most I have seen take about 4-6 weeks in my experience. My tank took a little over a month. But then I added more live rock and went through another mini cycle that lasted about two weeks.

 

[reedman]

I would recommend waiting (like everyone else is). It boils down to responsible reef keeping. You could take a chance and add the critters and maybe they make it and maybe they don't. But that would be irresponsible on your part. It's a good lesson to learn early on...patience. We all get in a hurry sometimes, but it never pays off.

Wait it out my friend...it'll be worth it.

 

[Saltwater_City]

It can take a long time to cycle a tank. When Ammonia or Nitrite persist it is often tied to tap water. Even declorinated tap water can mess with your Nitrogen consuming bacteria, if you are not using RO water I would suggest this. Also, not all test kits are created equally, especially liquid test kits and testing strips. I would also suggest a good powder.

Barry @ Saltwater City
(425) 644-7050

 

[Angelscrx]

It can take a long time to cycle a tank. When Ammonia or Nitrite persist it is often tied to tap water. Even declorinated tap water can mess with your Nitrogen consuming bacteria, if you are not using RO water I would suggest this. Also, not all test kits are created equally, especially liquid test kits and testing strips. I would also suggest a good powder.

Barry @ Saltwater City
(425) 644-7050

What kind of powders are you referring too? Any name brand suggestions? I am only familiar with liquids and strips (never used strips though). Thanks

 

[ankjones]

I am using a red sea kit. Ok, today I tested all parameters again, and still zero on nitrite and nitrate and ammonia is lighter than the .25 mark, but not as light as the zero mark. Also I am seeing tons of critters, shrimp looking things, maybe phytoplankton, little clear slug thingy's on the glass, many, many different little creepy crawly's and Is it possible that my cycle completed before I started testing for nitrite and nitrate, and my ammonia kit just isnt testing zero?

 

[NaH2O]

I had that problem with my test kit (same brand) and ended up having someone with the Salifert Ammonia kit test for me. Sure enough it was zero. I would try and get a hold of a Salifert kit and test just to be sure. It will save you a lot of grief.

 

[Saltwater_City]

Everyone who is interested,
Kordon still makes a powder, I think? I was thinking of the Fast Test/Sea Test powder test kits, they are usually acurate. If you need a water test come into Saltwater City and I or someone else will test the water and give you an explanation of the results.

Barry Katz,
(425) 644-7050

 

[ankjones]

ok, so heres the deal, today I broke down and bought another 2lbs of cured marsh island rock (gotta love the stuff) and a nice big cup of live sand. I talked the guys ear off that was helping me, and I was mentioning my pesky apitasia, so i ended up getting a peppermint shrimp too, the employee told me that the cycle wouldnt hurt my shrimp, and my shrimp would help out the cycle....So im gonna let this stuff run for awhile and see what happens. I cant believe how much i enjoy looking at a tank with no fish it. I'll look at it for what seems to be hours just looking at all the new critters i can find...

 

[wrightme43]

It may not be my place to say this however, in my opinion shrimp are very very very sensitive to am, ni, and differences in salinity. The best way in my op. to remove and kill aptaisa is to make a paste of kalkwasser and squirt it on them with a test kit syringe. They really hate ph 12 stuff on thier skin. I hope it all works out for you. Just my op. again but no matter what anyone says live rock at the store is not cured. I can not say what will happen to you, I can only share what has happened to me, one of the ways I check to see if I am getting good info is to ask how many reef tanks the store employee has at his/her house. If the answer is zero I politley excuse myself. I want to help you, please dont take my concern the wrong way. I work part time at the local fish store, and I own my own reef aquarium service comp. I am in no way shape or form a reef guru, I have paid dearly for my experince, I hope you don't have to. STEVE

 

[ankjones]

thanks for your opinion, but I feel these guys are pretty ligit, its premium aquatics, and i know a few other ppl that get along great with these guys.

thanks,
andy

 

[NaH2O]

Hey Andy - I love Premium....great group there. I had experience with that test kit, and didn't like it in the least. My nitrites were showing reduction, but my ammonia was still stuck. IMO, I would at least test to be sure the ammonia is zero with another brand kit, and chances are they will be....I think I remember your set-up from another thread.....but it is always good to do the test as double insurance. Just to clarify, the cycle process, if not complete will harm your shrimp, as they are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite.

Can't wait to see pics of your set-up!

 

[Jeremy B.]

thanks for your opinion, but I feel these guys are pretty ligit, its premium aquatics, and i know a few other ppl that get along great with these guys.

HI Andy,

I dont know if there was some misunderstanding of your tank setup with who you were dealing with or not, but it sounds like your system probably isn't ready for any inverts at this time with the stage you're in during the cycle process. I would highly recommend to wait on your critters until you see your nitrites all the way down, and your nitrate at a reasonable level. If the shrimp does not make it during the cycling period please let me know and I will replace it for you once your tank is cycled out.

Jeremy
PremiumAquatics.com

 

[Angelscrx]

HI Andy,

I dont know if there was some misunderstanding of your tank setup with who you were dealing with or not, but it sounds like your system probably isn't ready for any inverts at this time with the stage you're in during the cycle process. I would highly recommend to wait on your critters until you see your nitrites all the way down, and your nitrate at a reasonable level. If the shrimp does not make it during the cycling period please let me know and I will replace it for you once your tank is cycled out.

Jeremy
PremiumAquatics.com

Wow what a nice guy!

 

[Scooterman]

Lr

Just to note about LR. I see it over & over again, people using LR and saying they cycle within a few weeks and others cycle months later, one of the Big things Not mentioned is the state of the LR. LR can mean LR just from the LFS, or LR that has been in a tank 6 months etc. The LFS may of had that LR a few days, weeks or less. If so you must consider the LR was harvested, kept out of water for a period of time, shipped, etc, so there is no telling how cured this LR actually is, which would effect your cycling time drastically, same can be said with LS, BTW. So the next time you post of a cycle, It may be helpful to newbie's or others to know just what are you using, as far as the maturity(Fully Cured) LR!

 

[Angelscrx]

Excellent point Scooterman.

 

[NaH2O]

Here is a little background on this system: Help! I was never good at chemistry

 

[wrightme43]

I have never met any of you all out on the west coast, But if your willing to do that for somebody, my hat is off to you. I hope I did not come across like a a@#. STEVE