Tank Cycled???

[craig shipley]

Hi all just started a new tank.
40g shallow reef tank.
Have had it set up for 2 weeks. I placed live rock in it just over a week ago and had some real foul smells.
The smell has gone and I thought I would test my water.
I have been dosing seed for the tank the last week
I checked my water chemistry today and my ammonia is zero. Nitrite is zero and my nitrates are 5pm. Is it possible my cycle is done or maybe never happened. Please help?

 

[scubasteve]

if your ammonia and nitrites are zero and your getting a rise in nitrate that tells you your bio filter is doing its job. dont just dump a bunch of things in at once tho as the bacteria colony will grow with the added bio load

 

[TORX]

You could have missed it, or it might not have happened yet and just starting. What do you mean by "dosing seed"

 

[craig shipley]

Sorry aqua vitro seed. Biofilter bacteria.

 

[heath]

When I cycle a tank and all of my readings are zero, wait another week and retest.. best to be safe than sorry and I agree with scubasteve, don't add a lot of stuff at once
not saying it can't be done but, 2 weeks is pretty quick...

 

[TORX]

Sorry aqua vitro seed. Biofilter bacteria.

I figured so, or something similar at least. Then yes, I think that you probably just missed the cycle.

 

[SamB]

if your ammonia and nitrites are zero and your getting a rise in nitrate that tells you your bio filter is doing its job. dont just dump a bunch of things in at once tho as the bacteria colony will grow with the added bio load

Please read this man's posting
Longer is better - I know that the waiting is tough but start slow ....
You will thank us later ....

 

[manuel]

How do you like AI prime. I have and find it a bit hard to set up everying.

 

[Neopimp]

ya ... dosing stuff or not... I would a while more, probably a month more... toss a dead shrimp into the tank to rot and give the bacteria even more fuel to get established.

 

[craig shipley]

Prime is a great light. Not a fan or the mount metal attachment. Seems like it's going to break always.