Cycling a new piece of Rock

[Dave]

I have been cycling a new piece of live rock for a little over a week with 100% water changes daily. Currently the Ammonia is registering .3 ppm.

When is it safe to add to the DT?

The rock is not passing the smell test at this point.

 

[Sunny]

How big is your DT and how much rock do you have in it?

 

[magic]

I have been cycling a new piece of live rock for a little over a week with 100% water changes daily. Currently the Ammonia is registering .3 ppm.

When is it safe to add to the DT?

The rock is not passing the smell test at this point.

If it smells I wouldn't put it in the DT. The odor indicates that something is still decaying on the lr.

Bob

 

[Dave]

If it smells I wouldn't put it in the DT. The odor indicates that something is  still decaying on the lr.

Bob

That is what I suspected.

The DT is only 60 gallons.  I have about 50-60 lbs of LR in the tank.  This piece is about 8 lbs, and will be the last one.

I wanted a flat platform type rock to sit on top for my SPS, so this new rock is for that purpose.

Is there an average time it will take to fully cycle?

2 weeks?

 

[Gecko]

Keep testing until your amonia and nitrates are undetectable. However with the amount of live rock you have, you may not have any issued but is it worth the risk. I would wait another week or two.

 

[ukman]

patience is most important when setting up a new tank.

 

[steamman]

Only bad things happen fast.

 

[Nickjr000]

It could take a month. When it don't stink it's a good sign

 

[Dave]

Ok so it has been almost 2.5 weeks of cycling. 100% water changes every day.

I tested the water this afternoon approx 15 hours from my last change.

The nitrates were 0 and the ammonia was a color that was not on the chart. But I think it was zero.

Very pale color.

So my questions are.

If my nitrates are zero, should that be sufficient to make me comfortable?

Will ammonia ever be present and nitrates be zero?

Is 15 hours sufficient to register?

Since my tank came pre-cycled, this is my first true cycling effort, and I want to be careful.

I think I am fine to put it in the DT, but I figure others with more experience cycling rock would be able to confirm.

 

[steamman]

Why not try to stop the 100% water changes for a day or so and then check your levels.

 

[Dave]

I will wait the 24 hours. It certainly cannot hurt

 

[Dave]

Can someone tell me how long ammonia takes to get to nitrate?

 

[steamman]

Bacteria have to develop to break the ammonia down to nitrites. Then bacterial have to develop to break the nitrites down to nitrates. Do a search on the nitrogen cycle maybe you can find out more. I don't think this happens in a day.