quick question about cycling

[GuitarMan89]

My tank seems to be going through a small cycle. It is newly setup, but I bought pre-cured lr and live sand. I have not detected any ammonia as of now, but my nitrite level as been consistent at 1 ppm. Is this normal?

[lunatik_69]

1. How long has it been running?
2. Did you add a new fish recently?

[GuitarMan89]

It's only been running for a week and there is nothing in it except the lr and sand

[KOgle]

I would say it's still cycling. The precured rock and sand will help minimize the cycle but won't eliminate it. Some people say it will but without checking your levels every hour for a month you could miss a small cycle like you are getting. Nothing to worry about just let it do it's thing. Once your amonia and nitires are at 0 you should be ok...

Hope this helps.

[nunch]

if it's only been a week, imo, i think they'll keep going up. just watch water params and if nothings in there just let it do what it do. when nitrite goes back down to 0, do a small water change and you should be good to go. you could have gone w/ uncured LR to put some stuff in water to feed bacteria.

[GuitarMan89]

Thank for the help, karma to all. Also, I did place a piece of raw shrimp in the tank to feed the bacteria. I was thinking about getting a damsel, good or bad?

[target001]

when i cycled my tank i just used the shrimp, damsel prolly isnt needed i wouldnt do it there a pain in the butt and hard to catch

[lunatik_69]

A week? omg, you havent even begun the cycling process yet, As mentioned below, the cured lR and LS MIGHT speed up the cycle, but you are going to go through one none the less. If I were in your shoes, I wouldnt even bother testing yet. I would wait until 3-4 weeks go by. You can set up a tank with LR, LS, water and anything else that you can think of from a 20 yr old system and your still going to go through a cycle. Every time you add one fish, your system is gonna go through a small cycle. Remember that a cycle can last up to 12 weeks. Luna

[Tangster]

For what ever its worth I'd get myself a small healthy yellow tailed blue Damsel and put it in there as it will create a constant bio load unlike a rotting hunk of meat . By the way It does not have to be a shrimp a glob of hamburger or a hot dog will all rot the same way. I still can't figure out why its started that it had to be a cocktail shrimp But as it decays like the shrimp the nitrifying bacterias will increase as there is more demand but at the rotting lowers so with the bacteria pretty much the same way the rock works . Then set back a month or two and wait I go 12 weeks with a single fish and thats the key just one fish not two or three just one it won't get lonely! I had a Lady in a LFS to tell me that once (: I wanted one she wanted to sell 3 I left with one..

[GuitarMan89]

thanks for the info, I think I will take it and go to the LFS tomorrow and pick ONE up, I ned to pick up a bulb anyways. Thanks karma