Tank Cycling Question

[Al G Blenny]

I just set up my 20 gallon high tank ( 2 days) with about 13 pounds of live rock 4 ich sandbed and about 2 pounds of Live sand in the Fuge and had a question. Although I have cylced many tanks in the past I have never cycled a tank with Live rock alone before. And I have yet to get much of a reading on my ammonia test, minimal spike. I know it is early but in my experiences this happens fairly quickly. Anyone out there cylce a tank like this recently?? Maybe you could give me some advice, I have a mated pair of clowns, that I might have been hasty in purchasing, waiting for me at the LFS. But I don't want to put them in with the possibility of a spike in ammonia of some sort, and run the risk of a re-cycle after I put them in. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. THX!

 

[ChrisRD]

Did you purchase the live rock and live sand locally? If you purchased them from your LFS and they've had the stuff in stock for a while you may not see much die-off, and therefore not much of a cycle.

That said, I'd still give it a few more weeks regardless of your readings before adding fish.

 

[Anonymous]

excellent nick, al!

i agree. if possible, give it some more time before doing anything just yet. i'm sure your lfs will be more than happy to hang onto the fish for ya.

 

[Al G Blenny]

Thanks guys, I think you may be correct about the die off on the rock, it may have been sitting a while in their tanks...Although there are alot of dead Pods and some tiny dead brittle stars blowing around the tank assumingly from the Live Sand. But that may not be enough....Hopefully my fish store won't mind waiting a coupla weeks for my clowns. If you can think of anything else be sure to let me know...Maybe there is another way to jump start this process.

 

[Mogo]

When I cycled my tank with LR only, I got an ammonium spike after about 3 weeks as I recall. Of course many variables such as quantity/quality of LR, lighting, skimming etc. I think 2 days is way too soon to draw any conclusions about your cycle. Wait for a while and keep monitoring.

Mark

 

[danmhippo]

If unsure, you can throw a shelled raw shrimp into the tank and let it rot. That ought to spike the ammonia reading fairly soon.

 

[reefsRcool]

i agree with danmhippo

just give it a kick. i wouldn't let it sit in there two long you want it to start rotting, but don't let it just sit there fouling up everything to much.