cycle stalled?

[lawdawg161]

I began my cycle about 3 weeks ago with a raw piece of shrimp. The ammonia spiked almost immediately (2-3 days) and was up over 4. Then, my nitrates and nitrites went up simultaneously (nitrites - 5.0, nitrates - 20-40). Shortly thereafter, the ammonia went down to 0. The levels have remained almost exactly the same for the last 2+ weeks. There has been no change at all. It is just a little strange to me that the ammonia spike occurred so quickly, and then it's been in a holding pattern ever since. I know I'm probably being impatient, but it never hurts to ask.
(could the fact that I do not have a skimmer yet be lending to the problem at all? I didn't really think I needed one until I was ready to put some fish in)
55 Gal
30-40 lbs. base rock
10 lbs live rock
heater
Penguin 330 Biowheel Filter
Seaclone 150 Skimmer (on the way)

 

[kdfrosty]

Wow. you and I have almost exactly the same setup...rock and all. My tank is on the thrid week of the cycle, and my parameters are very similar. Just be patient, all levels will drop.

 

[bang guy]

I'd suggest feeding the tank the same amount of food you're going to feed your first fish. That will allow the system to mature a bit and stabilize.
The high ammonia level probably damaged most of the organisms in your live rock.

 

[lawdawg161]

Maybe I should have added this...
When I put in the shrimp, there was no live rock, sand, or fish. I didn't understand that the bacteria that eat ammonia had to come from "somewhere." I added live rock and within about 2 days the ammonia was gone, and the trites and trates were off the chart. I'm not sure if my disjointed cycle was a bad thing or an inconsequential thing.

 

[snipe]

It takes awhile to grow the bacteria that is needed to lower these dont worrie it wont take long.

 

[lawdawg161]

It's always nice to have reassurance.