Help! Cycle is not progressing

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by Noel, Apr 13, 2012.

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  1. Noel

    Noel Plankton

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    I started my 90g with RO, 90lbs of dry rock, and bare bottom. I did not install my skimmer or lights yet. No carbon or media added yet either. The reason I didn't go with live rock was to reduce my chances of picking up hitchhikers but i understand there are still possibilities from acquiring new livestock.

    I wanted to try a fish less cycle this time and tossed in a few raw shrimp. My ammonia has been stuck at 2.0 for 2 weeks. No nitrite or nitrate increases whatsoever. Ph and temp are perfect. The google searches show what should happen vs what to do in this case. I want to show patience but a little progress would be nice. MB7 is looking more and more appealing these days. Any advice?
     
    Noel, Apr 13, 2012
    Noel, Apr 13, 2012
    #1

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  2. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    Do a 50% waterchange and add some bacteria like Bacter7, Dr. Tims, Cycle, etc.
    Even a pound or two of cured rock or a cup of sand from a mature system will have what you need on it.

    There won't be a cycle if you don't add the bacteria. Well there will but it will take forever.
     
    reefmonkey, Apr 13, 2012
    reefmonkey, Apr 13, 2012
    #2
  3. Vinnyboombatz

    Vinnyboombatz Giant Squid

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    +1Sounds to me like you added too many shrimp. You should have only added one at the most. If you spike the Ammonia too high the nitifying Bacteria will grow even slower or not grow at all.:cry:
     
    Vinnyboombatz, Apr 13, 2012
    Vinnyboombatz, Apr 13, 2012
    #3
  4. zeo

    zeo Bristle Worm

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    simply add microbecter 7 .
     
    zeo, Apr 13, 2012
    zeo, Apr 13, 2012
    #4
  5. Noel

    Noel Plankton

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    Thank you for the advice everybody! I tested my water again after work and my nitrites are coming up! I went ahead and added the MB7 just now! ;D
     
    Noel, Apr 13, 2012
    Noel, Apr 13, 2012
    #5
  6. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    I essentially let my tank cycle and mature for a year. I will be placing my first coral and my first fish in the tank in 3 weeks. I could not be happier. The waiting has produced a very strong system.
     
    Kevin_E, Apr 13, 2012
    Kevin_E, Apr 13, 2012
    #6

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  7. Noel

    Noel Plankton

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    Wow! A year?! I applaud you! How did you keep your ammonia source up?

    A lot of people these days are dropping a couple of fish with microbacter, bio spira, dr Tim's, etc from day 1 with a lot of success. Of course that is combined with lots of live rock. Some folks even go on with wall to wall sps corals without water changes for years. Times have surely changed since my last system in 1997.
     
    Noel, Apr 14, 2012
    Noel, Apr 14, 2012
    #7
  8. Noel

    Noel Plankton

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    On day 2 of MB7

    Amm: 1.0
    Nitrite: 0.25
    Nitrate: 10
     
    Noel, Apr 14, 2012
    Noel, Apr 14, 2012
    #8
  9. zeo

    zeo Bristle Worm

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    great work ..keep dosing
     
    zeo, Apr 14, 2012
    zeo, Apr 14, 2012
    #9
  10. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    You are on your way. Congrats :)
     
    reefmonkey, Apr 14, 2012
    reefmonkey, Apr 14, 2012
    #10
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