Cycling Help Anyone??

[mikus]

I began my first tank cycle 6 days ago using aquavitro seeed and a shrimp. I Tested ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates today and all are at zero. Does this mean that my tank has not even began to cycle yet since even Nitrate is at zero?

 

[Mjrenz]

The bacteria you added should be processing the ammonia and nitrites from the shrimp decaying, the nitrates probably aren't at a high enough concentration to show on your test kit yet. Give it more time and you should eventually see some nitrates

 

[mikus]

The bacteria you added should be processing the ammonia and nitrites from the shrimp decaying, the nitrates probably aren't at a high enough concentration to show on your test kit yet. Give it more time and you should eventually see some nitrates

Thanks for the response. So I should be looking for a rise in nitrate, and a reading of zero for ammonia and nitrite...tank cycled?

 

[Mjrenz]

Thanks for the response. So I should be looking for a rise in nitrate, and a reading of zero for ammonia and nitrite...tank cycled?

That's correct, the bacteria speeds the process up but it's still best to take it slow in this hobby

 

[LAReefer4Life]

That's correct, the bacteria speeds the process up but it's still best to take it slow in this hobby

+1^

 

[Heart of Dixie]

+2, good things happen slowly, bad things happen fast

 

[KorD]

Give it another few days and test again. While cycling a tank, take your time and good things happen. Rush and you will start a battle against your tank.

I started with Fritz bacteria, my tank cycled to a good point 7-12 days after I added the stuff. Let your rocks start growing algae and then get yourself a cleanup crew. A couple days after that go slow adding fish ( one at a time every few days). You do not want to crash your bio load amount all at once.

 

[mikus]

Give it another few days and test again. While cycling a tank, take your time and good things happen. Rush and you will start a battle against your tank.

I started with Fritz bacteria, my tank cycled to a good point 7-12 days after I added the stuff. Let your rocks start growing algae and then get yourself a cleanup crew. A couple days after that go slow adding fish ( one at a time every few days). You do not want to crash your bio load amount all at once.

Thanks for the info! I was planning on running cheato in my fuge w/ the kessil H380 to get a foothold on the algae growth as well as my main nutrient export. Lighting maybe an hour-2 to start and slowly extending the lighting period. IYO, what would you start with for clean up crew? I agree, that I would add this before any fish/bio load since the CUC would not need an additional food source.

 

[KorD]

Thanks for the info! I was planning on running cheato in my fuge w/ the kessil H380 to get a foothold on the algae growth as well as my main nutrient export. Lighting maybe an hour-2 to start and slowly extending the lighting period. IYO, what would you start with for clean up crew? I agree, that I would add this before any fish/bio load since the CUC would not need an additional food source.

Depending on tank size (mine is a 30gal)... I went with 7 snails, and about 10 hermit crabs. My snails are a mix for what takes care of what better. Trochus, Ceriths, and Stomatella, and a Nazarene snail. I also have a shoot spine urchin, but wait on that for when you know you ha e enough food in the tank for it.