75g fishless cycle log

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by lmr2o, Oct 5, 2011.

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  1. lmr2o

    lmr2o Millepora

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    947
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    I didn't want to clutter up my build thread with all these test results, so I'm making this thread to follow it (since i'll have nothing exciting to post in awhile! lol) Maybe I'm testing too often and should just let it run its course, but I can't help it :p

    Details:

    75g display 20g sump
    50 lbs base rock
    10 lbs cured live rock
    40 lbs dry aragonite sand
    20 lbs live sand
    Lights off mostly all the time
    Temp was 85 for a couple days, but I've dialed it down to 80-82
    Protein Skimmer is off
    Two koralina pumps in DT for flow & the return flow


    9/20 added base rock, dry&live sand mixed and added water halfway full.

    9/29 Added raw jumbo shrimp and 10lbs cured live rock to DT and started testing

    9/30
    Ammonia .5 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 0

    10/1:
    Ammonia 1
    Nitrites .25
    Nitrates 0

    10/2
    Ammonia 1
    Nitrites .5
    Nitrates 0

    10/3
    Ammonia 1
    Nitrites .5
    Nitrates 0

    10/4
    Ammonia .5
    Nitrites 1
    Nitrates 0
    (this night I added another shrimp the first was pretty much dissolved, and I didn't think the ammonia had spiked high enough yet to get things going? Also added a cup of sand from an established tank)

    10/5
    Ammonia 1
    Nitrites 1
    Nitrates 5
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2011
    lmr2o, Oct 5, 2011
    lmr2o, Oct 5, 2011
    #1

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  2. lmr2o

    lmr2o Millepora

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    947
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    10/6
    Ammonia 1
    Nitrite 2
    Nitrate 5

    Finally starting to see a rise in nitrites!

    My friend with a 3+year reef tank did a water change and brought a few gallons over last night. I added his water into my system thinking it would help out some
     
    lmr2o, Oct 6, 2011
    lmr2o, Oct 6, 2011
    #2
  3. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

    Joined:
    May 28, 2011
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    4,874
    Location:
    USA
    Using "old" water does not help. The beneficial bacteria are not free-swimming; they colonize on the rocks and sand. That said, you seeded the system with live rock and live sand which already has some bacteria in it. IOW, you don't need to wait for it to develop, so don't be surprised if your ammonia or nitrites don't get very high during the cycle. Having added a second raw shrimp, you should be good to go once the ammonia and nitrites drop to zero.
     
    Mr. Bill, Oct 6, 2011
    Mr. Bill, Oct 6, 2011
    #3
    1 person likes this.
  4. lmr2o

    lmr2o Millepora

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    947
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    thank you! that makes a lot of sense, i didn't think about the bacteria not being free-swimming.

    and thanks for explaining why the ammonia and nitrites weren't spiking at very high numbers. I was curious why it wasn't happening yet
     
    lmr2o, Oct 6, 2011
    lmr2o, Oct 6, 2011
    #4
    1 person likes this.
  5. lmr2o

    lmr2o Millepora

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    947
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    10/7
    Ammonia .5
    Nitrites 2
    Nitrates 5

    10/9
    Ammonia .25
    Nitrites 5
    Nitrates 10

    10/11
    Ammonia 0-.25
    Nitrites 2

    Also starting to see a lot more brown on my live rocks, and my base rock is also getting a little brown, as well as some spots in the sand. Diatoms?
     
    lmr2o, Oct 11, 2011
    lmr2o, Oct 11, 2011
    #5