Did I miss the start of cycle process ?

[Nautical]

To this day, I am still baffled at the development. There must be a reason for everything.

Feb 13, 2004 installed my tank 3 ft x 1.5 ft x 2 ft with sump tank 2.5 ft x 1ft x 1.25 ft.

Main return pump in sump. A circulation pump and wave pump in main tank.

Grade #0 sand for about 2 to 3 inch of DSB.

Sufficient marine salt to mix with tap water in main tank and sump.

About 30 kg of live rocks.

A bag of Seachem Matrix Carbon and a bag of Seachem Phosguard in the filter chamber.

Lighting – something like a white PL 10000k and a blue actinic – at least I know there are two, a white and a blue. Switched on daily for 8 to 10 hours.

3rd Week - run skimmer. Introduced a clownfish, cardinal fish, blue damsel and black-white stripe damsel. The two damsels died within four days. But clown and cardinal are still surviving.

4th Week - run Resun chiller at 26C

Daily check for SG (within range 1.020 to 1.022)

Weekly test for kH (between 10 to 15 dkH) and pH (around 8.3). Appears water parameters per these readings are within “safety” range as indicated by test kits. Also tested twice for NO3 which measures between 20 to 15 mg/l (good reading as well) each time.

Added daily a table spoon of Nitromax, this is to help build friendly bacteria in DSB and filter. From second week, on alternate days, add two table spoon of Acquamarine Nitrate Reducer.

About once/twice a week, will add one teaspoon of Seachem marine buffer to maintain pH at 8.3

About once per week, add one to two teaspoon of Kalwasser.

Am I doing right or missing something? Gurus or shifus, please advise. Repeat the questions: - Why is there no ammonia spike in my tank? Don’t see any evidence of having started the cycle process.

[ryz]

did u used cured LR?? I didn't have a cycle as well when I used lotsa rocks that were cycled for a month or so at the LFS.. IF there isn't much die off from the rocks, there wouldn't be a significant ammonia spike... You probably skipped the cycling process as the LR probably had enough Nitrifying Bacteria to deal with the bioload... Don't worry.

[odi]

Did u test for NH3, NO2 and NO3? IMO u should test before adding Nitrate reducer.

[Nautical]

Thanks, ryz. I like the last two words, "Don't worry".

At least I have the comfort to know that I am not alone.

Indeed, I was told by LFS that the LR were cured.

Thanks again.

[odi]

Did u test for NH3, NO2 and NO3? IMO u should test before adding Nitrate reducer.

My apologies. Missed the part where u said u tested the water parameters.

[Nautical]

Did not buy test kits for NH3 and NO2. I thot the nitrogen cycle will end at NO3. That being the case, if NO3 is okay, then by implications the preceding NH3 and NO2 should be okay.

Am I making a wrong assumption here ?

[Nautical]

Odi, no worries. I was probably writing too much which causes the confusion. But just trying to be comprehensive.

[alanseah]

yes u r half right.. infact u should measure No2 instead.. as No3 will start build up be of later stage when u start feeding..

me too never use anything when cycling. I dont see a need to use prawn.

Cause during the process of transporting your LR, there will be sure of some die off e.g. worm with these die off, they are able to help u start the cycle.

If you are using cured LR, even better u dont even need to wait long for the cycle to over.

So far my tank been 3 yrs have been doing so well that I dont even need any big skimmer or what. I'm just using a cheap louzy air driven skimmer for a 4ft with 5 clowns and a blue tank in it and no die off and no No2.

U can ask freewill he is the only one that see my tank be4.

And he is even surprise the type of louzy equipment that I'm using and I can grow so much red coraline and have gd healtly coral.

[Fireclown]

Wouldn't advise you to dump in 2 teaspoons of Kalk into your tank. Try dripping by dissolving it in de-chlorinate tap water. Let the solution settle and only drip the clear part. Kalk is very alkaline and it's fatal to corals when it gets into them. It may cause calcium deposits in your piping as well in the long run.

my 2 cents

[Nautical]

Wow !!! alanseah is 3 years into his tank (may be longer into the hobby) .... lau chiao already .... thanks a zillion for sharing the experience. I am not even two months into the hobby.

Fireclown, thanks also for advice on the kalk. Luckily no corals introduced yet. Only two fishes and live rocks.

[freewill]

yes u r half right.. infact u should measure No2 instead.. as No3 will start build up be of later stage when u start feeding..

me too never use anything when cycling. I dont see a need to use prawn.

Cause during the process of transporting your LR, there will be sure of some die off e.g. worm with these die off, they are able to help u start the cycle.

If you are using cured LR, even better u dont even need to wait long for the cycle to over.

So far my tank been 3 yrs have been doing so well that I dont even need any big skimmer or what. I'm just using a cheap louzy air driven skimmer for a 4ft with 5 clowns and a blue tank in it and no die off and no No2.

U can ask freewill he is the only one that see my tank be4.

And he is even surprise the type of louzy equipment that I'm using and I can grow so much red coraline and have gd healtly coral.

thought i saw my nick somewhere...

yes, i am very very surprised that his tank can do without a proper skimmer!

the live rocks! omigosh... full of coraline... (wish i can get some from his tank!) hahaha...