Another Cycling question, hooray!!!

[superchargedvr]

i have a 8 gal BC. Been up and going for about three weeks now. i have been testing the parameters scince day two. It has 15 lbs of aragonite, 7 lbs of LR, 3 more in chambers 1 and 2. Took out the stock fitler, added filter floss, a maxi 900, hydor Flo. Now the half the rock was 100% cured, the other half so/so. the test have been constant 0 on every thing (other then ph!) I had a small amoinia spike .5 and it then dropped back to 0 in four days. I have algea growing constantly, of the light green kind. What do you think, already cycled, haven't started, isn't going to cycle, Or what????

 

[djconn]

I'd pull out the hair alage. Blow everything off with a turkey baster and then do a massive water change. I'd take your readings one more time after that then I'd say you're probably good to go if everything looks good.

What are your plans for the tank?

 

[superchargedvr]

Looking to put some corals into it. just bought some pugien to toss in the 1st chamber. Saw a good sign today, little white specks moving around on the back wall, a sure sign of a good healthy maturing tank. I was worried there for a while. Going to doa water change this next weekend, Should be a soild four weeks from the start.!! I have been moving hermit from my other tank in and out to keep the algea in check!

 

[cbrownfish]

The key is that your tank can convert nitrites to ammonia and ammonia to nitrates. If you set up that tank, put in live rock and added full lighting, you may not get a complete "cycle". Curing live rock is an intentional thing that can be done in your existing tank or in a separate tub. If you add live rock and supply light, nutrients and food, it will not die off and cause a high spike. Rather, it will begin to grow/live/thrive. If you have added a clean up crew and started to feed the tank, the uneaten (rotting) food will cause ammonia to rise. If you have the needed bacteria in the tank, the ammonia should fall in a short period of time. The more mature that tank becomes, the more food matter and waste it can handle.

If you haven't added anything, start with some cleaners. Peppermint or cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs and/or snails. Snails will help with your algae, which is probably diatoms. This algae is very common in new tanks......it is not harmful, just annoying. I agree that you should blow off the algae and start water changes. If you add corals, make them soft corals and durable ones. I would recommend some mushrooms as they are pretty hardy.

 

[superchargedvr]

The main rock is really thriving, hundreds of feather duster, those crazy single tentacles that seem to come out when I stir up the tank. I have noticed that the coralline algae has really begun to grow. I have begun to use the Kent Nano ion chemicls, Trace elements and calcium. Working great. I have just added purgien too. Is what I have done right or too rushed??? The amonia spike fell in a couple days. I have not read any NO2 or N03 at all, I have missed a couple days testing though. Its been a few years since I had my 555 reef so I am sorts rusty. These forums are really helping get back on my game!!!

 

[cbrownfish]

Things sound like they are progressing fine. Following that minor ammonia spike, I would watch your levels closely over the next week.....check them every other day. If you maintain 0.0 Nitrites, 0.0 Ammonia and Nitrates less than 40 ppm, then I would say you are ready for the next step (a few cleaners). Check to be sure you ph is in 8.2-8.4-ish range as well. I would get:

2-3 Astrea snails (helps with diatoms algae)
1-2 hermits
1 peppermint or 1 cleaner shrimp (pepps are $5-7, cleaner is $20)