Tank Cycling Question

[PapaDragon]

On the 15th of January I started cycling my tank with dead rock. Since it was dead I used Dr. Tims fishless cycling process. So here are my questions:

1. The bacteria that processes ammonia appears to be getting with the program because I’ve dosed ammonia three times now and its dropped to 0 within 48 hours. The nitrite however has stayed at 1 and nitrate at 40. Is it normal for the nitrite to hold steady?
   
2. According to Dr. Tims I should be done dosing ammonia, but since the tank hasn’t cycled do I continue raising the ammonia to 2ppm every time it drops to 0?
3. Is the tank cycled when it can process 2ppm ammonia to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite in 24 hours?

I’m cycling a 18o gallon tank. Thanks

 

[trido]

Ive never cycled a tank with dead rock but do know is takes a lot longer than with Live Rock. I'd say keep dosing the ammonia to keep feeding the nitrites and nitrates. When the cycle is complete and balanced, you should be able to put ammonia in and everything will read zero after 24 hours.

 

[PapaDragon]

Ive never cycled a tank with dead rock but do know is takes a lot longer than with Live Rock. I'd say keep dosing the ammonia to keep feeding the nitrites and nitrates. When the cycle is complete and balanced, you should be able to put ammonia in and everything will read zero after 24 hours.

That’s what I thought too. I’ve never cycled a tank with dead rock either, but supposedly the bacteria in a bottle should take care of that quickly.

 

[lapin]

Dont dose any more ammonia.
The bacteria that process nitrite into nitrate takes longer to grow in the cycle.
Until you have 0 or close to 0 nitrite, your nitrate reading will not be accurate.
When you see 0 nitrite then dose 1 to 2 ppm ammonia. If that goes away in 24 hrs you are done with the 1st step of cycling.
Now you want to measure nitrate. You should change out as much water as it takes to bring it down to 5 to 10ppm. This is a good starting point for your tank.
Toss in a bit of table shrimp or live clam or something to keep feeding the bacteria. I like live because it will contain more strains of bacteria and help with the process. You can even add a starter coral and it will come with stuff on it to help seed the tank.
At this point I start seeding the tank with rock pods, (not the free swimming type). They will need a bit of phyto to eat until you start to see your tank and rock turn green.

 

[PapaDragon]

Oh no! One vote for more ammonia and one for no more ammonia. ;Nailbiting

 

[lapin]

Perhaps if I showed you this

 

[lapin]

Or what about this

 

[PapaDragon]

I’ve never seen that much rock! Nice!

 

[bsr2430]

That’s a lot of rock! You should cure it and then go in business and sell rock!

 

[lapin]

I bought a ton. Cycled it for 1 month. Used maybe 1/2 in my tank. Sold off the rest. It was nice 25 to 40 lbs pieces. Just right size for the tank sculpture people.