No cycle?

@say biocube 14

 

okay. it is possible to get a very small cycle with live rock and sand. However, i would give it a week while testing daily to make sure. you did just add the rock yesterday.

i know it is hard to wait but you won't regret taking it slow.

 

Thanks Say... I just have no idea how long before ammonia should show up if it is going to show up at all. That is really what I wanted to find out. I don't want to sit around waiting for it and never add any load then wind up with dormant bacteria I guess if I dont see it by next weekend I will add a few snails or something.

 

it is hard to answer that without knowing how much life and more importantly for the cycle, dead life was on the rocks and sand you added. however, if it was "good" live rock that was shipped, you should have had some die off. if this is true, waiting until next Weekend to add a snail or two is probably a good plan. if you don't think the rock had a lot of life, you could add a pinch of food like others have suggested.

 

ok I crushed up a pinch of flake fish food and put it in the tank.

How long before I see ammonia if I am going to see a spike?

 

fish food will just start up the cycling process, it will like ignite the bacteria and therefor start the cycle

 

ok I added a pinch of Fish food on Sunday 2pm EST and agan on monday -- still nothing but my nitrates are at 5 - 10. How long does this fish food need to turn into ammonia?

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5 - 10
ph 8.1
calcuim 400
mag 1350
SG 1.025
temp 80
phosphate (well still trying to figure out how to read the eloas test for this one but it is low)

 

I never saw ammonia or nitrite readings during my cycle. I added fish food every day for about 10 days and bought new test kits before I felt confident that there wasn't going to be a cycle. I don't have enough experience to feel comfortable giving you advice but I thought I would at least share my experience.

 

If you haven't seen an amm spike yet get a shrimp from the grocery store and hang it in some nylon netting for a week that'll get everything going for sure.

 

I dont have that much experience with it, as I am cycling my marine first tank currently.

Also, I was cycling with 99% base rock and sand (put a couple full of sand from an established tank, and a small peice of live rock in)

However, with me it took a few days of "ghost feeding" where I didnt really get any detectable ammonia. I added a shrimp from the grocery store... and had high ammonia over night.