View Full Version : Two quick cycling questions...
tampa4
02-23-2005, 8:01 AM
I'm currently 1 week into the cycling process with both cured and uncured live rock in my 55 gal tank. So far, everything looks great---my amonia spiked around day 3 or so, now its down to 0. However, currently my nitrites are sky-high, while my nitrates are 0 as well. First off, I just want to confirm that, when the nitrites reach 0 also, the cycling process is complete, at which time I can add fish...right? Next, I have 4 pieces of live rock currently (total of 35 lbs), 2 cured and 2 uncured. The cured rock looks fine, but the uncured rock has white mold (or so it seems) growing all over it. In some areas it looks almost like a spider web attached to the rock. I take it this is normal? Should I be concerned at all? Finally, regarding oxygen, I just want to confirm that I DO NOT have to pump oxygen into the tank and, instead, surface agitiation will do just fine (I'm running a wet/dry filter with protein skimmer and an additional power head, with 450 gph turnover). Thanks.
OrionGirl
02-23-2005, 8:50 AM
You'll want to do a water change to reduce nitrates once th nitrites go to 0, but otherwise, yes, this is when you'll want to add livestock.
Most likley these are sponges--not a bad thing. Totally normal.
Nope, air bubbles are actually a pain in SW--the splashing they create increases evaporation and salt creep. The skimmer will create enough agitation to gas off CO2 and introduce oxygen.
stephenray75
02-23-2005, 8:52 AM
NO you dont need to pump oxygen in. FYI with a wetdry you will have a hard time getting your nitrates down to 0. The mold lookin stuff is normal.
tampa4
02-23-2005, 9:11 AM
Thanks to the both of you for your responses. One last thing---if I don't need to pump in oxygen, doesn't that affect the operation of my protein skimmer? (my wet/dry has a built in skimmer, which an oxygen intake tube.) Maybe I'm mistaken, but it looked to me like the skimmer didn't work as well when I shut off the oxygen tube. But then again, maybe I'm wrong?
OrionGirl
02-23-2005, 9:31 AM
The oxygen is needed in the skimmer, just not in the main tank. Sorry for the confusion!