Will my tank eventually cycle ?

Hi,

I got a 55 gallon tank with LR about 20 days now with water pump and heater. I have been testing the water every two days now and everything reads normal. Someone suggested to put fish flakes since I am not too excited to put raw shrimp in it. Been doing that for the past 5 days now, tested the water just now and it is normal. Water looks extremely clear. My question is .. if I let it sit for another few weeks, is it safe to put fish ?
If I don't put anything, will my tank eventually cycle ? is there such a thing that a tank does not cycle at all ?

Yojen

 

Define "normal". What are the parameter values?

 

ammonia, nitrate and nitrite are 0 ppm that's as close I can get reading the color from the chart and comparing with the test tubes.

 

I assume ammonia and nitrite spike and slowly reduce over last 20 days. Then it is safe to add fish, preferably a hardy one.

 

Did you run the skimmer during the 20 days?

 

if your cycle is really done. IMO , best to start with CUC 1st. see how that goes, then a couple weeks later , add your 1st fish.

in regards to your cycle, have you seen any spikes in the ammonia,nitrite and nitrate? how much LR do you have? did you do water changes during your cycle? these can have an effect on cycling. water changes are a no no during cycling. just asking these questions to make sure before you start adding more expensive critters.

 

+1 with Wizard. define 'normal'. If you put stuff in to rot (Shrimp or fish flakes) then you should either be reading Ammonia, or Nitrate. Something shouldn't be 'normal'...

Patience is key here. You want to get a rock solid cycle and then move on slowly. If you move to fast, you're just going to have alot of heartbreak and trouble when your tank crashes.

 

more details yojen. You say you have a heater and a water pump, why water pump? are you using a mechanical filter of some sort? you say LR, well roughly how much live rock do you have? 20Ibs? 60Ibs? Any Live Sand? You say the Fish store recomended you put fish food in the tank. did you take this advice?

If you have sufficient Live rock in the tank or another form of biological filtration and your tank has been up for 20 days, I would think your tank has cycled and it is safe to add a fish or CUC. Even if not you definatly shouldnt have to wait another few weeks. Just make sure your temp is correct, salinty is correct and as you say ammonia, nitrates at 0. You should be adding a little livestock by now. imo

 

I recommend SeaChem Purigen. You'll never have to worry about the nitrogen cycle again.

 

This is the second time I've seen you recommend this stuff in a DT for no good reason.