12g Cycling Too Fast?

[mimzy]

Hi all! I posted these q's on the end of my thread in the New Hobbyists' section, but I think it's becoming too cumbersome 4 pple to wade thru

Anyhow... I'm currently cycling a 12 gallon tank (my first SW tank ever), with 15lbs of fiji pink aragonite, 14.5lbs lace rock, 6.5lbs live rock, and instant ocean salt. I also phantom fed it twice in the first 4 days.
I started off with 11 gallons (that's all that would fit w/ the sand/rock in there!) of tap water that I ran through a Brita pitcher with a brand new filter (yes, all 11 gallons) and then treated as well. I know I know...tapwater bad, but I filtered it AND treated it - and I'm using RO water from now on.
There are about 3 gallons of RO water in there by now anyhow, what with top-offs and that small water change I had to do to lower the salinity. Slowly but surely the tap will be cycled out.
Anyhow... I was wondering how long you all have found your cycles to be? It seems to me that my tank is cycling awefully fast... Ammonia peaked at 3.0 on day 2, 'trates peaked at 40 on day 4 along with 'trites peaking the same day at 5.0.
My readings for today (day8) were
Salinity: 37
SG: 1.027 ....these r high b/c of evaporation, I switched some out w/ RO water (about half a gallon) this evening, waiting for it to mix completely before I take more readings
Ammonia; 0
Nitrate; 20
Nitrite; 1.0
Alkalinity; 300 - this is my best guess...the color I get doesnt match well with the colors on the interpretation sheet... what SHOULD my alkalinity be at this point?
pH; 8.4
temp; 78.5
Is this normal speed for a tank this size? I was under the impression that I'd be waiting at least a month...?? :notsure:
I'm going to wait a few days after the 'trites hit zero before I add my cleanup crew...just to be sure. What do you guys all think?

 

[the reef]

I would say your alkalinity is way to high needs to be more like 100 to 125 with alkalinity that high you will only see your calcium become hard to keep up and your ph could rise dramaticly so even if your tank cycles fast I would still wait untell you have the targeted alkalinity before adding any fish or coral to your tank

 

[mimzy]

Hhhm..ok... I'll look into that...thing is... the alkalinity test strip comes out to be bright blue...when all the examples on the interpretation sheet are different shades of dark green.
::sigh:: I suppoe I'll have to go buy a different test kit for alkalinity.
If it IS in fact that high...what would be the best way to get it down to a reasonable level involving the least chemical additives?
Don't worry, I don't plan on adding ANY critters at ALL untill I've had a good week's worth of days with all my levels in the right spot. :yes:
IS it normal for a tank this size to cycle out ammonia and 'trites in 8 days? :notsure:
Thank you!!!

 

[the reef]

you could be getting a multiple spike sometimes it will spike go down and raise back up before it complets the cycle can be a roller coaster. I use hagens alkalinity test kits all you have to do is add up how many drops you add and then times it.

 

[the reef]

to lower it I would do 10 percent watter changes every week and test your change out watter for ph sg and alkalinity your ph should be 8.1 to 8.3 and your sg needs to be 1.022 to 1.028 for fish only can be low sg and if your going to do reef keep it between 1.025 and 1.028

 

[nyyankeees]

I have a 12g nanocube and when mine was new it cycled in about 2 weeks. I had 20lbs LS and 10lbs LR (fiji) in there, so that helped plus it seems the smaller tanks cycle a lil faster.