Tank cycled in 2 weeks - thoughts advice.

[Caltex6018]

Guys, Need some advice, which I know comes in like 200 different  variation on the forums [J]. 90G Reef Ready 48Lx18Wx24H29G fuge Started my reef on 3/21 and now my testing is showing cycled.  Below is the bullet pointed break down.[·         ]Day 1o   100lbs Dry reef cleaners rock, 80lbs Dry Tropical Eden Sand, rodi water. 1.5/2inch sand bedo   Started cycle with 2 large/jumbo dinner shrimp.o   No skimmer or lights runningo   Fuge running only return pump.[·         ]Day 3-5o   Added LR from local DFWmas member – prob 3/5lbs, the rock went into the fuge. His tank has been up running 6/8months.o   Added one cup of live sand from his tank as well the sand went into the DT. His tank has been up running 6/8monthso   Added carbon bags into the filter sock.  This is where I like them for now.  Long term will use another refractor if I have room or between baffles. o   Large ammonia spike[·         ]Day 7-8o   Added large LR from Franks Tank to DT.  Prob 10/12lbs, most likely not fully cured, but Frank does dip his rock in RO.  Still not sure how I feel about that.o   Added 1 cup of live sand from one of his tanks.o   Add GFO via refractor[§  ]Franks store is solid BTW, beautiful display tanks.[·         ]Day 10/11o   Added 2 shelf pieces of LR 7lbs from True Percula, they say fully cured [J].o   Ammonia dropping and Nitrites rising[·         ]Day 13o   Ammonia reading 0o    Nitrites reading 0o   Nitrates NO3 reading 20/30PPMo   Using API test for cycle – will change out and use other for PH and more advanced testing.o   Have refractometer and reading 1.023, will increase a bit.o   PH, reading low 7.9, but think it’s due to cycle.o   Temp moving around a bit, but will get it steady 74/78.o   No algae blooms.  No light on tank except some light from a nearby window and typical home lighting.  Did the tank cycle that quick???  I was prepared to go 8 weeks if needed.  I am in no rush.  I will most likely not add my LED’s until May 1 and will go with 2 Gen 4 Radion.  My questions:[·         ]Is the tank cycled or am I about to see some 2^nd cycle.  Just seems quick. o   If cycled I will do my 1^st water change 20%[·         ]With no fish or anything, how do I keep the good bacteria up.  I’m not ready to add fish LOL or coral.  Trying to stick to a budget HA!o   Should I add a small dinner shrimp to keep up the bio loado   Do not really want to ghost feed and get a ton of waste.o   I guess I could add one fish to keep the load up, but won’t have LED lights for a while, unless I have to do it now.[§  ]Do I really need to QT my first fish.  Plan to later, but not my first.[§  ]Recommendation on first fish in a reef.  Not aggressive.[·         ]Should I start my skimmer?[·         ]Is it safe to add CUC and what would they eat if I have no fish or do not add any food or lights.o   Thinking of adding CUC and then week later 1^st fish, but not sure what they would eat.  Those are my thoughts questions.  Thanks for the advice in advance.  

 

[jenkinscrew]

Wow that seems like a fast cycle but you saw ammonia and nitrites go up and down. Do you have any algae growing yet? Since you don't have lights I would assume you don't have any yet. So you probably don't need to add a CUC. Since you have time, I would just keep waiting it out at least till 6 weeks, what I always do no matter what. If you wanted, you could add 10 ml of MB7 every week until you get your lights (what I am doing on my QT). Then do a water change and start your CUC. Then just check your parameters again before you add your first fish. It is always recommended to QT your fish. Just depends on if you like playing the game "Russian Roulette". You can turn on your skimmer if you want and just remove the collection cup, until you have some life in the tank, to get your skimmer broke in. Just my recommendations and what I would do. Let us know how it goes! Get a build thread started so we can see some progress pics. Let us know if you have anymore questions.

 

[integra3g]

That cycle could be done, but once you increase the bio load there might be more.  This is the reason we always add fish slowly.  I would turn the skimmer on since you already have nitrates on the rise and would start to ghost feed a little bit.  The skimmer will help pull some of this out.  The only difference in a shrimp and ghost feeding are in the amounts.  A shrimp is big and will put a lot of nutrients in quickly which is great to get a cycle going, but not what you need after.  You want a slow increase which is why you would ghost feed.  You can keep in the filter socks which would help collect the food in case you add too much.  The skimmer will also help raise the pH.