[Freddy Twotimes]

I have started a new tank 50 days ago, most of the Kalini [or Tonga] rock was uncured. I have never started a reef before where I added all of the live rock at once. I would say that the equipment I have now, on my second attempt at creating a slice of the ocean is better too.

Unfortuneately, I am still cycling after this 50th day with the Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia still rising and falling between mid to low levels.

What I am amazed to see is the amount of life that is visable in that enviornment. Today I saw a tiny feather duster doubled over in the current. Last week I started to notice two different types of polyps on another rock. I saw a tiny snail on a powerhead and a large quantity of other creatures, that I am assuming must be copapods or mysis crawling all over the glass as well as the red, slimy algae patches that are growing on the sand.

I even started to see patches of a nasty little worm [for lack of an actual description] that I have been wiping away with a toothbrush before they colonize and attack my future corals.

There is three different colors of Coroline algae groing on the rock as wel as 3-5 other types of algae I have noticed...all of this while the tank peramitors are seemingly horrible conditions...yet its teaming with life?

This is the longest tank cycle I have ever been through, but the first tank I have ever had with this much life in it, yet a fish would be dead in a matter of hours. I wonder how long I have to wait for the tank to balance...but even though I have nothing but rock in there now, I have all kinds of stuff to watch.

[leebca]

Enjoy the show!

You've traded time for more diversity and I think that that's a fine trade. Hang in there. See: The Mature Aquarium