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#1
10-24-2006, 03:34 AM
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Newbie Cycle Question
Hey all,
i'm into day 4 of my water cycle and i'm seeing some unexpected results. I'm trying a fishless cycle; cycle with LR and live sand. 75 gallon Tank 100 lbs of cure LR 10 gallon water from a established tank (the rest of the water was RO water) Sand from an established tank Salinity - 1.024 PH - 8.1 Temp - 80 F Day 2: Ammonia - ~0.25 ppm Nitrite - 2 ppm Day 4: Ammonia - ~0.25 ppm Nitrite - 1.5 ppm I was expecting to see a big spike in ammonia at the start but my ammonia levels have been low. Is this normal? should I add some fish food and let it declay? or a fresh dead cocktail shrimp? 
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#2
10-24-2006, 03:45 AM
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The established sand will already have bacteria,and the LR could be cycled or partly cycled when you got it.So maybe only a smaller start up cycle.Check to see if your Nitrates are going up,if so then your bacteria are doing the first part.Keep an eye on your Ammonia,it should climb up or down to 0 from here,depending if there is any dead stuff in your LR or not.If it stays the same over the next few days,you may want to get a new test kit.Myself.I wouldn't add anything other than your rock.Also once your tank has cycled,your still not done.It will cycle over and over a bit smaller each time.Untill you add livestock,then an other cycle will occur due to feeding and waste.Give it another week and see where your at.Smelly uncycled LR will take 6 or more weeks to cycle,so be patient it shouldn't take too long with cleaner rock.
__________________
No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats. Last edited by Quagmire; 10-24-2006 at 03:51 AM.
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#3
10-26-2006, 12:57 AM
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it looks like the tank will only go through a small cycle. My ammonia and nitrites levels are decreasing:
Day 6 Salinity - 1.024 PH - 8.2 Temp - 80 F Ammonia - ~0 ppm Nitrite - 0.4 ppm I dont have a nitrate test kit yet so no reading but i'll pick one up on the weekend.
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#4
10-26-2006, 01:17 AM
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Ya looks good,but still keep an eye on it.You may still get some bacteria die off causing ammonia again.Oce you get 0 ammonia and 0 Nitites.Do a big waterchange.Over 50%,that will help knock your Nitrates down and help stablize your Alk,PH etc.
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No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats.
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#5
10-26-2006, 02:22 AM
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Sounds like your experiencing the magic of a Live Rock instant cycle.
 I'd bet dollars to donuts that your Nitrates will read < or = to 5mg when you test them on the weekend.
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Mark.
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#6
10-26-2006, 04:45 AM
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Quote:
That would be good,Ive only ever gotten that when I swapped tanks.
__________________
No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats.
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#7
10-26-2006, 05:17 AM
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I'm experiencing the same thing....but you know that! Going on week two and have always had very very low readings of ammonia and nitrites. Low nitrates, too. Huh. I'm ok with it :-)
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~Drew 10G Nano * 10G Sump * Deltec MCE 600 Skimmer * JBL Viper 150w MH * Zeovit * Vortech MP40W Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ~S. Ertz 
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