Nitrogen Cycle- Less than 3 weeks?

[nk290]

I have had my tank up w/ LR since June 23. I just did a water test and the results showed around 10-20 (says its safe) and no nitrite levels. Do not have the ammonia test at home (had to order it) but I am going to the pet store today and will have them test for ammonia. As long as ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are at safe levels, it is ok to add fish?

Nate

[Jasontkd]

It is not impossible for the cycle to happen that fast, but don't rush it. all good things come to those who wait. do a partial water change to bring the nitrates down. then wait a week or two and see if everything remains at zero. I had rock that went from uncured to cured in 2 weeks, but I still waited about 2 weeks more to make sure it wasn't just a small precyle or anything. You can do whatever you want, and if you added something like damsels, they might make it even if the cycle isn't done, but, that isn't good for them, and it isn't worth risking an investment like a reef tank to save 2 weeks.

[Tim224DT]

I agree with Jasontkd, Do the small water change and then test again in about a week. Being patient is the hardest part of this hobby im sure others will agree with me on that. Dont rush anything, and i wouldnt add damsals to the tank personaly. I did that during my cycle and well im still fighting with them 6 months later. Do the small water change then wait about a week and test again and see what it reads at.


Tim

[Jasontkd]

when i mentioned the damsels, I was just meaning because they are a hardy fish, they would stand the best chance. However, like Tim said, if you are setting up a reef, damsels may reep havock and you may spend a lot of time chasing them to get thenm out

[Loverotties]

I agree with them!Make shure and waite!

[Phishnoob]

I got similar readings but the rock was not done yet. Fish did not really start living until six months in. The 500 plus book has some rated as a 5 for hardiness, and damsels do not share well with others. I would wait three months, put in a clean up crew, then a month later put a fish in there.

It sucks.

[VWD]

I agree time is the key to having a nice tank, It don't happen overnight. 3 weeks is not very long.

[tdwyatt]

Even better, put a small chunk (smaller than 1 cc) of shrimp meat in a piece of nylon stocking and leave it in the tank for 7 days (then remove it and flush it). If the tank is ready for fish, the ammonia produced by the decomposing shrimp will be handled by the rock in the tank and your ammonia levels will be zero. If the rock is not ready, then the measurable ammonia levels will help to boost populations of beneficial bacteria that are responsible for deammonification of fish wastes in the tank.


It's a win-win situation.

[Jasontkd]

the shrimp idea is a good one, I put a small piece of a silverside in my tank for about 10 days, and my levels all checked out. I thought I would have a small cycle, but it was good. It is a good way to check things out.

[BigDaddy]

I like the shrimp idea.

However I did add a torch coral 2 weeks in and it is still with me 7 months later

Cleanup crew was added at 1 week. I never measured any ammonia or nitrite, only nitrate and water changes took care of that.

[Jasontkd]

well, that proves that every system is unique and that there is no blanket rules that apply to everything, but it is never a bad idea to take the extra time to make sure it is ready.

[Phishnoob]

Being ready is not like flipping a switch. More and more time though is sort of like a hyperbolic function...you scale up really quickly over the first three months then your tank will approach maturity but never quite get to perfection (well except for a few of you that defy mathematics somehow).

[xtopher]

I agree with the wait thing, I have had waaayyy too many disasters from being impatient...The only thing that I achieved by going against what everyone was telling me was a bunch of dead creatures and a huge dint in the pocket book all for nothing...

[tdwyatt]

amen

[Pend]

I would get a few hermit crabs before I got a fish if you must have something to look at.