Cycling question

[kontogsl]

Ok, So I started my 75 gallon tank with about 60 lbs of base rock and 12 lbs of live rock, 6 in the display and 6 in the refugium, live sand in the refugium and dry rinsed sand in the display. I put one uncooked shrimp in the display for 4-5 days until i got a 1.0 reading on the ammonia test. Took the shrimp out 11 days ago and nothing has changed. My ammonia remains at 1.0, nitrites and nitrates remain at 0.0. Did I do something wrong by not just leaving the shrimp in the tank until the cycle was completed? Or am I just not being patient enough?

 

[freedominco]

Ok, So I started my 75 gallon tank with about 60 lbs of base rock and 12 lbs of live rock, 6 in the display and 6 in the refugium, live sand in the refugium and dry rinsed sand in the display. I put one uncooked shrimp in the display for 4-5 days until i got a 1.0 reading on the ammonia test. Took the shrimp out 11 days ago and nothing has changed. My ammonia remains at 1.0, nitrites and nitrates remain at 0.0. Did I do something wrong by not just leaving the shrimp in the tank until the cycle was completed? Or am I just not being patient enough?

That is how I have cycled tanks in the past with the frozen shrimp, but after a few days they have just dissolved on there own. I would just let it keep going. Have you done a water change since you started?

 

[kontogsl]

I have not done any water changes. I thought I wasn't supposed to do any until it was finished cycling and I had only nitrates.

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[freedominco]

I have not done any water changes. I thought I wasn't supposed to do any until it was finished cycling and I had only nitrates.

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some ppl do some don't, I always have. You running a skimmer? You have your lights on?

 

[kontogsl]

No skimmer yet. And yes I have the lights on a 12 on 12 off for both the display and refugium.

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[freedominco]

No skimmer yet. And yes I have the lights on a 12 on 12 off for both the display and refugium.

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what kind of lights? are you having the fuge lights come on when the tank's lights are off? not that it really matters yet pry just wondering

 

[freedominco]

Also, so the tank has only been going for about 17 days?

 

[kontogsl]

The lights on the tank are a single T8 and the fuge light is the one recommended on melvesreef. They are on alternating schedules of 12 on 12 off. And yes it has been running for about 2 weeks now.

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[Cake_Boss]

You don't need your lights on yet, you'll just grow algae. Let the tank keep going. In my opinion, your cycle starts when you start converting ammonia into nitrite. Be patient.

If you want to jump start the nitrogen cycle, get a small bottle of bacteria. Careful though, some claim this is pseudo-science.

 

[kontogsl]

You don't need your lights on yet, you'll just grow algae. Let the tank keep going. In my opinion, your cycle starts when you start converting ammonia into nitrite. Be patient.

If you want to jump start the nitrogen cycle, get a small bottle of bacteria. Careful though, some claim this is pseudo-science.

Sounds good to me. I figured I just was not being patient enough. I will wait it out. Could be delayed a little bit as I changed out the wet dry that came with it for a refugium a week into it so it's most likely my fault.

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