Ammonia spike

[newfishguy]

Does it matter how high your Ammonia spikes to start a tank cycle? Is .25 considered a spike? My small 15 gallon has been at .25 for 16 days. I cycled it with some cured live rock (rock curing for larger tank) and some Aragalive sand.

 

[hedonic]

Using cured live rock and aragalive sand kind of side steps some of the cycling process. Because your cured LR comes with an established bacterial base you may not have a large ammonia spike. Espcially if you have not added anything except LR and LS.

 

[newfishguy]

No. I added nothing but the sand and rock. Do you have any idea why the ammonia is still at .25? It has been there for 16 days. Do I need to add something to the tank to make it spike higher. I mean is the cycle in limbo?
Originally Posted by hedonic
Using cured live rock and aragalive sand kind of side steps some of the cycling process. Because your cured LR comes with an established bacterial base you may not have a large ammonia spike. Espcially if you have not added anything except LR and LS.