Cycling tank with fish pellets

I finally got my tank filled Tuesday or Wednesday this week and added rock that has been curing in my garage for a few months and rock from my 125 gallon setup. The rock was exposed out of the water about Sunday - Tuesday as I was filling the tank. I put some fish food in to begin the cycle and here are my parameters:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
pH - 8.2

I figured there would be some die off because of some of the rock being exposed to the air. Did I not put enough fish food in the tank to start the cycle or was it because some of the bacterial left from my other tank rock kicked in? What would be my next step?

 

I would drop in 1 shrimp that you get in the frozen food section. Turn all your power heads on. You don't need your lights on or skimmer yet. You might not see a change for a few days since it's a big tank. It will happen. After about a week test your param's and go from there. Test weekly or twice a week. Don't waste your test supplies on every day. You will see the changes going on too.

 

Sorry so late in replying. I don't think I will do the shrimp thing mainly because of the horror stories about what can be passed on to the tank. Taking water sample to LFS to get tested as my ammonia and nitrate test are empty.

 

Your rock may still have decaying material on it enough to start some type of cycle on its own. Yeah pellets could help some what, though almost any organic material could do the job theoretically.

 

The horror story you are talking about is bulls*it. I've used a piece of shrimp MANY times, and I've never gotten a fungus or mold infestation.