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05-02-2008, 05:22 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida
Posts: 272
 
|  Strange Looking Cycle - Gurus' Needed
I started the system 3 weeks ago and this is what I used and how I did it:
23 Gallons of Salt Water bought from a LFS
40 lbs Live sand
8 lbs Live Rock
12 lbs base rock
a big hand full of Cheatamorpa
1 Gallon Carib Sea Mineral Mud
and
6 Live 3 inch shrimp from a local bait shop
I fed the shrimp sand fleas and oysters. Approximately 1 to 1.5 ounces a day for past 1 week. Then I added 5 snails and about 12 - 15 crabs. I left it like that for another week. Still feeding the little f" ers. Then I added 2 damsels. I continued to feed the shrimp the same way and I have been feeding the damsels some flake food twice a day.
These are my Parameters after all that:
Salinity 1.0245
Temp 76.5
pH 7.8
kH 9 (161)
calcium 420
phosphate 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
How Can this be? This looks like I have cycled in three weeks. Is it possible or am I getting fooled by something that I don't know about? _________ www.thesmartfisherman.com
20 Gal & 15 Gal Refugium/Sump-25 Lbs Live Rock, 30lbs Sand. 2x65 PC 10,000, 6500k Actinics with blue Moonlight, Fan. 2 Green Chromis, Maroon Clown, Royal Gamma.
Xenia, Sabae Anemone, Frogspawn, Yellow Star Polyps, Buttons, Sun coral, Mushrooms, Riccordia, Zoas, Feather Dusters, Emerald Crab, Red mithrax crab, 1 Scarlet Legs, 15 Blue Leg, 15 Assorted Snails.
Refugium- Mud, one inch sand top, Cheatamorpha & LR, Rio1800 Pump. Two fans | 
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05-02-2008, 07:21 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Flamingo Tongue
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Age: 30
Posts: 110
Karma: 21
 
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With the live rock, sand, and cheato... you very well may be cycled.
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72g Bow Reef | |
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05-02-2008, 08:15 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 198
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It's possible, but mine did the same thing. I still took it very slow and added one fish every 2 to 3 weeks. Now that the tank is 6 months old now is when I really feel like the tank is nice and stable. Before one simple thing would throw it off a bit. _________ Link to My 75 Reef Hardware 75G 20G DIY Refugium/Sump 2 250W MH, 4 65W PC Koralia 1 and Koralia 2 Powerheads for Currents Mag 9.5 for Sump/Fuge Return TLF Phosban Reactor Coralife Super Skimmer Software Domino Damsel Coral Beauty Maroon Clown Diana Hogfish Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Coral banded shrimp
Assorted Turbo Snails Red Legged and Blue Legged Hermits 3 Mexican Turbos Frogspawn Coral Foxtail Coral Pulsing Xenia
Sun Coral
Bubbletip Anemone | |
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05-02-2008, 09:50 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Millepora
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Chester, Pa Age: 23
Posts: 943
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I agree, you may be cycled. There is no set time for how long a cycle should take. It depends on many factors. I would, like jcdillin said take it slow. don't add too much now, maybe a small fish or two every 3-4 weeks to be on the safe side.
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Equipment: 55 gal, Remora Skimmer w/ maxi jet 1200 pump, 4x54w T5 lighting, 2 super actinics, 2 12,000K actinic white bulbs, 55+ lbs fiji live rock...
Inhabitants: Ocellaris Clownfish, Yellow Tailed Damsel, Six Line Wrasse, Yellow Watchman Goby, 3 Chromis, Crocea Clam, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Corals: Zoas, Yellow Fiji Leather, Pineapple Brain, Frogspawn, Pearl Bubble, Blastomussa Merleti, Monti, GSP, Green Psammacora | |
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05-02-2008, 10:00 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida
Posts: 272
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I 100% agree in all aspects. That is why I am skeptical.
One more thing - I have not had one organism die yet.
15 crabs - 6 Shrimp - 5 snails and 2 Green Chromis. | |
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05-02-2008, 01:16 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 198
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Well I had the same thing, I started with 2 damsels, 5 snails, 5 hermit crabs and I didnt lose a single one. I think most of that sucess came from the refugium though. | |
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05-02-2008, 04:06 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,917
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I beleive that the refug is whats keeping your NH3/4, No2and No3 at zero, but dont be surprised if you do see a change soon. Plz keep in mind that the cycling period CAN last up to 12 weeks, your still at week 3. I would recommend not to add anything else and test and wait until the levels stay the same. Im still very skeptical about your 3 week cycle period. Luna _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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05-05-2008, 07:16 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida
Posts: 272
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Luna,
I am as skeptical as you. It was noteworthy and interesting and that is why I posted it. I am adding nothing more for about 0- 3months. The organisms in there are my cycle organisms. | |
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05-05-2008, 07:21 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,917
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALW  Luna,
I am as skeptical as you. It was noteworthy and interesting and that is why I posted it. I am adding nothing more for about 0- 3months. The organisms in there are my cycle organisms. | Good luck and keep us posted ALW. Luna | |
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05-13-2008, 04:46 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida
Posts: 272
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lunatik_69 Good luck and keep us posted ALW. Luna | I had an algae bloom - both micro and macro. I did my tests last night -
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phos 0
Kh 9 (167)
Calcium 400
Temperature is 76-77
What do you think | |
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