Cycling dry rock

[Odysi]

So at this point i have cycled a few tanks and thought i had it down but im kinda at a loss with this new tank. So my new setup is roughly 65 gallons total with dry rock all from Reef cleaners and dry fiji pink. Sunday will be 5 weeks i have been cycling the tank and i still havent seen my nitrite spike, but i have about 40ppm Nirate already. I have been dosing ammonia to maintain a 2.0ppm like suggested. Im wondering what to do at this point to get this cycle going?

 

[samster]

So at this point i have cycled a few tanks and thought i had it down but im kinda at a loss with this new tank. So my new setup is roughly 65 gallons total with dry rock all from Reef cleaners and dry fiji pink. Sunday will be 5 weeks i have been cycling the tank and i still havent seen my nitrite spike, but i have about 40ppm Nirate already. I have been dosing ammonia to maintain a 2.0ppm like suggested. Im wondering what to do at this point to get this cycle going?

Maybe you just missed the nitrites spike, But your system cycled. Is it reading zero ammonia? Zero nitrites? Since you have a high nitrate reading already.

 

[Odysi]

No it's still taking a few days to process the 2.0 ammonia. Sorry forgot to add that in original post.

 

[samster]

What are your current parameters? 2ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 40 nitrates?

 

[Odysi]

Well I haven't add ammonia in a few days so it's 0 ammonia 0 nitrites an 40 ish nitrate

 

[samster]

Well I haven't add ammonia in a few days so it's 0 ammonia 0 nitrites an 40 ish nitrate

So you're cycled..... Just do a water change to remove some nirates.

 

[Odysi]

No definitely not cycled it takes about 3 days to clear out 2.0ppm of ammonia. If cycled that wpuld be over night or 24hrs at most.

 

[samster]

No definitely not cycled it takes about 3 days to clear out 2.0ppm of ammonia. If cycled that wpuld be over night or 24hrs at most.

That's kind of strange. I thought you're pick up the ammonia from dosing.

 

[samster]

If the ammonia goes back down to 0 means you have bacteria that's removing the ammonia, and if you have nirates of 40ppm means you have bacteria covert in nitrites into nirates? Are you sure your test kits are functioning correctly? Maybe take a water sample to a LFS or petco and have them test your water? If not where are the nirates coming from?

 

[samster]

Did you ever changed the water? Something might have stalled the process?

 

[Odysi]

The test kits are all new and no I haven't done the first water change yet. I was thinking of doing it cause I felt maybe that would kick start the cycle back up, but I'm not sure. It was that or add bacteria.

 

[XTDRAGON]

Definity, You should do Mild Water Changes. It took me 3 months to fully, Naturally Cycle my rock, And I only used 50lbs. Try doing a 20% water change, then add new water in. wait a week and continue to test.