Complicated cycling question

Ok, try to follow me here...hope i can word it right. I recently tore down a 150 gallon and replaced with a 215. I saved about 75 lbs or so of the live rock by keeping it in a brute garbage can with a heater and pump for a week. I let about 50-60lbs of the rock dry out cause it was just plain nasty. The nitrates in the 150 where sky high, off the chart on a salifert test kit. Anyway when i set up the new tank i used all the rock from the 150 (dried up and kept in old saltwater) and used 140lbs of new live sand. Filled the tank up with 50 gallons or so of the old water in that was in the 150 and made up the remainder needed. My salinity fluctuated by a couple points here and there thru out the week as ive been adjusting it. I have done a few water tests as i am trying to add fish and some coral this weekend (tanks been going for 2 weeks now). Nitrites read 0, ammonia read 0 and nitrates around 0.25. My question is did i avoid the cycle by using live sand and saving old rock or am i merely reading the nitrates i dumped back into the tank using the old rock and water and i will start a cycle again? Im hoping im reading the end result of a cycle, im using chemipure and carbon and running my skimmer 24/7 ( a warner marine as200). I just wanna get some opinions to make sure coral and fish will be ok this weekend. Also i know my nitrates are a little high for coral but im planning on another 40 gallon waterchange before i add livestock.

Thanks in advance

Dennis

 

oh also, water is crystal clear and ive seen some trails of worms burrowing into the fresh sand on the side of the glass near some of the rock

 

First .25 nitrates is not too high for corals. A few may not be ok, but the vast majority will be fine. To your main question, it sounds like you may have avoided the cycle or least a large one by maintaining the lr in the garbage bin. However, by adding dry rock to that, you will probably have started some sort of cycle. Depending on whether it is finished depends upon your test, which appear to be ok. In my experience, I wouldn't worry too much about adding fish, at least hardy ones, but I would be very hesitant to add corals. You should really let your parameters settle and stabilize before adding corals. Just my opinion.

 

Your tank is doing what my tank did. The LR that you put in did the job right off the bat. However, your bacterial counts are still low. So be very, very slow in whatever you do for the next couple of months. Sounds like you are ready-freddie, just take baby steps with fish and inverts. No corals for another two months IMO.

 

U really think my bacterial count is low? I added 140lbs of live sand also, figured between that and the rock i would be rocking. There is also a couple mushrooms and zoanthids in there that seem to be ok, there were on some of the live rock that was kept wet and couldnt help it.

 

I would just throw one fish in there to see if you can get the bacteria to maintain in the tank. Wait 2 weeks then add more if things are ok.

 

I know and planned on taking it on the slower side but problem is that the tank is at a business and the owner doesnt wanna see an empty tank, thats why i tried to salvage all the bacteria i could.

 

Owner must not understand saltwater. Might be a bad ideal putting it somewhere with someone that has no patience.

 

millionaires pay for results, dont care to understand the innerworkings of it.

 

Then give him what he wants. Throw fish and corals in there and keep your fingers crossed. I think he would be more pissed about throwing money down the drain then seeing a empty tank for a couple more weeks. Just get cheap fish and corals, as it seems you have gotten your hands tied.