Cycling numbers

pepito113

Member
Set up a new 65g tank for cycle. Has live rocks and sand. On 4/13/10 tank set up for cycle with one shrimp.
4/13/10- PH 8.2, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm.
4/17/10- PH 8.1, Ammonia .50ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm.
4/18/10- PH 8.1, Ammonia .50ppm, Nitrite .25ppm, Nitrate 10ppm.
My question is when cycling shouldnt ammonia go up then down, nitrite up then down, nitrate up then down? I do see all the numbers going up. I am guessing that the ammonia is changed into nitrite but the ammonia wont come down with the shrimp still in there. When should I remove the shrimp from the tank so the ammonia can come down?
 

blenny

Member
Well to help you out with what i know, you dont want your cycle to be over that quik. my nano took about 2 weeks almost and it is 24 gal. your reading so far look good, Mine what i noticed after a week 1/2 my ammonia went back to almost 0ppm.
Whats your salinity at ?
 

pepito113

Member
I havnt checked my salinity in some days. It was at 1.024. So I should remove the shrimp and wait for all the numbers to come down? Should I do water changes?
 

pepito113

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3260420
no water change yet ammonia and nitrites to zero

Ok florida joe. Will wait till the numbers drop down. Do you think if i pull the shrimp out today and in a few days the numbers drop down to zero? That will mean my tank cycled in about 2 weeks. Dont you think that is fast?
And Congrats on passing 8,000 post.
 

bornagain

Member
Sometimes your rock has enough bacteria to skip an ammonia or nitrite spike. Fully cured rock can accomplish this. People also use Bacteria boosters to help cycle the tank in a few days.
However with my 30g, I am almost into week 3 of cycle. Ammonia went from 0----> 8+ppm ----> 0 in about 2 weeks. Now my Nitrites are at 5ppm and will go down to 0 within the next week or so.
 

florida joe

Well-Known Member
pull out the shrimp, read zero ammonia zero nitrites and a reading of nitate. when you get these numbers put in a SMALL fresh piece of shrimp. check readings if all look good. water change and cuc. this of course is just IMO
 
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