Cycling Tank

Question
Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I recently set up my 55 tank gallon after taking a break for 3 years. I know how the whole nitrogen cycle works and all since I have done this previously before. I am cycling my tank right now with live rock. I set up the tank and let it run for 3 days and bought 50 lbs of cured live rock from an established tank from a private seller. It probably took 45 minutes to put it in my tank. I then bought 10 more pounds of uncured live rock from the LFS the following day. 5 days later, my ammonia levels are 0 ppm, nitrites are 0 ppm, and nitrate is 20 ppm. I am not sure if I am on the right track here. I have the JBJ farmosa light that I have been running for about 7 hours a day, 5 hrs of the 10K white light and 2 hours of the actinic blue 65 watts. Looking at my live rock that I got from the established tank, they are mushrooms growing on it that are brown and purple in color. The mushrooms usually open up with the lights on and close a little with the lights off.  I also saw a live hermit crab the other day on one of the establihsed live rocks. Should I consider my tank already cyclced since the established live rock I received has been eliminating any ammonia that is being produced by the uncured 10 lbs of live rock I bought. Nevertheless, I am still going to wait another 3 weeks before I get any invertebrates and longer to get any fish. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Junaid. Your tank has cycled! When you are using a large amount of live rock or sand from an already established tank you will find that this will help to jump start the cycling process and it is likely that your tank will cycle with in the first two weeks of set up. Technically you could start to add a fish or two but I commend you for your patience. Sometimes taking it slow will prove to make your tank more stable in the long run!