Fishless cycling with Microbacter7

[SMSREEF]

Well, not what I was hoping. 48 hours later. What should be my next step?

Either just wait a few weeks,

Or get a different bacteria that is specific for converting ammonia to nitrite.I like Bio-spira , and my favorite is Turbostart 900 but it’s pricy.

Alternatively, you could also go to LFS and buy a nice piece of live rock. Not the fake stuff they paint purple, but the stuff with macro algae and other critters. But I would do a water change before I added this because that ammonia may kill some of the little guys.

lots of choices here, but key to reefing is taking it slow usually is the best bet.

 

[lion king]

Add a bottle of biospira. As someone stated earlier in the thread, people make cycling too complicated. Add a bacteria with good reported results, add ammonia, cycled in less than 2 weeks

 

[plc001]

I have movement! Ammonia down!

 

[brandon429]

my gosh what a ride Sir cycling is like holding onto a little roller coaster lol

I haven't done too well on cycle prediction this week lol need more ginseng in diet am thinking. its clear movement, took a lil longer than projected but that's clear ammonia movement.

 

[plc001]

Still being patient here and have not added any thing to the tank. My Ammonia its almost zero, but my Nitrites are still
pretty high. Shall I keep waiting or do a 100% water change?

 

[cshouston]

Still being patient here and have not added any thing to the tank. My Ammonia its almost zero, but my Nitrites are still
pretty high. Shall I keep waiting or do a 100% water change?

Just keep waiting. The bacteria which convert NO-2 to NO3 will come. When your nitrite zeroes out, you’re “cycled” well enough to support some fish, but there’s still a long way to go in maturing your system.

 

[brandon429]

you are done cycling, nitrite doesn't factor, you've moved ammonia down

If you choose to factor nitrite, wait till it goes to pure zero. If you choose ammonia only verification, done.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php

 

[cshouston]

True. Nitrite in saltwater doesn’t affect fish the way it does in freshwater. I always wait anyway, but it’s up to you.

 

[plc001]

URRRG!!!!!

So I have been waiting on my Nitrites to come down. Its been 30 days since I started my cycle so was hoping that by now I would be done. Look at this!

Same testing procedure, same time, same company (Salifert) different batch:

 

[SMSREEF]

URRRG!!!!!

So I have been waiting on my Nitrites to come down. Its been 30 days since I started my cycle so was hoping that by now I would be done. Look at this!

Same testing procedure, same time, same company (Salifert) different batch:

Looks like you are good to go!

That's really odd though, maybe take a sample to LFS to check it too. Then you know if your new batch of powder is bad or the old one.

But like others above have said, nitrite really is not much of an issue in saltwater. I always wait too though, like you are.

 

[plc001]

The first two inhabitants have been happy in their new cycle home. Saturday will be a week. Next Saturday I will add another one, maybe a small Bristlettooth Tang.

 

[plc001]

 

[SMSREEF]

They are so CUTE.
Congratulations!

 

[UCF Alum]

What I don't see is an ammonia source, unless you create an ammonia source with ammonium chloride or food, there will be no cycle. I use biosprira as a bacteria source for my cycles, but each has their own preference. Read up on Dr Tim's fishless cycle, if you follow his method, you'll be cycled in about a week or so. You will need to monitor you're ammonia and nitrite, both deadly to fish.

Exactly what I was going to say.
Start with Dr Tims ammonia and sometime the same day add Biospira. I did this method on my 240 that I started cycling last week and it’s done. This is a no fail method of cycling a tank that I use every time.

FWIW- microbactr7 is NOT live bacteria like Biospira is

 

[plc001]

Thanks, about an inch each. Bo and Penny (Short for Pennywise (It the movie) and Bo (Bozo)

 

[muzikalmatt]

Thanks, about an inch each. Bo and Penny (Short for Pennywise (It the movie) and Bo (Bozo)

I realize this thread is over a year old but I ran across this comment and had to respond as those are the exact names of my clownfish as well...Pennywise and Bozo!

 

[plc001]

I realize this thread is over a year old but I ran across this comment and had to respond as those are the exact names of my clownfish as well...Pennywise and Bozo!

lol!

 

[brandon429]

plc did you ever have disease challenges, its nice to get a 1 year feedback on cycles

 

[plc001]

plc did you ever have disease challenges, its nice to get a 1 year feedback on cycles

Brandon,

Glad to report no disease issues. Did have a Dino (Ostreopsis) issue, but went away after I took out the sand bed.

 

[muzikalmatt]

Yay my revival of this thread did some good! How are Pennywise and Bo doing @plc001 ?