Cycle Question

[osb]

Ok, 100G w/wet/dry from previous established freshwater system.
set up a week ago, 40# live sand added last Sunday. 75# LR added on Thursday. 45# pre-cured fiji, 30# uncured tonga
Ph - Aprox 8
Ammonia - between .25 & .5
Nitrite - 10 or higher ( bright red, kind off the color chart)
Nitrate - 20
I'm using a FasTest kit.
Question - does the ammonia spike generally go by that quickly or is is possible since the wet/dry was used for a freshwater system there was signifigant bactering on the balls that caused the ammonia to disipate so quickly? Is it possible I'll see another ammonia spike? When I tested the ammonia 2 days ago, it was blue, off the chart, now its come down. Just seems kinda fast to me.

 

[bang guy]

The rock & live sand is taking care of the Ammonia. I'd suggest feeding the tank a little bit of food to feed the bacteria and let the tank mature for a bit.

 

[osb]

Originally posted by Bang Guy
The rock & live sand is taking care of the Ammonia. I'd suggest feeding the tank a little bit of food to feed the bacteria and let the tank mature for a bit.
I was expecting the ammonia spike to last a bit longer from die off on the live rock. Feed the tank or add a shrimp?

 

[bang guy]

Both will work, so will adding nothing.
In my opinion feeding the tank a pinch of food every day will build bacteria and increase the critter populations better.

 

[osb]

Thanks, Thats what i'll do. So in your opinion, this is normal, and everything is progressing as it should?

 

[bang guy]

Yep. Adding the cured live rock speeds the cycle a lot. It doesn't mature the tank any faster though.

 

[osb]

I'm heading to my LFS to get food to feed my tank, and realized I have no idea what to get. I obiviously want to get something I can use when I actually get fish. Any suggestions?

 

[malounsbury]

I just picked up some Prime Reef. Seems to be what a lot of people feed their fish. That comes in flake form. Others feed their fish Cyclop-Eeze, but that comes in freeze dried and wafer form which doesn't really do what you would need. I say go with the Prime Reef if you can find it local.