cycling tank, check levels?

[newfishguy]

Ok. I just started cycling my 15 gallon qt with a piece of uncured live rock. I know that it takes 3 to 4 weeks for the tank to cycle. When should I start checking the water levels?

 

[feixjai]

IMO your suppose to check it like every week to make sure that all the levels are going down

 

[murph]

I would try to forget about it totally for at least the first couple of weeks. Checking only to make sure the PH filters etc are working. It will take that long for just the ammonia levels to start coming down.
Otherwise the anticipation will start to drive you nuts.

 

[fadec40]

You should be checking frequently the ammonia and nitrite levels to see if they "spike." This is the part of the cycle and you need that rise in those levels and then see them drop along with nitrates. If you rarely check them, it is possible that they never rose and the tank would not have cycled.

 

[newfishguy]

Good point. Ill check frequently. What exactly does "spike" mean? Do they have to raise to a certain level to spike?
Originally Posted by Fadec40
You should be checking frequently the ammonia and nitrite levels to see if they "spike." This is the part of the cycle and you need that rise in those levels and then see them drop along with nitrates. If you rarely check them, it is possible that they never rose and the tank would not have cycled.