Cycle issues?

[The Grizz]

When you say a 500ml bottle of Cycle, what brand?

[Persistant]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

When you say a 500ml bottle of Cycle, what brand?

Nutrifin.

[The Grizz]

I would never use that for a cycle as its made more for freshwater. Should have used Prodibio Startup as its made for saltwater tanks. I cycled my 300 in 2 weeks with new sand, dead rock and new saltwater.

[Persistant]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

I would never use that for a cycle as its made more for freshwater. Should have used Prodibio Startup as its made for saltwater tanks. I cycled my 300 in 2 weeks with new sand, dead rock and new saltwater.

Good to know. That still doesn't explain why after 8 weeks (pre-cycle additive) the nitrates haven't moved. If nothing has changed in the next week or so maybe i should try that brand.

[The Grizz]

Did you do water changes through out the cycle? Is your skimmer off? Or maybe its a bad test kit?

[gregzz4]

You haven't mentioned what your PO4 is at, or what levels you had when you were 'cooking' your LR before you introduced it to your system
When you 'cook' LR, you are best to reduce it to zero readings of both N03 and PO4; of course well beyond NH3

If you cooked your LR properly you would have been doing regular weekly water changes to remove the stuff you didn't want in your DT
Having an N03 reading as high as your's leads me to believe you didn't fully cook your rock
Plus, IMHO, having that much rock (180-200lbs) is enough for a 400+Gallon system. You haven't stuffed all that LR into your 90G tank, have you ?

3" of sand is a lot. In my opinion, you're in between a regular 1" bed and a 'deep' sandbed. Do you need that much ? Others will speak up, but I'm thinking it's too much of everything, and it needs some re-thinking ...

I'd suggest you remove a whole lot of that rock, such as reduce it down to maybe 90-125lbs, and then you'll still have to 'cook/cure' it before you can stabilize your N03 readings
Plus you'll actually have room for corals

Get that rock down to zero readings for both N03 and P04, then you can start building a great tank

But this is just my opinion based on what I've read here and what I've done, so take it for what it is ...
Good advice from knowledgeable/opinionated people

[The Grizz]

WOW how did I miss that!! 3" of sand and that much rock in a 90 is way to much IMO as well, I would have to agree with gregzz on his assessment.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

I would have to agree with gregzz on his assessment.

Thanks Greg

I'm not sure if I gradgeated, but I went through the 'School of Mindy'
She was there for me throughout my whole initial planning stage and I can't thank her enough

Plus I learned a whole bunch more from all of us CanReefers, so many more get credit for my limited knowledge ....

Persistant, I'd recommend the linked Mindy info if you haven't already read something as informative

Good luck !!

[Persistant]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Thanks Greg

I'm not sure if I gradgeated, but I went through the 'School of Mindy'
She was there for me throughout my whole initial planning stage and I can't thank her enough

Plus I learned a whole bunch more from all of us CanReefers, so many more get credit for my limited knowledge ....

Persistant, I'd recommend the linked Mindy info if you haven't already read something as informative

Good luck !!

Thanks for the info guys. More reading and time to burn!

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Persistant

Thanks for the info guys. More reading and time to burn!

More info added after the quote ...
I edited a bit

Good luck and keep the questions coming