Starting up a New Tank with a SM100 - Cycling Questions

[johnarky]

So, I've started up a new 60 gallon cube with a SM100. I've never cycled a tank with an ATS from the very beginning so I'm not sure what to expect. The only filtration at this point is the ATS. I have a skimmer in the sump but it will probably only be turned on in emergency situations.
The tank has a good amount of live rock from my previous tank. I would say 80% of the rock is live and there's a couple new pieces of dry rock that I added.
The ATS has been running for 2 days now (18 hours on, 6 hours off) and it's still completely white. What should I expect as far as growth and cycling?

Thanks!

[SantaMonica]

That's about it.

[johnarky]

That's about it.

Ummm, What? lol

[kerry]

I did my last tank with a scrubber from day one and the tank never cycled!!! It was great! I put fish and coral in the second day. I had very small growth starting on about the 3rd day. The growth seemed a little slow compared to an aged tank. All nutrients are zero-ish, the nitrate might bounce to 5PPM after a cleaning but its right back down a day or two later. My growth was not big for about two weeks or so. The best part is never having a cycle, enjoy!

[midnight]

Hi Kerry,

Could you please explain your ATS only setup? Does it utilize live rock or sand, or is it a bare bottom tank using only the ATS for filtering?

Thanks,

James

[kerry]

Yes, its a 40G breeder size. I have about a 2"(ish) sand base with about 15-20lbs of rock so far. I have been slowly adding, I would like to have about 20-30lbs more. The screen is about 9"x6" and lit from both sides and is the only filter on any of my SW tanks. I have two 10G SW tanks with scrubber only as well, one is crushed coral substrate and a few pounds of rock, the other has a round bead type substrate with about 10 pounds of rock. These two small tanks are horizontal screens 2.75"x6.75". The 10G with the crushed coral substrate was also started off from day one with a scrubber and never cycled either.

[midnight]

Kerry, thanks for your reply. Is the live rock cycled and thereby handling initial filtration and later supplemented by the scrubber as your screen grows in?

[johnarky]

Tanks been running for 6 days now. Scrubbers been running for 3 days. Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 3ppm

Think it's safe to start adding livestock?

[Ace25]

If your going to Reef-A-Palooza this weekend I would hold off on putting livestock in until next week. There is no harm in waiting a few more days. ;)

[johnarky]

Ya ace, I think that's the plan. I'll check parameters again on Monday and see where it's at.

[kerry]

To midnight: It was about half, two week old rock and the other half, new rock never cycled (this is the 40G breeder), just fresh into the local store. The scrubber will take care of the nutrients so you can be at ease about that.
My 10G was filled with rock from the local that was two days old and the scrubber sucked it all up as well. As far as I can tell the amount of new rock does not matter as the nutrients will be eaten by the scrubber. So as long as the screen can handle the load, you should be OK.