Is my tank cycling?

[Terpmjn]

I have a 29 gallon marine tank that I started just over 2 weeks ago. I currently have 2 small damsels in the tank and they appear to be doing very well. I had the tank running for a week to get the water right for the fish, and put some live rock into the tank (cured) about 3 days prior to getting the fish. The fist have now lived in my tank for 11 days and are doing better now than they have ever been. One of them wouldn't eat for the first 4 days and now can't wait to eat when he sees me open the lid on the tank.

I also added something called "TLC for Saltwater" that I got at my lfs. It's supposed to be bacteria in a bottle and helps keep toxins down when cycling, in addition to speeding up the cycling process.

I have a saltwater test kit and I test the water daily, hoping to see the cycle occur. I have never done a water change. So far I have NEVER had ammonia levels rise. My nitrites got as high as .5 for about 3 days, but are now stable at zero. My nitrates hover around 20 everyday. Temp, salinity, and specific gravity are all within their appropriate range. PH is around 8.2.

Has my cycle passed and I didn't notice? Is the ammonia so low b/c of the "TLC for Saltwater" that I put in? I would've thought I'd see a least some amount of ammonia by now. I'm a newbie to this and am looking for advice. Any advice or opinions are appreciated. I used de-chlorinated tap water to start the tank.

Thanks!

 

[morleyz]

If you added cured live rock, this is likely the reason you're not seeing much of a cycle. At this point you should considering doing a regular water change regimen and just keep monitoring your ammonia and nitrites for a while before adding anything new.

How much LR did you add?

 

[Max]

The only problem is you're cycleing your tank for two damsels. Everytime you add another fish you're going to have a mini cycle so go slow if that's how you want to run it. I'd go fishless myself. The bacertia in a can stuf is junk IMO The l.r. added all you'll need. The only way to imporve water quality during your cycle is by changing your water. Oh, and WELCOME TO A.C.!!!!
Hth
Chris

 

[Terpmjn]

Thanks for the quick responses. I have only one large piece of live rock weighing roughly 7 pounds. Should I add one or two more fish to the tank? I'm already cycling with fish, so I'd rather continue on this path than to get rid of the fish on my own. The lfs will not take the damsels back.

Maybe I could add 2 clownfish to the tank? I'm fine with going slow, but if the tank is pretty much cycled for the fish load it has in it than I'd rather add a couple more fish now to increase the bio load.

Any and all opinions or advice are welcome.

Thanks again.

 

[Max]

Clowns and damsels are usually like oil and water they don't mix very well. Clowns and damsels are pretty closely related and they mostly don't get along very well IME. What kind of damsels do you have though a couple of them aren't as bad. They tend to be rather aggresive. I don't know if this is an option but, I'd try just to give the damsels back to the store they shouldn't have cost more than 3 or 4 dollars each any way.
Also how big is your tank what sort of future set up do you want reef,fish only etc?
How long has it been up and running ? This will help us advise you on what would work.
HTH
Chris

 

[Terpmjn]

Chris, thanks for the help.

I will try and get the damsels out and take them back, if I can catch them. I have one 4-stripe and one blue damsel, both pretty small. I envision a FOWLR tank, and not the much live rock. Just enough live rock to help with biological filtration, I hadn't planned on filling the tank with it, but who knows, maybe I'll end up buying more in the future.

Tank is 29 gallon All-Glass. I'll probably keep this tank for a year or two till I move. Saltwater has been in the tank with filter and Prizm Skimmer running for about 2.5 weeks. Fish have been in for 11 days now and appear to do better every day. For the first few days they weren't swimming around much and one didn't eat for first 4 days. Now both can't wait to eat when I put food in and they're moving around and exploring the tank much more.

If I get the fish out, can I do a fishless cycle with raw shrimp while my cured live rock is in the tank?

 

[Max]

Sure you can do the fishless with l.r. I'd add just a little more after it's done to add some more micro critters.
hth
chris