Passed the ammonia spike...

[stupid_naso]

My tank is in the middle of its cycling. I already passed the ammonia spike. The ammonia spiked all the way up to 8 ppm the other day. Today I checked and my ammonia is going down, it's below 1 ppm now.
My questions are...
1. My ammonia will keep going down as the tank cycles, won't it?
2. I think I am experiencing nitrite spike. Is there such thing? It's 5 ppm. This will eventually go down, won't it?
3. I am noticing brownish orange stuff all over my tank. On the glass, and also on my lr. Is it algae? Is it a good sign?
4. If it is algae, I want to clean it. I want to put a clean up crew (cleaner shrimp, sally light foot and some snails) in there. Is it the right time? Will they survive the water condition?
Thanks for your help
stupid_naso

 

[caymanlovers]

First work on your self esteem. (Why "stupid" naso?)
Answers to your questions:
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes, yes
4. You can clean it but don't add a clean up crew until ammonia and nitrites are zero and nitrates are gone or minimal.

 

[chevron tang]

To basically sum it up: your tank is cycling fine. Ammonia will be the first thing to spike in a tank, it is then broken down to nitrites, and then to nitrates. The brown algae is normal. Yes you can clean it off, but I would not get a clean up crew until your tank is completely cycled meaning 0 ppm on ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

 

[jedimaster]

how did you start the cycle process? fishless? additive(what kind), or LR(how much), or some other method? and how long did it take to get the Ammonia spike?