Tank Cycling

[Lee Barnes]

Hi all - Saturday I added 14 lbs of cured live rock along with 5 hermits (3 blue leg, 2 red leg) and 5 crabs to my new 24 gal. nano. When doing my water tests this morning (Monday), all the levels were sky high! I'm assuming that I'm cycling now, but do I just wait it out until the levels re-adjust themselves or do I need to add chemicals at this point?
thanks!

 

[Aquascaper]

It sounds like the die-off on your live rock and the addittion of the clean-up crew is producing enough to 'feed' the cycle.
You say all the levels were sky high, could you post your results as this will give a better indication as to where in the cycle you are.

 

[Navarre]

This is normal. I would have waited just a little longer before adding the cleanup crew as they now have to endure the cycle so be prepared to lose some if not all of them

 

[Lee Barnes]

Ok, I'm 1 week with my new start up - Here are my water params, just taken a few minutes ago:

Temp: 79.9
PH: 8.4
Ammonia: 4.0 (this has come down alot from the first few days)
Nitrites: 10
Nitrates: 5.0
SG: 1.025


Is there any way to tell where I'm at in my tank's cycling process (beginning? mid-cycle? nearing the end?)? Thanks

Haven't lost any critters yet!

 

[steelhealr]

Not sure why you put your living animals into a toxic environment. The cleanup crew, like any other animals, don't go in until your cycling is over. If the ammonia doesn't get them, the nitrate spike afterward might. I don't normally recommend this but, unless you don't mind losing some snails, I'd test daily and start doing water changes as your nitrates begin to climb. Don't add anything else. I think it's time to pin a timetable post. There have been two errors this week. SH

 

[Aquascaper]

Good plan SH

As for where you are in the cycle h20lovr..........you're right at the start - first stage of cycling is where Ammonia is present and where inverts should not be

 

[Chac]

I'm assuming that I'm cycling now, but do I just wait it out until the levels re-adjust themselves or do I need to add chemicals at this point?

Is there any way to tell where I'm at in my tank's cycling process (beginning? mid-cycle? nearing the end?)? Thanks

Haven't lost any critters yet!

This is basic information that you should have covered in your reasearch

Have you added you Clean Up Crew before the cycling has ended ???