Need Help Cycling Tank | Dry Rock

[allanhb96]

Hello everyone,

I want to hear your advice on my cycling process.

Setup:
120 Gallons Display Tank
Dry Rock | Marco Rocks
Dry Sand | Aragonite

I started the cycling process on Monday 28th December 2020, for which I'm using Brightwell Quickcycle and Brightwell Microbacter 7 to introduce ammonia and to seed the tank with bacteria.

I went ahead and dosed the recommended by the manufacturer, but at this point, I'm still getting ammonia in my testing.

Testing:

January 8th 2021 (End of week 2)
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 0.2 ppm
Nitrate: 1.46 ppm

January 18th 2021 (Start of week 4)
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 0.2 ppm
Nitrate: 1.58 ppm

Any thoughts on what might be going on?

I'm still dosing the recommended dose of Microbacter 7.

 

[HD_Reefer]

Hello everyone,

I want to hear your advice on my cycling process.

Setup:
120 Gallons Display Tank
Dry Rock | Marco Rocks
Dry Sand | Aragonite

I started the cycling process on Monday 28th December 2020, for which I'm using Brightwell Quickcycle and Brightwell Microbacter 7 to introduce ammonia and to seed the tank with bacteria.

I went ahead and dosed the recommended by the manufacturer, but at this point, I'm still getting ammonia in my testing.

Testing:

January 8th 2021 (End of week 2)
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 0.2 ppm
Nitrate: 1.46 ppm

January 18th 2021 (Start of week 4)
Ammonia: 0.8 ppm
Nitrite: 0.2 ppm
Nitrate: 1.58 ppm

Any thoughts on what might be going on?

I'm still dosing the recommended dose of Microbacter 7.

What test kit are you using?

 

[rubertoe93]

Is the microbacter a daily dose or a all in one? If your adding daily you could be causeing minny cycles every time?

 

[Arabyps]

There exists copious videos of professional information on this topic on YouTube. BRS and Reefbuilders have done major instructional videos. I dosed Fritz TurboStart 900 (LIVE bacteria) and added a couple of fish the following day. My tank is same size as yours. Dry rock and live sand. I used the BRS 4 months cycle to by-pass the uglies.

 

[PatW]

You have ammonia in the system. The bacteria for the nitrogen cycle are nearly ubiquitous. Eventually, the population of these bacteria will build up to complete the cycle.

If you want to accelerate things, there are a couple of ways to do it. One way is to add a bacterial mix for the nitrogen cycle. Most of the local fish stores I have seen sell some version of this.

Another method, is to get a piece of live rock and toss it in. Live rock will already have the bacteria and will seed the tank.

Or you could just wait. The cycle will happen.