Not all LFS's can be trusted, they'll tell you you've cycled when you havent finished. Adding the LR which was shipped will cause an ammo spike most of the time. You had one a couple days ago. How does the water test now? Test it you'rself. Test for ammo, nitrite, and nitrate at LEAST. If you have ) ammo, ) nitrite, and some nitrates. You've cycled. You have to see some nitrates or you're not done.
This explains a biological cycle.
Newly setup tank, no inhabitants no beneficial bacteria present.
Something is added to the tank to introduce ammonia. Dead shrimp, some use fish, die off on LR or live sand, decomposing food. Basicly anthyng that will decay will add ammonia and start the cycle.
Ammo eating bacteria begins eating the ammonia, these produce nitrite, that's why we test for nitrates so we can tell if the bacteria is present.
Nitrite eating bacteria start consuming the nitrites, these produce nitrates, again which is why we test for those.
So first you see ammo, then you see the ammo start to go down and you see nitrite. Then the ammo should be near gone if not gone and you will see nitrite going down as the nitrates go up. At some point you will see 0 ammo, 0 nitrites and have some nitrates. There is no bacteria wich eats nitrates. You have to remove them in other ways. Do a water change to get them down. Most recomend getting them to 0, before adding fish and corals. But not necessarily a must. They are not hrmful to fish in lower amounts. But be sure their down to around 20 at least.
