need help starting my nano

[niloc16]

i figured it would still take time to cycle, that's why i wanted to double check with you guys, because when i heard that within a week i could add fish i was kind of weary. i've heard alot of people adding cleanup crew after a week but anyway, thanks for the input guys. the tank looks great today. the water is finally settled after adding the sand a day and half ago. i'm really happy with the aquascaping. at the store i actually had a piece of cardboard the size and was the laying rock out there to pick the right pieces. i wish i could figure out how to get pics on there and i would show you

[niloc16]

i think i figured it out. here is a full tank shot last night, no livestock yet just the aquascaping finished. what do you think?

[dufferdan]

Hey, That's looking good Niloc16! Nice Rock Scaping.

[TheReefGeek]

I think you need a couple larger pieces in there, and I always like the look of arches/caves, they provide shade for lower light corals, and a spot for fish to hang out.

[niloc16]

thanks for the suggestion, i was thinking i needed another piece for the upper rh corner of the tank. its been 3 days now and i checked amm and nitrite and they are both zero, i mean there wasnt a trace of either, can it be cycled already

[TheReefGeek]

Did you use live rock from an established tank?

If you did then you wont get a cycle.

If not, was there much stuff that died off to create some ammonia for you?

What I would do in either situation is throw in a small chunk of shrimp into the tank and let it rot, creating ammonia. If you tank is cycled, then it will break down the ammonia without a spike. If it is not cycled, then this will kick off cycling the tank. Either way you know what is happening.

[niloc16]

the live rock i bought came from hidden reef out of their tanks, they had been in the tanks for about 2- 3 weeks. there is some die off on the rocks that have fallen onto the substrate.