longest cycle ever????? Please advise!!!

[BlueWorldAquatic]

I have experienced in the past with good quality rock, you spikes can be minimal, if not non-existant.

I can personally attest that I have set up a customers tank with cured live rock, and we never saw an ammonia spike. This was due to the tank being dosed with Stability also though.

Sounds like it may have already spiked, just very low.

If you are concerned, you can use ProdiBio Startup, or dose with Stability, and should be able to add livestock shortly.

Ken - BWA

[kevNnic]

Thank you ken, we have been using tap water with prime as well for topping up water. I thought i noticed a very small spike about 2 weeks ago, but my nitrites and nitrates never spiked so i waiting for them. i will monitor my specific gravity for a couple days to lower it and keep it constant and aim for fish in a couple days.

Thanks for all the great info once again guys!

[reefbyremote]

I had nearly the same experience and others have talked about instant cycling before.

See this thread

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=38249

[kevNnic]

thats awesome, all my live was cycling in a rubber maid container, and was nice and clean. was also transported in the water to minimize die off. im thinking my tank must be good to go. i will post a couple pictures up, i have a couple weird white fuzzy looking things growing on my live rock. almost like like a bee hive... or a small ball..

[trinac]

I have a couple of those little white things too. Tagging along, in case someone has an idea of what to do with them. They are not the cutest things in the world.

Good luck with your fish purchases. I am impressed with your patience by the way! My tank cycled in record time as well, but I was off to the races and lighter on cash shortly after that. haha

[bioload]

i have a couple weird white fuzzy looking things growing on my live rock. almost like like a bee hive... or a small ball..

"Q-tip" sponge ?

[kevNnic]

nope it doesn't look like that one? its very small and looks like a little half circle, like a build up of salt. only its not.

[kevNnic]

well took a few readings today


80 degree
specific gravity: 1.024
ph 8.2
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate 0 pp
ammonia 0 ppm
calcium 450ish ppm is that to high?
alkalinity 2.4

how does that look?

[bioload]

we have been using tap water with prime as well for topping up water

This could also be the reason you have not been reading any levels of ammonia and nitrite.

"Prime® removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Prime® converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Prime® may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity."