Newbie here with some questions about my cycling tank

I have recently converted my 65g to salt about 1.5 weeks ago.
I am using:

- eheim cannister filter (2 days ago I packed it full of carbon, before that there was ceramic and bio balls for my freshwater setup)
- Aquamedic Turboflotor. I only turn it on when im home during the break in period.
- I added 15 lbs originally with cured/cycled LR from a LFS. 4 days later, I picked up another 8 lbs of live rock from another LFS. The LR was from a display tank, so it was packed with coraline algae and hitchhikers (1 crab, 3 hermit crabs)
- I added 3 yellowtail damsels this past sunday to help with the cycle

I have been feeding the damsels with flake food, and I also noticed when I picked up the first LR, there must have been a crab, because I found a claw floating at the water line.. and the body of the crab is at the bottom of my tank. I figure I would leave the body so it can add to the ammonia to kick start the cycle.

im also beginning to see the brown algae (which I have read to be a good sign of a cycle)

The latest readings were
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0 ppm
nitrate - 5

With these readings what does it mean? The tank is only 1.5 weeks old, would I be getting nitrate this fast? Was the LR I picked up recently packed with so much bacteria, my tank didnt go through a proper cycle?

 

You could have had nitrate from any FW equipment that got moved over, or it could be leeching from the rock.

I wouldn't have gone with 3 damsels so soon. You might to hit a decently large ammonia spike, depending on the bioload of the tank the LR was taken from. You might also not hit any spike whatsoever, which would be quite awesome, and fairly likely since the LFS likely overstocks the bejeezus out of their tanks.

You can leave the skimmer on 24/7; in fact, it can be better that way, depending on what type (HOB, pass-thru or in-sump) it is.

The body is likely just a molt and not a dead crab; I would leave it in regardless. Crabs will eat their molt sometimes. The molt can sometimes catch a current and blow away from them, but they might go back to it.

 

The skimmer I bought is the HOB. it was constantly pumping out wet foam which filled the collection cup. About 5 hours after I put in the second piece of LR in the tank, I turned on the skimmer and the bubbles were small, and it kicked out some yellowish/green water. Right now, its running, but I still dont trust it. I have read some reviews where it seemed fine, then they would come back home to a mess (which wouldnt help the cause.. my fiance hates my fish tank)

As for the crab, I checked it out.. its not a molt. However, I cant find the hitchhiker crab. It was a surprise, since I picked up the LR on my lunch break, and they bagged it (with no water) and into a styrofoam box. The box sat in my truck (in underground heated parking lot) for about 6 hours before I placed it into the tank.

I guess I will keep a close eye on the parameters for the next few days.

When should I do a water change?

In a couple days, a buddy of mine is donating some LR from his established tank and into mine. He also mentioned I should maybe use some water from his tank to help with the bacteria growth. Would that be a good idea (the water from his tank)

I am also thinking about buying some dead rock and creating something out of it, and add it to the tank.

 

So its almost week 3.

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm

I did a 10% water change, and its still at 20ppm. I will need to prep some more water for a bigger water change.

In the last 3 weeks, I have not experienced any spikes in ammonia or nitrite. I dont know if I have mentioned, but I also picked up 30 lbs of LR from an established tank (3 years) When I transported the LR, it was in a rubbermaid filled with tank water from the 3 year old system. The seller also gave me tons of snails and hermit crabs.

For the last week, I have been over feeding the tank for the damsels, snails and hermit crabs. Still no spikes

I recently heard clicking sounds, I dont know if its the crab that I saw in the rock (2nd piece of LR I bought from a LFS) or could it be a mantis or pistol?

So last night, I left out a crab trap (bottle trap) and I only caught a hermit.

I was wondering if I can leave a raw shrimp in the tank, and let whatever in the tank eat it, and see if I get an ammonia reading from whatever is left over.

I went to another LFS yesterday and bought a new testing kit, and he said I might not even get a spike because I got such a huge amount of LR from established systems (around 40lbs) and the bacteria might have survived.

Any thoughts?

Thanks !!

 

swince your still cycling , refrain from water changes. its prolongs the cycle. yes leave the raw sh5imp in there, it will end up being consumed. keep on testing

 

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm

No algae bloom... Man this waiting game sucks :

 

waiting is the most difficult, but most important part of this hobby!!!

It is soOooooosooOOOOOOo tough to wait !!!!!

 

The guys at the LFS said I might not even get an algae bloom, because I was able to snag 30+ lbs of LR from an established tanks of 3 years. We took them out and right into a rubbermaid full of tank water. Drove about 5 minutes to my house and put it right into my tank. That was a week ago, and didnt have any ammonia spike whatsoever.

I took out some tank water and will be going to the LFS to get them to test it. In case my new water testing kit isnt working correctly