Could my tank cycle this fast?

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by iride350z, Feb 19, 2009.

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  1. iride350z

    iride350z Astrea Snail

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    Its been 10 days, and my ammonia and nitrites are back @ zero. Its a 29 gallon with live sand/rock and Ive been adding some bioculture mix in everyday(as per directions). Within the 10 days I checked all my #'s four times and this is what has came back...
    Ammonia- 0, .3, 0, 0
    Nitrite - 0, .2, .3, 0
    Nitrate- estimated - 5, 10, 8.5, 8.5
    Alkalinity - 4, 3.5, 4.5, 4
    Salinity - 30, 31, 33, 34
    Ph- 7.8, 8, 8.1, 8,2
    SG- 1.0225, 1.0225, 1.024, 1.0245
    Temp constant @ 78

    Obviously im not going to go buy fish tomorrow or anything, I plan on watching the numbers some more. What do you guys think? I started noticing some algae growing on the sand and some on some dead coral thats in the tank, but none on the glass....
     
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  3. andru1313

    andru1313 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    You sure you have your nitrates right?
     
  4. iride350z

    iride350z Astrea Snail

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    My nitrates scale goes: 10,20,40,70,100 and every time its been equal to or less than the "10" on the scale
     
  5. tigerlily

    tigerlily Feather Duster

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    the tank me and my husband set up cycled in about two weeks. but we didnt use any bioculture mix, just shrimp. i thought it was weird but didn't really care because we too aren't planning on adding fish for about another month or two, maybe even longer. we're taking things very slow lol
     
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  6. iride350z

    iride350z Astrea Snail

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    ya, I don't mind waiting b/c i already assumed it would be 4-6 weeks. If my cycle is over, i guess i'll just wait until i get some more algae growth then start getting my cuc.
     
  7. iride350z

    iride350z Astrea Snail

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    Does my Nitrate test kit go by a diff. scale than usual? or should my numbers be diff?
     
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  9. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

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    with good live rocks most tanks will complete the ammonia- nitrate part of the cycle in a week or less. i wouldn't say its coral ready yet, you could still have some parameter swings coming
     
  10. andru1313

    andru1313 Purple Spiny Lobster

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    I use the API reef kit so it goes by the color and and zero is where I want it to be.
     
  11. iride350z

    iride350z Astrea Snail

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    ok, I dont plan on doing any corals so how much more should i watch the #'s before i add a fish or 2? or my cuc?
     
  12. trelane

    trelane Peppermint Shrimp

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    have you had any brown algae yet? (Diatoms?)