Cycling with biopellets

[Teeb]

My tank has been set up for 5 days now. No livestock in it, just a few cubes of shrimp and a few large chunks of squid to start the cycle. I read 0's across the board the today and am wondering if somehow I had a really quick cycle?

I started by putting some MB7 in the BP reactor and running the skimmer. I used dry rock/sand to start the tank. I ran tests with API and Elos kits today and both came back with 0's. Are BP that effective? I have not had any algae blooms, so I'm just not sure the tank is done. Here's the date from the last few days. I'm going to test again in the morning to see what it's doing. Any ideas?

Date Salinity Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate Phosphate
05/17/11 1.030 0.5 0.250 10

05/18/11 1.030 0.5 0.250 0 0.5
05/19/11 1.029 0 0.125 0 0
05/20/11 1.030 0 0.000 0 0

[Europhyllia]

looks like you never really got it up significantly.

I did a little overkill with my cycling with pure ammonia and raised it to 4.0. With the right bacteria (Fritz refrigerated -not bottled stuff) it still brought that down to 0 within 36 hours.

Your minor cycle thing could work too as long as you introduce fish really just one little fishy at a time.

(whew can you believe after all this waiting you finally are getting started! ;) )

[Big_Pun]

why cycle with dead stuff, i think slowly adding fish is the best way, no matter what you put in it eventually dies and goes away, while a fish keeps pooping(ammonia) and keeps beneficial bacteria fed and growing. the bio pellets will need something to feed on the get going.

[Teeb]

looks like you never really got it up significantly.

I did a little overkill with my cycling with pure ammonia and raised it to 4.0. With the right bacteria (Fritz refrigerated -not bottled stuff) it still brought that down to 0 within 36 hours.

Your minor cycle thing could work too as long as you introduce fish really just one little fishy at a time.

(whew can you believe after all this waiting you finally are getting started! ;) )

Yeah, I can't believe it's finally running. There's still a few things I'm wanting to do to it, but it's at least running. I'm only planning on a few small fish for it. I'll start moving my fish over slowly.

why cycle with dead stuff, i think slowly adding fish is the best way, no matter what you put in it eventually dies and goes away, while a fish keeps pooping(ammonia) and keeps beneficial bacteria fed and growing. the bio pellets will need something to feed on the get going.

Good point.