Problems With Uncured LR Cycling

[GoatmealJones]

I have been curing uncured aquacultured rock over the past week. The rock was very raw, and my ammonia levels have exceeded 8 ppm. However, I have not seen ANY detectable Nitrite on any test over the past week. I have seen what appears to be low levels if Nitrate recently. My ammonia is still at 4 ppm despite adding 2 bottles of dr tims bacteria AND and whole 2000 gallon supply of Seachem Stability for good measure...

I dont know if my test kit is innacurate or if my cycle is simply not going. My ammonia seems to go down, yet I have yet to measure ANY Nitrite, and on ly marginal levels of Nitrate.

Does anybody have an opinion of what they think is going on? The ammonia is simply not transforming into Nitrites/Nitrates AFTER adding so much live bacteria and im very frustrated :(

Note: Using API test kits, which I have read can be prone to error.

ALSO will note that my water is crystal clear with zero foul odor at the moment, but test 4ppm Ammonia

 

[Biocube32]

My two cents, 8ppm is pretty high, and some think 8 ppm limits growth of beneficial bacteria. I would have done 25-50% water changes until the ammonia was less than 6 ppm, and then just let it cycle normally after that without adding extra bacteria because you probably had plenty of bacteria species on the live rock already. Also, the cycle takes way longer than a week.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Water change, maybe a couple. Add the dr Tim’s after the water change.

 

[jsvand5]

I’d do a water change and then just ride it out. No point spending money on so many bacteria products/ ammonia reducers. It will be ready to go on its own soon enough. Personally, I only use any of that stuff when using mostly dry rock or for a quarantine tank.

 

[GoatmealJones]

I have been doing exactly that, twice already actually. Wondering if i should do yet another cycle of that. It just seems like, given that I have already added the equivalent of 90 gallons of bacteria product, It would have worked by now.

 

[Biocube32]

I have been doing exactly that, twice already actually. Wondering if i should do yet another cycle of that. It just seems like, given that I have already added the equivalent of 90 gallons of bacteria product, It would have worked by now.

Don’t really think it matters how much bacteria you add. If theres like tons of organic matter on the uncured rock, the decaying matter may generate ammonia levels that are too high for that bacteria to reach optimum doubling rate. If i were you right now, i would just keep doing changes to keep the ammonia below 6 ppm and then just wait. I just completed a 7 week cycle with dry base rock. The cycle eventually happens, it just takes time.

 

[OutsideBrian]

I wouldn’t use the stability while your trying to get the cycle going.

 

[GoatmealJones]

wondering, why is that? Thought that product was made for use during such cycling.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Update:

I purchased the Seachem test kit which tests for both free (NH3 only) and total (NH4+) Ammonia.The results indicated that the level of TOTAL Ammonia was over 6 ppm. Interestingly, the level of free ammonia was only ~0.7 ppm. How should I interpret this in regards to my cycle?

Edit: Just detected my first level of non zero Nitrites! Looks like the cycle is beginning after all :)

 

[hotdrop]

Don't you start ammonia locking at 5ppm? So 8 would be way too high

 

[GoatmealJones]

The die off on the rock was/is so much that even with daily water changes I have been having trouble keeping ammonia under 5ppm.

 

[Biocube32]

I think you are heading the right way with detectable nitrites. I think total ammonia is the important one. Free ammonia is largely dependent on pH which is probably low and not super relevant right now. I would consider another greater than 25 but less than 50% water change once every few days until it starts staying below 5 or 6

 

[lapin]

I have been curing uncured aquacultured rock over the past week.

What do you mean "Uncured aquacultured rock" ?
Live rock?

 

[GoatmealJones]

Rock from KP Aquatics. This rock was taken from the ocean and came with sponges, starfish, etc attached. The rock was shipped to me overnight with wet newspaper, so many of the creatures/sponges started to rot and my ammonia went through the roof. However, some of the sponges made it and the rock does have a few signs macroscopic life, and I would assume has tons of microscopic life too given its source.

 

[Biocube32]

What do you mean "Uncured aquacultured rock" ?
Live rock?

My understanding is uncured aquacultured rock that was probably manufactured then maricultured in the ocean or in tanks with other live rock and then shipped to customer dry (or maybe moist). Probably has alot of die off on it and needs to be “cured” or “cycled”

 

[hotdrop]

Would a product like seachem prime help keep amonia down and bound while the die off stabilizes

 

[GoatmealJones]

That was my initial thought, however im unsure now

 

[Biocube32]

I think you are heading the right way with detectable nitrites. I think total ammonia is the important one. Free ammonia is largely dependent on pH which is probably low and not super relevant right now. I would consider another greater than 25 but less than 50% water change once every few days until it starts staying below 5 or 6

Also i forgot you added Seachem Prime. That stuff probably does some weird stuff with ammonia and makes it less free And therefore less toxic (it claims that it makes ammonia less toxic , So I can only presume that means less free ammoniaWhich is the toxic type of ammonia). I dont know what that means for bacteria and Whether or not having less free ammonia would affect your cycle time. Me personally, I think it probably would affect cycle time and potentially extend it Because it seems to be claiming to reduce free ammonia, which is what the biological filter probably needs(How can the bacteria use the ammonia if it isn’t free?). Maybe someone with a greater knowledge of molecular biology can chime in.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Any pics?? I ordered 15 lbs from kp in October and I was very pleased. I’m ordering more this spring

 

[GoatmealJones]

yep, over at my post from last week there are a couple pictures and will take some more if your interested! rock is currently in mid-cure phase

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...ics-for-those-interested.567727/#post-5816021