First Setup - going through Cycle help!
 

Ok, I've read bits and pieces of other people's posts, however none exacly answer my questions (that I can find anyhow)...

Here is my current Setup:
90 Gallon Hagen Tank
Powerheads Maxi-Jet 1200's (2)
Cannister filter and Hagen Filter (from other tank) for now.
3" DSB (not live)
20 Lbs of LR from LFS
2 Actinic and 2 Marine Glow 40W each in canopy

I am just starting my cycle, and have added 20 Lbs of LR from the LFS last week... some feather dusters (seem to be dying), a few small mushrooms that were hidden in the rock.. a few brittle worms, and snails.. lots of life...
I tested water Sunday and found the following:

PH 7.7
NO2 0.8
NO3 50
PO4 <0.25
amonia 0.3

Any feedback on where the cycle is? In regards to altering peramiters would anyone reccomend additives? Any info would be great!

Thanks.

Well seeing as Nitrate is the last part and its currently high, I would think you are nearing the end. BUT seeing as there is still high ammonia and nitrite its not quite done. Nitrite over .3 is very bad and will kill fish and critters. There is still stuff dying off your rock that is helping the cycle.

PH at 7.7 is not bad, but it would be good to get it up over 8.0 if you can.

Also the 2 parameters you left out were Salinity and temp. Where are they at?

Hang in there your alomst on the home stretch, but you've still got some algae blooms heading your way.

I had just put the rock in last weekend.. and more rock this weekend. I had originally put in a few cocktail shrimp, but took the remains out this week since it was all breaking up and looking messy.. and MAN did it EVER stink when I took it out! Gross!

Salinity is at 1.024 Temp 78-80 (it is winter here so it has been flutuating)

Anyhow, thanks for the advice.. any idea on how long this process will take seeing the current readings?

and what should the readings be at or me to add a clean up crew?

Randi the tests should read "0" for eveything if you can...
no2 and no3 and ammonia at 0

You've got a 90g tank with 20 lbs LR. Are you planning on getting more rock? If so, where are you planning on cycling it?

Sounds pretty simple Mike.. thanks. And BTW nice setup comming along there :)

and BCWolfen I like your site.. very nicely made :)

if you curing rock in the tank now and you add more uncured rock later you will cycle all over again. your better off adding all your rock now so you don't cycle again while you have livestock in there. either that or you will have to make sure any new rock you put in there is really well cured before adding it.

also you don't need to throw shrimp in there as the rock should have plenty of bacteria to kick start a cycle.

Yes I will be ordering more in a few weeks. J&L are currently waiting for stock until March 3-4, so I bought 20 Lbs at the lfs. I know it will have to cycle again once I recieve it, however right now I am just trying to get an inderstanding of the parameters and how they work during the cycle :)
Don't worry, I won't be adding fish for quite a while until everything is perfect ;)

being so far east have looked at something closer then J & L. there are a few place in Ont. that would be much cheaper for shiping. just a thought.

Brad

Each cycle is different. Some take a week or two, others a month or two. One thing is sure about cycling. Once ammonia and nitrite are steady at 0 ppm and you've got a whole whack of nitrate, your tank is cycled.

Don't add a clean up crew until all your all rock is cycled, though you probably already know that :smile:

Any suggestions?

And thanks for all the advice everyone! :)

Also, when I cycled my 100g, it cycled quite fast and I added some macro in it to take out the nitrate after 1 week. The macro took off like you wouldn't believe. The prolifera literally covered the bottom of a 4 by 2 feet footprint & the red halimenia went from 3 original stalks to approximately 5 times that amount before the end of the one month cycling period. So if you want to get rid of that nitrate build-up, my suggestion would be to use a biological method & grow out some macro. Besides, you can turn around and sell your excess, while exporting extra nutrients out of your system.

Really glad to hear that you're going slow. It's hard, but well worth having some (lots of) patience in this addiction. By the way, my fish seem to be less sensitive to nitrates than corals would be but make sure ammonia & nitrites are at zero.

JME

Anthony

The only place I know of in ON is http://www.seanic.ca/ Have never ordered LR from them, though.