Cycle going slow.

[CDN Reefing]

I am currently on day 9 of my cycle, and it's for my quarentine tank. In it I have a bio brick amd bare bottom. Nothing else running g except heater and return pump right now. No skimmer or mechanical filtration.

My hanna tester I have only does nitrites in ppb. And after adding ammonia 9 days ago, nitrates are only climbing by about 10 ppb a day. So on day nine I only have 80 ppb nitrites or .08 ppm. I used microbacter start xlm and wondering if I should drain tank and start over or are my nitrites climbing at an ok rate.?
Tank temp and salinity are 77° and 34.5 ppt.

 

[Garf]

I am currently on day 9 of my cycle, and it's for my quarentine tank. In it I have a bio brick amd bare bottom. Nothing else running g except heater and return pump right now. No skimmer or mechanical filtration.

My hanna tester I have only does nitrites in ppb. And after adding ammonia 9 days ago, nitrates are only climbing by about 10 ppb a day. So on day nine I only have 80 ppb nitrites or .08 ppm. I used microbacter start xlm and wondering if I should drain tank and start over or are my nitrites climbing at an ok rate.?
Tank temp and salinity are 77° and 34.5 ppt.

Ammonia is being consumed, so that’s good. What is the ammonia at now?

 

[CDN Reefing]

Ammonia is being consumed, so that’s good. What is the ammonia at now?

Started around 1 ppm and it's still around the same by my salifert kit. Has not noticeably changed

 

[DaJMasta]

How much ammonia was added and how big's the tank? Could be a low dose with established media just gets diluted in the tank volume and has been working normally basically from the beginning.

 

[CDN Reefing]

How much ammonia was added and how big's the tank? Could be a low dose with established media just gets diluted in the tank volume and has been working normally basically from the beginning.

I added ammonia to 1 ppm. Has not changed in my testing

 

[Garf]

Started around 1 ppm and it's still around the same by my salifert kit. Has not noticeably changed

Pic of the tank would be good

 

[CDN Reefing]

Pic of the tank would be good

 

[CDN Reefing]

I added ammonia to 1 ppm. Has not changed in my testing

Everything was new including bio brick. 13.5 gal Evo tank

 

[Grumblez]

Not sure why you would ever drain and start over. Give it 7 more days and it'll definitely be done.

 

[Garf]

Looks tidy. Are you sure you removed any chloramine or chlorine from the salt water before adding the bacteria?

 

[CDN Reefing]

Looks tidy. Are you sure you removed any chloramine or chlorine from the salt water before adding the bacteria?

I should have put all this on my original post.
Yes all water through 7 stage filtration and 0 tds.

 

[Garf]

I should have put all this on my original post.
Yes all water through 7 stage filtration and 0 tds.

I would have the flow aimed towards that brick if possible, if you ain’t.

 

[DaJMasta]

Well if the bio brick was new and the ammonia is all in there, it hasn't cycled. Do you have any circulation? No flow could certainly slow the speed of bacterial colonization to a crawl.

 

[Privateye]

I think you just need to give it more time. Microbacter doesn't instantly cycle your tank, but it does speed up the process. Without any bacterial seeding you'd be looking at 4-6 weeks to cycle. With the product I'd expect it to be closer to the 3 week mark. I think you're on your way. The bacteria that convert nitrite to nitrate usually develop slower than those that convert ammonia to nitrite, but you're starting to see signs they're there. I don't think you need to intervene at this point. Watch it for another week or 2 imo.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I am currently on day 9 of my cycle, and it's for my quarentine tank. In it I have a bio brick amd bare bottom. Nothing else running g except heater and return pump right now. No skimmer or mechanical filtration.

My hanna tester I have only does nitrites in ppb. And after adding ammonia 9 days ago, nitrates are only climbing by about 10 ppb a day. So on day nine I only have 80 ppb nitrites or .08 ppm. I used microbacter start xlm and wondering if I should drain tank and start over or are my nitrites climbing at an ok rate.?
Tank temp and salinity are 77° and 34.5 ppt.

It's not going slow.

Check for ammonia in another 20 days and if it's still measurable I'll be surprised.

Cycling normally takes 30 days or so.

 

[CDN Reefing]

Thanks everyone. I know it's a game of patience, I just didn't want to be wasting my time if something got off to a wrong start

 

[Garf]

Thanks everyone. I know it's a game of patience, I just didn't want to be wasting my time if something got off to a wrong start

You got a display tank started up?

 

[Freenow54]

I am currently on day 9 of my cycle, and it's for my quarentine tank. In it I have a bio brick amd bare bottom. Nothing else running g except heater and return pump right now. No skimmer or mechanical filtration.

My hanna tester I have only does nitrites in ppb. And after adding ammonia 9 days ago, nitrates are only climbing by about 10 ppb a day. So on day nine I only have 80 ppb nitrites or .08 ppm. I used microbacter start xlm and wondering if I should drain tank and start over or are my nitrites climbing at an ok rate.?
Tank temp and salinity are 77° and 34.5 ppt.

Yes not reading other threads a quarantine tank should be bare bottom. Simple filtration. And light plus pvc fittings for fish to sleep, hide. You don't cycle it

 

[CDN Reefing]

You got a display tank started up?

I have a reefer 525xl sitting dry right now. Been collecting gear to get it up and going, but starting with this 13.5 Evo. ( quarantine) Hoping that it will help cycle the bigger tank down the road as well by moving some biological media over. Hoping to get water in the 525 this summer as I have almost everything I need. Waiting for the new rollermat from red sea to hit shelves

 

[CDN Reefing]

Yes not reading other threads a quarantine tank should be bare bottom. Simple filtration. And light plus pvc fittings for fish to sleep, hide. You don't cycle it

I understand that. I guess I should have not used the term " quarentine tank" its more of a starter tank, and will work as an observation tank before anything goes into main display.