Strange Looking Cycle - Gurus' Needed

I started the system 3 weeks ago and this is what I used and how I did it:

23 Gallons of Salt Water bought from a LFS
40 lbs Live sand
8 lbs Live Rock
12 lbs base rock
a big hand full of Cheatamorpa
1 Gallon Carib Sea Mineral Mud
and
6 Live 3 inch shrimp from a local bait shop

I fed the shrimp sand fleas and oysters. Approximately 1 to 1.5 ounces a day for past 1 week. Then I added 5 snails and about 12 - 15 crabs. I left it like that for another week. Still feeding the little f" ers. Then I added 2 damsels. I continued to feed the shrimp the same way and I have been feeding the damsels some flake food twice a day.

These are my Parameters after all that:

Salinity 1.0245
Temp 76.5
pH 7.8
kH 9 (161)
calcium 420
phosphate 0

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5

How Can this be? This looks like I have cycled in three weeks. Is it possible or am I getting fooled by something that I don't know about?

 

With the live rock, sand, and cheato... you very well may be cycled.

 

It's possible, but mine did the same thing. I still took it very slow and added one fish every 2 to 3 weeks. Now that the tank is 6 months old now is when I really feel like the tank is nice and stable. Before one simple thing would throw it off a bit.

 

I agree, you may be cycled. There is no set time for how long a cycle should take. It depends on many factors. I would, like jcdillin said take it slow. don't add too much now, maybe a small fish or two every 3-4 weeks to be on the safe side.

 

I 100% agree in all aspects. That is why I am skeptical.

One more thing - I have not had one organism die yet.

15 crabs - 6 Shrimp - 5 snails and 2 Green Chromis.

 

Well I had the same thing, I started with 2 damsels, 5 snails, 5 hermit crabs and I didnt lose a single one. I think most of that sucess came from the refugium though.

 

I beleive that the refug is whats keeping your NH3/4, No2and No3 at zero, but dont be surprised if you do see a change soon. Plz keep in mind that the cycling period CAN last up to 12 weeks, your still at week 3. I would recommend not to add anything else and test and wait until the levels stay the same. Im still very skeptical about your 3 week cycle period. Luna

 

Luna,
I am as skeptical as you. It was noteworthy and interesting and that is why I posted it. I am adding nothing more for about 0- 3months. The organisms in there are my cycle organisms.

 

Good luck and keep us posted ALW. Luna

 

I had an algae bloom - both micro and macro. I did my tests last night -

pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Kh 9 (167)
Calcium 400

Temperature is 76-77

What do you think