Incredible Corals August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 I'm currently cycling my tank and had a question. How long does it take before I should start to get an ammonia reading? The tank currently has 30lbs of live rock (came in as live rock then sat in an established tank for two months) and 40+ lbs of dry rock. On 8/6 the tank was completely filled and all the live/dry rock was added. At that time I also added 3 cubes of frozen Mysis shrimp. I've been testing for ammonia every day and getting 0 every time. Today I also tested for Nitrites and Nitrates and got 0 ppm of both tests. Does it normally take longer to get an ammonia reading or should I add more food to the tank? This is the first tank I started without 100% live rock and don't want to screw up the cycle. Thanks!
Jon Lazar August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 I'm currently cycling my tank and had a question. How long does it take before I should start to get an ammonia reading? The tank currently has 30lbs of live rock (came in as live rock then sat in an established tank for two months) and 40+ lbs of dry rock. On 8/6 the tank was completely filled and all the live/dry rock was added. At that time I also added 3 cubes of frozen Mysis shrimp. I've been testing for ammonia every day and getting 0 every time. Today I also tested for Nitrites and Nitrates and got 0 ppm of both tests. Does it normally take longer to get an ammonia reading or should I add more food to the tank? This is the first tank I started without 100% live rock and don't want to screw up the cycle. Thanks! The live rock you took from the established tank was already full of ammonia-eating nitrosomonas bacteria when you added it to the new tank. So the three cubes of mysis shrimp decomposed, turned into ammonia, and your bacteria ate it. You won't get an ammonia spike unless you add more ammonia to the tank than your bacteria can eat...but the objective of a cycle isn't to get an ammonia spike, it's to quickly grow ammonia-eating bacteria. The ammonia spike and decline is just a convenient way for you to observe when the bacteria population has caught up to the ammonia production of your tank as a system. If you're otherwise ready to add fish, I would do so now before the bacteria from your established live rock begin to starve. But you need to do it slowly so that the bacteria have time to increase in population as you add new fish. The key to adding bioload is to do so slowly so that the nitrosomonas bacteria have time to eat and reproduce. If you do this gradually, you'll probably never see an ammonia spike.
zygote2k August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 just pee in the tank for some quick ammonia. I start all tanks this way.
Incredible Corals August 10, 2011 Author August 10, 2011 The live rock you took from the established tank was already full of ammonia-eating nitrosomonas bacteria when you added it to the new tank. So the three cubes of mysis shrimp decomposed, turned into ammonia, and your bacteria ate it. You won't get an ammonia spike unless you add more ammonia to the tank than your bacteria can eat...but the objective of a cycle isn't to get an ammonia spike, it's to quickly grow ammonia-eating bacteria. The ammonia spike and decline is just a convenient way for you to observe when the bacteria population has caught up to the ammonia production of your tank as a system. If you're otherwise ready to add fish, I would do so now before the bacteria from your established live rock begin to starve. But you need to do it slowly so that the bacteria have time to increase in population as you add new fish. The key to adding bioload is to do so slowly so that the nitrosomonas bacteria have time to eat and reproduce. If you do this gradually, you'll probably never see an ammonia spike. Okay thanks. I'll add another cube tonight to continue "feeding" the tank. just pee in the tank for some quick ammonia. I start all tanks this way. I'm almost positive you're not kidding. I'm pretty sure I would die laughing if I saw you doing this.
Reefoholic August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 just pee in the tank for some quick ammonia. I start all tanks this way. really?
Incredible Corals August 10, 2011 Author August 10, 2011 really? I have read online that it's a little weird but it works.
Reefoholic August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 But I think that would also introduce many other elements to the water. Sugar, disposed vitamins and minerals... (especially if you are using a daily multivitamin pill. I am not even mentioning what your pee can contain if you are on medication...)
Integral9 August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 pee in the tank pee in the tank pee in the tank. lol house on fire house on fire, put it out put it out! lol
F&Fmgr August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 as much as i hate to agree with rob, I have done that to cylce systems.
Origami August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 as much as i hate to agree with rob, I have done that to cylce systems. TMI.
roni August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 TMI. Man, you're telling me. I now have the disturbing image of Sean "cycling" a tank.
Origami August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 Man, you're telling me. I now have the disturbing image of Sean "cycling" a tank. Yeah, you should see what he does for QT! Just kidding. Sean's got a great QT protocol. Even has a special, proprietary ingredient I've heard. LOL. Yes, I "...make a special wonton soup for him." - Eddie Murphy, Delirious
Incredible Corals August 10, 2011 Author August 10, 2011 I just remembered I added carbon to the tank out of habit when I first set it up. I wonder if that is pulling out the ammonia and giving me the zero reading? I also ordered a new master test kit just incase.
Origami August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 I just remembered I added carbon to the tank out of habit when I first set it up. I wonder if that is pulling out the ammonia and giving me the zero reading? I also ordered a new master test kit just incase. Activated carbon won't adsorb / remove ammonia. I think it's more likely that the bacteria present in the live rock that you added to the setup at the outset absorbed the bulk of any ammonia that was released. In the end, the actual mass of organic material in a frozen mysis cube is probably small.
Incredible Corals August 10, 2011 Author August 10, 2011 Activated carbon won't adsorb / remove ammonia. I think it's more likely that the bacteria present in the live rock that you added to the setup at the outset absorbed the bulk of any ammonia that was released. In the end, the actual mass of organic material in a frozen mysis cube is probably small. Thanks. After I just posted this I read the same thing. I'm going to get a few hermits to keep the waste going in the tank. Anyone know if spider crickets make good fish food? They love to find their way into my new tank now. I've found two already in there. Once still swimming at the top and the other dead in the filter sock. Smelled like a dead snail when I pulled it out, no nasty.
Integral9 August 10, 2011 August 10, 2011 my fish won't eat them, or the stink bugs or the flys that end up in my tanks. disappointing really. now, my friends koi pond; that's a whole different story...
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