would you say this tank has cycled?

[kittyhazelton]

set up my 110gal about a week ago. The only "NEW" stuff that was added to the tank was the saltwater and rocks. the sand was already dirty from the tank when it had freshwater in it, and the filter pads I have in my cascade 1500 are all dirty ones from my friends 90gal reef.
Water tests as follows...
Nitrites= 0
Amonia= 0
Nitrates= somewhere between the 10 and 20 mark on my test strip. can't quite tell exactly because of the subtlety of the color.
Ph somewhere around 8.2

Would you think it'd be ok to start adding fish SLOWLY while keeping an eye on the parameteres?

 

[Nic]

I would start adding them slowly.... few damsels and keep a close eye on params...
you should be fine as long as you add slowly and only use cheap fish now....

 

[water_baby83]

set up my 110gal about a week ago. The only "NEW" stuff that was added to the tank was the saltwater and rocks. the sand was already dirty from the tank when it had freshwater in it, and the filter pads I have in my cascade 1500 are all dirty ones from my friends 90gal reef.
Water tests as follows...
Nitrites= 0
Amonia= 0
Nitrates= somewhere between the 10 and 20 mark on my test strip. can't quite tell exactly because of the subtlety of the color.
Ph somewhere around 8.2

Would you think it'd be ok to start adding fish SLOWLY while keeping an eye on the parameteres?

Personally I would hold off for a while, cycling is rarey achieved that quickly, if ever, and it doesnt matter that you are using what you refer to as "dirty" filter media and substrate, fact of the matter is that while, yes, that media will introduce bacteria into the system and aid in the cycle, it is not a magic tool for immediate sucess, and to mention somthing else - you stated your sand was "dirty" from a freshwater set up you had?... umm k, you do realise that any beneficial organisms, bacterias, or otherwise that may have flourished in your fresh tank, are now dead in your salt tank. Two totally different atmospheres, with totally different organisms and animals... Just because there are some animals which can travel in both, does not mean all, or even many can, so that right there is about to spike your parameters in a few days or so. For future refrence, never mix fresh euip./substrates with salt euip./substrates, it can cause problems, crash systems, and harm what ever inhabitants you may have.

Im not trying to lecture you, but rather save you, and the animals, of any future frustrations, loss, and mess. If you are still wanting to add some fish I would stick to a damsel or chromis for now, and wait another 2-3 weeks before adding a second one. Yea yea they are territorial, but in a tank that size - dont worry about it.

 

[kittyhazelton]

Personally I would hold off for a while, cycling is rarey achieved that quickly, if ever, and it doesnt matter that you are using what you refer to as "dirty" filter media and substrate, fact of the matter is that while, yes, that media will introduce bacteria into the system and aid in the cycle, it is not a magic tool for immediate sucess, and to mention somthing else - you stated your sand was "dirty" from a freshwater set up you had?... umm k, you do realise that any beneficial organisms, bacterias, or otherwise that may have flourished in your fresh tank, are now dead in your salt tank. Two totally different atmospheres, with totally different organisms and animals... Just because there are some animals which can travel in both, does not mean all, or even many can, so that right there is about to spike your parameters in a few days or so. For future refrence, never mix fresh euip./substrates with salt euip./substrates, it can cause problems, crash systems, and harm what ever inhabitants you may have.

Im not trying to lecture you, but rather save you, and the animals, of any future frustrations, loss, and mess. If you are still wanting to add some fish I would stick to a damsel or chromis for now, and wait another 2-3 weeks before adding a second one. Yea yea they are territorial, but in a tank that size - dont worry about it.

Yes, I realise that freshwater organisms wouldn't survive in a SW environment, I meant that simply as that the tank is not "fresh" setup and there is lots of stuff in there for the new bacteria to feed off of, if that makes any sense.
I have heard of people transfering dirty filter media and other things to a new tank and cycling very quickly with success, so I was just curious.
and as far as the damsels or chromis... yeah, they wouldn't really be permanent residents as soon as I started stocking it with the fish I really want anyway, they'd be no more than little snacks.

 

[reefkeep18]

Do not start by adding damsels they are only fish that you can add in the end due to bad tempors toward new fish added. I woulld put some bio spira in the tank it works great for ccling the tsnk. I am an experienced saltwater hobbyist and bio spira has allowed me to get all of my tanks off to a good start. Add some powerheads to your tankto keep the water moving and for adding agitation to the surface. I have always used fluvals on my tanks but the cascade should work out fine.

 

[kittyhazelton]

Do not start by adding damsels they are only fish that you can add in the end due to bad tempors toward new fish added. I woulld put some bio spira in the tank it works great for ccling the tsnk. I am an experienced saltwater hobbyist and bio spira has allowed me to get all of my tanks off to a good start. Add some powerheads to your tankto keep the water moving and for adding agitation to the surface. I have always used fluvals on my tanks but the cascade should work out fine.

I have a powerhead on each side of the tank as well as a bubble curtain running along about 1/3 of the back wall.
How quickly have you been able to cycle a tank using bio-spira?

 

[reefkeep18]

I have a powerhead on each side of the tank as well as a bubble curtain running along about 1/3 of the back wall.
How quickly have you been able to cycle a tank using bio-spira?

4 days after with no problems.
I do however filter my tanks well. I have a fluval 305 on my 29
FX5 on my 90
aua clear 50 on my 15
But I have never had a fish with ick or any kind of parisites or fungus. That is saltwater not fresh.
Biro Spira is a great product. Pour it into filter intake.

 

[water_baby83]

I have heard of people transfering dirty filter media and other things to a new tank and cycling very quickly with success, so I was just curious.

Yes, I never said it would not work entirely, just wanted you to know that it is not an over-night wonder, that your tank will still need a few to cycle and level off and become stable.

and as far as the damsels or chromis... yeah, they wouldn't really be permanent residents as soon as I started stocking it with the fish I really want anyway, they'd be no more than little snacks.

Most people do not intend on them being permanent residents, and especially not if you are getting larger fish who would love to mnch on them, LOL, thats fine, reason they are good is becase they are small, they are cheap, and they are pretty hardy and can take the general up's and down's of tanks during the latter stages of a cycle. Yes they are territorial, as I mentioned earlier, but they will not take over the whole tank once others are added, especially if those added are larger and more agressive, and in a 110, one or two damsels is nothing, and they will either fall in line or get eaten. Only bad thing with damsels, is that they wont die (LOL!), and like to think they are tough sometimes, which is why you will need larger fish, of an equally or more agressive nature added afterward, or simply remove the damsels when you are ready to add others, its really not a big deal. Chromis work great too, and I actually prefer to leave my chromis in the tank to add to the community.

 

[welsher7]

I used all cured and cooked LR in my 125g and it still took a 20 days to cycle. I would hold off atleast another week and then retest.

 

[water_baby83]

Do not start by adding damsels they are only fish that you can add in the end due to bad tempors toward new fish added. .

No they are not fish that you can only add in the end. Who told you that?? Damsels and Chromis and a number of others are routinely added to new tanks due to their hardiness, small size, and that they are inexpensive. And I never denied their agressive and territorial traits, infact, I mentioned those expressly.. But in a tank that size, and with in consideration that he intends to add much larger, agressive fish.. They wont be an issue.

I am an experienced saltwater hobbyist and bio spira has allowed me to get all of my tanks off to a good start.

Bio-spira is great, but as long as you make sure to get the saltwater Bio-spira and not the freshwater. But I would still cycle even with that use, and I dont care what they say, I would never wait only 24 hours to add new stock. But thats me. Oh, and I have a little bit of experience with saltwater too *wink*