Adding a detrivore kit?

[recoiljpr]

All, when do you think I can add a Inland Aquatics detrivore kit to my 65? It's using all existing (100lbs) live rock from another reefers tank, and about 5lbs of existing live sand (the rest of the sand is all new). The past 6 days i've been testing every other day (mixture of Salifert & API kits that I know are good) and each time my readings are as follows-

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 20
Calcium - 340
Alk - 10 dkh
PH - 8.3

I'm assuming since it's all existing live rock is why I am not seeing a cycle. I'm still NOT going to add fish or corals for at least 2 months. My idea is I want to have all of my little critters (pods, worms, etc) fully populated through the tank before adding anything that would affect their population.

So do yall think it's too early to add the detrivore kit? I am assuming I have enough nitrifying bacteria on the rocks to handle any spikes that I would see from adding the detrivore kit. The rock and remaining live sand should seed the non-live sand.

Thoughts?

[msmith619]

How long ago did you set the tank up and add the live rock and sand?
I set up 2 tanks in the past year doing what you did, using live rock and sand from another reefer's tank. For both I also added biospira to boost the bacteria. The 75 gallon had a full complement of fish and corals within a month and never had a problem, nitrate, nitrite or aminia spike.
The 125 gallon was a different story. I added 150 gallons of live sand from another tank BUT, it had been in buckets for a few weeks and I had a HUGE amonia and nitrite problem followed by a diatom bloom the red cyano algea. It took about 2 months to settle down. I am sure it is because the bacteria on the sand died and I had anaerobic bacteria and massive waste products to get rid of. All is well now and the 125 is populated and everything is growing well.
So, I guess, the answer is check the parameters but probably you could add them in a few weeks after setting the tank up if you never let the live rock or sand sit without filtration/circulation and go anaerobic live my 125 gallon.

[recoiljpr]

How long ago did you set the tank up and add the live rock and sand?if you never let the live rock or sand sit without filtration/circulation and go anaerobic

I had the live rock sitting in a rubbermaid container with two powerheads and normal seawater for 2 weeks before adding it to the tank last week. The only time the rock was not covered was the 15 minute drive (it was in rubbermaid buckets with some water). As for the live sand, it was all transfered directly from my tank and two other peoples tank in water directly to the new one.

My parameters through the past week on the new tank have all been fine. I tested the parameters while the rock was in the rubbermaid (3 weeks ago) and I saw a little ammonia spike after the fist few days but after a water change, it's been 0 ever since.