Need help with stalled fishless cycle

[Pufferpunk]

Here's a good place to start: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/livero ... ockhub.htm

[c333davis]

Thanks for the link to the great articles! I read through them (and some posts on WWM) and talked to my SW LFS.

Here's where things stand:
Did a 50% wc on the tank.
Ammon/trite/trate levels are now 1/.25/10.
pH is still at 8.2.
Forgot to get a kH test; can do that either tonight or tomorrow.
SG is 1.022.
Temp is 82 degrees F.

I added 3lbs cured live rock to the tank, along with a bottle of BioSpira.

Do I need more live rock? If so, how much more, and how soon do I need to add it - before the ammon and trite zero out, or wait 'til after?

What else do I need to be doing/checking/planning for?

[Pufferpunk]

How big is the fish? How much base rock are you using?

[c333davis]

My gsp is just under 2", I believe.

I added another 3.5lb piece of cured live rock since I posted, so I'm up to about 6.5lbs total so far.

I didn't put any base rock in... from a decor standpoint, I'd like to be able to use decor besides just rock. But adequate filtration trumps decor, so if I have to move out some of the decor to make room for enough rock, I will.

Should I follow the "1lb LR per 1 gallon in the tank" standard?

[Pufferpunk]

Yep, that would be the minimum.

[jmiller]

Just catching up in here. Keep checking Craigslist & find a local reef club for live rock. If you can find someone taking down a large tank rock can be picked up cheap. Have you posted pics of the new tank and I just missed them?

[Pufferpunk]

Yep, just saw a local fellow selling off his rock for $1.50/lb. Had corals on it too.

Is this your area?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forum ... une=&f=636

[c333davis]

jmiller, no tank pics yet... I'm still aquascaping. I'll post some when I'm set up.

PP, thanks for the link! I'm in NE Florida, tho, and those folks look to be in Tennessee.

My favorite LFS has lace rock from Utah for $2/lb, so I bought 15lbs. I spent a little more for the rock than I might've on a Craigslist posting, tho I like to support my mom-and-pop LFS.

[Pufferpunk]

Look further at that site then, for a closer reef club.

[c333davis]

Will do. Thanks!

[c333davis]

Hi, folks! Happy New Year's Eve!

Aquaria takes no holiday! When should I do a water change, and how much?

Tank contents at this point
- 8.5 lbs cured live rock (+ 1 bottle Biospira) and 15 lbs lace rock as a base
- 1.024 sg
- Ammon / trite / trate = btwn .25-.50 / 1.0 / 20
- pH 8.0
- 80 degrees F
- Mechanical filtration now consists of the Aqueon HOB filter rated 200 gph + 2 Koralia nano powerheads rated 425 gph each
- Have put the standard Aqueon kit hood on a timer so it's on from 10am-9:30pm

Recommendations now?

[J-P]

when it hits 0/0/? after 24 hours

sounds like it is going well

[Pufferpunk]

As long as there is no life in there, just let the cycle do it's thing.

[c333davis]

Ok. For some reason, I was thinking I needed to do partials. I'll be patient.

Happy New Year!

[J-P]

Happy New Year!!!