New Tank cycle?

jalemboo · #1 01-24-2009, 12:15 AM

My new nano 28g tank is running for about 1 week. In my tank, i had some live sand from the store and some from my brother in-law's tank, and 2 dead live along with 20 lbs of live rock from his tank. Today i tested the pH level, which is at 8.5 and ALK is around 3.3, my No2 is around 0.01 and NH3/4 is at close to 0. Does this mean my cycle is almost complete? Also what is a mini cycle?

Snaz · #2 01-24-2009, 02:24 AM

Whatever you get reading wise, wait the full four weeks before adding anything other than a modest cleanup crew.

Myka · #3 01-25-2009, 12:11 AM

Some of your readings are out of whack. What brand of test kits are you using? During a cycle the pH should drop, often below 8.0m so I am skeptical that your pH is 8.5 which is rather quite high. Your alkalinity is very low as well, what brand of salt are you using? I think you still have a couple weeks of cycling to go before it is done. You may still have ammonia present which it looks like you aren't testing for. Snaz has good advise that you should wait at least 4 weeks for the cycle no matter if the readings are good. Be sure that whatever you end up doing, you do a 50-75% waterchange after your cycle, and before you add any critters to your tank. For further info on tank cycling read the Guide in my signature.

jalemboo · #4 01-25-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Some of your readings are out of whack. What brand of test kits are you using? During a cycle the pH should drop, often below 8.0m so I am skeptical that your pH is 8.5 which is rather quite high. Your alkalinity is very low as well, what brand of salt are you using? I think you still have a couple weeks of cycling to go before it is done. You may still have ammonia present which it looks like you aren't testing for. Snaz has good advise that you should wait at least 4 weeks for the cycle no matter if the readings are good. Be sure that whatever you end up doing, you do a 50-75% waterchange after your cycle, and before you add any critters to your tank. For further info on tank cycling read the Guide in my signature.

Myka, thank you for the feedback. I use ELOS Aqua test kit for Ammonia and Nitrite, Red Sea test kit for pH and ALK. i use reef crystals Salt for my water. I just did another test, ph at 8.4, Alk 2.9, NO2 at every close to zero and NH3/4 is also zero.

As per your suggestion, i will wait for another 2 weeks before adding Livestock into my tank. You guys are great help. Thank you.

jalemboo · #5 01-25-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snaz

Whatever you get reading wise, wait the full four weeks before adding anything other than a modest cleanup crew.

Thank you Snaz, what is consider Modest clean up crew?

Snaz · #6 01-25-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalemboo

Thank you Snaz, what is consider Modest clean up crew?

About a dozen small hermits with extra shells, 1 or 2 turbo snails and a few of the other CUC snails like Astrea, Cerith and Nassarius.

jalemboo · #7 01-26-2009, 04:40 AM

Got those today, thanks for advice. With soem crab and snail, do i need to change 10% water weekly, or just wait until the cycle complete before changing water?

BlueAbyss · #8 01-26-2009, 07:27 AM

Should have waited for the cycle to be finished completely before adding any livestock, it's hard on them to live in an unstable (and slightly toxic) environment. Don't forget to feed your crabs and snails if there's nothing in the tank for them to eat... they will starve without algae and detritus for them to munch on. Feed lightly though, specially if your cycle isn't finished completely. And +1 on the weekly water change, I think regular water changes are overlooked a lot as a way to keep a tank healthy.

EDIT: Just noticed your test for ammonia at 0, awesome. Keep testing though, adding livestock will throw things off a bit again. Anything that eats produces ammonia, so we'll see if your cycle is indeed done.

jalemboo · #9 01-26-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

Should have waited for the cycle to be finished completely before adding any livestock, it's hard on them to live in an unstable (and slightly toxic) environment. Don't forget to feed your crabs and snails if there's nothing in the tank for them to eat... they will starve without algae and detritus for them to munch on. Feed lightly though, specially if your cycle isn't finished completely. And +1 on the weekly water change, I think regular water changes are overlooked a lot as a way to keep a tank healthy.

EDIT: Just noticed your test for ammonia at 0, awesome. Keep testing though, adding livestock will throw things off a bit again. Anything that eats produces ammonia, so we'll see if your cycle is indeed done.

BlueAbyss,

I have alot of algae on my tank already, lots of clear/white small warm running around on my live rocks. the only problem i have is my sand is looking a little dirty, not sure how i can get it clean.

gbeef · #10 01-26-2009, 07:51 PM

yeah i would agree 3-4 weeks cycle time depending on if the rock was pre-cured. I would do snails forget hermits till later on. Depending on how bad the hair algae is you may need to get a turbo snail or trocus (which are awsome). If your not an experinced reefer i would wait the full 4 weeks.