Another Cycling Question...Bare bottom and Dr. Tims

[yman182]

Hello All,

About 8 days ago I started cycling my new 270G tank. I think I picked the hardest type of cycle. I started with Caribsea liferock and a bare bottom tank. I dosed with Dr. Tims one and Only and Dr. Tims ammonia chloride as recommended. I actually dosed a bit more of the bacteria just in case. It has been 8 days and I do not see my ammonia going down. I have tested with the Redsea kit and also the API kit. I see a little bit of nitrate, maybe 1PPM using the redsea kit, but that hasnt moved in days also.

I am not trying to rush the process, but I am curious if this is normal for a bare bottom, dry rock tank?

Does anyone have any experience on how long this type of tank should take?

 

[brandon429]

Removed

 

[brandon429]

.

 

[yman182]

Yes it's easy and your test kits will mislead so we can do it differently than current means to be ready in ten days error free.

Have you added fish food or liquid ammonia to feed

Hello, I did add liquid ammonia chloride provided in my Dr. Tims kit that I purchased. The ammonia alert badge in my tank also shows the presence of ammonia, so I would not want to add fish to the tank yet!.

 

[yman182]

100% Water Change

So in my previous thread, I had an ammonia issue that was out of hand. As suggested, I did a 100% WC and now i’m wondering when I should start adding fish back. If anyone has suggestions, let me know!

www.reef2reef.com

that w help.

Thanks, I read through that, but mine is stuck at 2PPM with the API and above 2PPM with the Red Sea kit. It has been like that for days. I was hoping to see any movement, but currently I am not.

 

[Garf]

Thanks, I read through that, but mine is stuck at 2PPM with the API and above 2PPM with the Red Sea kit. It has been like that for days. I was hoping to see any movement, but currently I am not.

You got a nitrite test kit?

 

[Garf]

Oh yeah, and the obligatory tank pic

 

[yman182]

Oh yeah, and the obligatory tank pic

I do, it tests 0.

Obligator tank pic below

Don't mind the wires. The sump will be ready shortly and all of that will be moved there!

 

[Garf]

How much bacteria did you put in that bad boy?

 

[yman182]

How much bacteria did you put in that bad boy?

A lot, It calls for 20oz, but I added 32oz as I read that you want to add more when doing BB.

 

[PatW]

i used Dr Tim’s and ammonia when I cycled. It took awhile also. I forget how long because it was some time ago. I only had nitrite readings briefly. I wonder if Dr Tim’s is a bit light on the bacteria for converting ammonia to nitrite.

If you get antsy, you could go to the LFS and pick up a different brand of cycling bacteria. It might not help but you would feel like you were doing something.

Or you could get a piece of live rock and toss it in to help things along.

Even if you never added anything, the bacteria will colonize the system. They are pretty much everywhere.

 

[yman182]

i used Dr Tim’s and ammonia when I cycled. It took awhile also. I forget how long because it was some time ago. I only had nitrite readings briefly. I wonder if Dr Tim’s is a bit light on the bacteria for converting ammonia to nitrite.

If you get antsy, you could go to the LFS and pick up a different brand of cycling bacteria. It might not help but you would feel like you were doing something.

Or you could get a piece of live rock and toss it in to help things along.

Even if you never added anything, the bacteria will colonize the system. They are pretty much everywhere.

I was thinking of adding the Brightwell stuff, but both Dr. Tims and Brightwell say not to add it with any other bacteria. I always wonder if that is due to some biological fact or just marketing.

 

[Garf]

There was another tank recently using Dr Tim’s that seemed to do nothing for a couple of weeks. He added “Stability” I believe, and started what seemed to be a normal cycle, immediately.

 

[yman182]

Might give that a shot. Was really hoping Dr. Tim's would do it!

 

[Garf]

Keep testing mate. Although some of these tests are off sometimes it’s highly unlikely all three are wrong. Good luck.

 

[yman182]

Keep testing mate. Although some of these tests are off sometimes it’s highly unlikely all three are wrong. Good luck.

That was the plan! Not looking for exact numbers with these tests, just movement in the right direction. I will keep on trucking and waiting it out.

 

[yman182]

Added some stability the other day and now I am seeing Nitrates! Not sure if it was coincidence or the stability?

 

[Garf]

Added some stability the other day and now I am seeing Nitrates! Not sure if it was coincidence or the stability?

A nitrate meaning indicates either nitrites or nitrates are present. You need a nitrite test to discover which. However, it indicates the cycle may have started

 

[yman182]

A nitrate meaning indicates either nitrites or nitrates are present. You need a nitrite test to discover which. However, it indicates the cycle may have started

I did the nitrite test also. It showed very little nitrite, but I did see some color there for the first time, so I think the cycle is finally progressing at a pace I can detect!

 

[anthonygf]

Nice tank and stand. Do you have a center support for the lighting stand? Looks like it is bowing in the center toward the water.