Question about my tank cycling...

[tannercelik101]

I added my LR that I got from saltwaterfish.com and then I bought some LR from the LFS around here... It's been about 3 weeks and I test the water everyday and I havent seen any of the levels rise... (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, ph 8.2, salt 1.024)... Is that normal? I added a small CUC and they are doing fine, but I'm afraid to add any fish on the off chance that it's just a slow cycle and then I kill the fish.

 

[bang guy]

With really good live rock it's not uncommon to not experience much of an ammonia spike. I can tell you from experience that this is a REALLY good thing.
Start ghost feeding.
This means feed the tank just as if you had you first fish in the tank. Test ammonia after a few days and every day for a few days after that. If there is still no ammonia (none at all) then your tank is cycled. Continue to ghost feed until you actually add your first fish.
Keep in mind that a cycled tank is in no way stable. It some level of maturity before your tank will be stable enough for delicate animals so be sure that your first fish are hardy like Clownfish for example.

 

[beaslbob]

+1
What can happen with enough (hopefully corraline) algae it is possible to cycle a new tank with no ammonia spike. Because the algae consumes the ammonia directly.
What is important is to add livestock slowy to the algae can keep up with ammonia production. Allowing the aerobic bacteria to build up and start consuming the ammonia.
With limited algae it can be a delicate balancing act. ghost feeding is one way to check along with the raw shrimp method.
FWIW and kinda off subject I use macro algaes (in a refugium) to do much the same thing.
my .02

 

[rodneybrick]

I havnt seen any spikes in my tank and my labs are spot on with yours. I have a pair of clowns and 3 chromis. All are doing good.

 

[tannercelik101]

I guess my tank finally cycled, or is possibly still cycling because I have a TON of diatoms everywhere on my sand. Should I do a water change, or wait a bit for the bacteria to build up? My lvls are still 0 across the board...

 

[bang guy]

A water change now isn't going to affect the bacteria population at all. A large water change will help stabilize the PH and improve the water. Ghost feeding can help increase and stabilize the populations though.

 

[tannercelik101]

Nvm I already knew about the salinity, just wasn't thinking about that... sorry me!