no cycle?

[Breathe13stars]

I started a new 55 gallon tank 2 weeks ago shortly after set up i added around 80 pounds of really well established live rock with most of it having several different types of corals on it and 60 pounds of live sand. I figured i would see a cycle shortly after well i never did so i decided to add some livestock to it( damsel, goby, cleaner shrimp, and several different types of snails) but i still have not seen any signs of a cycle. nitrite 0, nitrate 0, ammonia 0, calcium 450. Ive yet to see any algae blooms, all of the corals are doing great and fully opening, the fish are fantastic. Ive had my more expensive fish in my QT tank waiting to go in thier new home but i wanted to make sure the water was gong to be okay before i decided to add them so this is why i came here is there a chance i will not see a cycle or is it still too come?

[tommyc]

I'm not sure I know what your problem is. With that much live rock and sand you should fine. I don't think you need to "cycle".

[Pworld]

Were did you get the water from?

Old tank,Tap,???

[Breathe13stars]

ro water mixed myself

[Pworld]

I would give it a few more weeks before you put your other fish in.

Check the water till then.

[berkdog]

After cycling, you should see a build up of nitrates.

[reefhead728]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND

I would give it another month before adding anything else and
Check your water everyday.

[Breathe13stars]

Thanks for all the reply's I figured it would be wise to ask I rather be safe than sorry.

[berkdog]

btw, your tank looks really beautiful!

[Breathe13stars]

thank you berkdog

[tommyc]

I AGREE NICE LOOKING TANK!
I'm looking for opinions here: Is it better have mount the powerheads high in the tank or low in the tank?

[reefhead728]

iv always put my powerheads High in the tank.

[reefhead728]

BTW Nice tank stars.

[Breathe13stars]

i think its better to have them higher in the tank so it agitates the surface of the water for better oxygenation of the water and gas exchange and want to give your corals proper flow but not so much that your blowing them over.... then again im no expert and could be wrong lol

Thanks for all the great input guys

[tommyc]

I think for gas exchange the surface of the water has to be broken like with bubbles or a surface skimming overflow box. The powerheads don't do that. With the overflow box and the pump returns moving the water around at the surface, it seems to me maybe it would be better to have the PH's towards the bottom to stir to water around more down below. Any more opinions?

[Breathe13stars]

only problem i could see with having them low is stirring up the sand too much

[tommyc]

Not that low but they should be keeping "stuff" from settling on the sand keeping particles suspended in the water so the skimmer can catch them.

[Breathe13stars]

you should try it out let me know what kind of results you have BTW what kind of pumps are you running?

[tommyc]

I have tried it. It works great. I have Tunze and Korilia powerheads and a Little giant water pump.

[metalhead]

I started a new 55 gallon tank 2 weeks ago shortly after set up i added around 80 pounds of really well established live rock with most of it having several different types of corals on it and 60 pounds of live sand. I figured i would see a cycle shortly after well i never did so i decided to add some livestock to it( damsel, goby, cleaner shrimp, and several different types of snails) but i still have not seen any signs of a cycle. nitrite 0, nitrate 0, ammonia 0, calcium 450. Ive yet to see any algae blooms, all of the corals are doing great and fully opening, the fish are fantastic. Ive had my more expensive fish in my QT tank waiting to go in thier new home but i wanted to make sure the water was gong to be okay before i decided to add them so this is why i came here is there a chance i will not see a cycle or is it still too come?

I encountered a similar situation when I first got started... I think you never really saw a cycle because there never was one. The established rock is really "the system" if you think about it. Other than the sand-bed it contains all, if not most of the bio-filtration in any reef system.

Just think of it like doing a 90% water change in an established system, probably even closer to 80% or less when you consider how much water the rock can hold.

Anyway, just my .02... Keep us informed - you're tank's looking great so far.