almost 60 days into cycle

You're not lucky are you.

If I was you, I'd pretty much start again. I'd get the temps under control, get the tank with sand and all fresh water and put in some live rock. A lot would be nice, but even a few pounds would help ship in the biofilter bacteria. Hopefully you won't get too much die off, but at least you'll be transferring in a full suite of filter bacteria in the rock. Then I'd see what happens, and hopefully it'll go ok. Oldee stylee (waiting for bacteria spores to blow in) cycling is just too **** slow for me
 
Belive me, I have zero patience. I have always wanted a salt water tank, but everyone always talked me out of it. I decided to suck it up and give it a try. Now that I have been this far into it with no reward, I am twice a determind to make this happen. I am going to give it till this weekend, and If I do not get any results, I am starting from scratch. I have built an awsome floor to ceiling oak cabinet, purchased lights, powerheads, 2 test kits, skimmer, salt, heater........... and as you guys know, the list goes on. By Christmas, I will have fish, or a bonfire....lol.
 
If this makes you feel any better, I am currently cycling a 10 gallon tank that I intend to house my intrepid dottyback in going forward. I have been cycling for 12 weeks and 4 days. The tank is empty save for a 3 inch DSB, heater, powerhead, and the remnants of a rotting shrimp. The tank stands as thus:

Ammonia = 5 ppm
Nitrates = < 3 ppm
Temperature = 79*
Salinity = 1.024
Ph = 8.3

I'm going on 90 days here and I've got readings indicative of being two weeks deep into the cycle. I don't know what the problem is, I'm just waiting it out. I think maybe I put too large a shrimp in the tank....it was huge when I started, and nearly three months later it is still present. Smaller, but still there!
 
that does make me feel better. With some of the knowledge I have from this first try, I want to change a few things for the second try. I want to make my sump big enough to house my skimmer, so It is not external. A few small things like that.
 
Yes, it would, Wayne. Unfortunately for my 10 gallon tank, I can't find any LR small enough to aqauscape with. My LFS has a couple of 5 lb chunks, but that is still pretty large for this little tank.
 
Is suppose I could hammer it into smaller chunks, but the logistics of splitting live rock are many. You'd have to do it quickly, and the rock would have to remain wet. Otherwise you kill off the nirtifying bacteria. Then the issue of what container would sturdy enough to do it in? You have to keep it in saltwater, whilst pounding it with a hammer. An aquarium would crack in two.
 
go get a cheap air chisel from wall mart (or equivilent) hold it in the water, and chisel it down. I have used an air drill in the water, and it last for a while, long enough to build a boat house.
 
That's not a bad idea. I might trying cracking up those 5 pounders.
 
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