Somehting wierd about my cycle levels.

beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
Ok so I put the live rock in last wensday, and this is how the levels have been.
Thursday:
Ammonia: .1
Nitrites:0
PH:8.4 (i know this isn't apart of the cycle but I tested it sooo)
Friday:
Ammonia: .3
Nitrites:5
PH: 8.2-8.3
Saturday:
Ammonia: .4
Nitrites: 10
Sunday: didn't test
Monday:
Ammonia:.5
Nitrites:10+
PH:8.3
Tuesday (today):
Ammonia: .25
Nitrites: 6
Ph: 8.2
My question is: should the ammonia and nitrites lower this fast? If not should I spike it again?
I will keep you up-dated.
p.s I almost forgot I am using Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Several questions: What happened to nitrates? How did you initiate the cycle - a dead piece of shrimp? How fresh was the live rock? If the rock was fresh and already cured, then the initiation of the cycle could be very fast - the nitrates will tell you if you were really cycling.
 
beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
I was told not to test the nitrates because the nittrite levels will affect it. Also I was told that you were done cyclign when ammonia and nitrites go down. This was all from swf.com users. The live rock was second day shipping form swf.com. I will go test the nitrates. Also the second day the nitrates were 20 if that helps.
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
Yes when the ammonia goes down it's a completed cycle but NOT in a weeks time. Most cycles take 4-6 weeks. Did you add any flake food or a raw shrimp? That small amount of lr in there will NOT be enough to cycle the tank alone.
 
herefshyfishy

herefshyfishy

Member
Originally Posted by hot883
Yes when the ammonia goes down it's a completed cycle but NOT in a weeks time.

I know you probably meant ammonia and NITRITES go down to 0. I just wanted to clarify that for people who didnt know.
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
Originally Posted by Herefshyfishy
I know you probably meant ammonia and NITRITES go down to 0. I just wanted to clarify that for people who didnt know.
yes, thanks. although trites are not as deadly as any amounts of ammonia.
 
beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
Originally Posted by Herefshyfishy
I know you probably meant ammonia and NITRITES go down to 0. I just wanted to clarify that for people who didnt know.
Can I just use like some table raw shrimp?
Also the nitrates are around 11.
 
herefshyfishy

herefshyfishy

Member
To start your cycle you can use Raw Shrimp from grocery store. put in about 2-3 and once they start to decay and get "hairy" looking, your amm will start to go up.
 
beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
I just dropped in a size 31-40 raw un-cooked thawed shrimp. Basically as fresh as you can egt without catching your own. I only dropped one in. Should I put more in?
 
sfoister

sfoister

Member
Originally Posted by Beatlesfan
OH! Just saw your post saying I should put like 2-3. Now there are 3 shrimps in there.... headless.
Headless?!?! Noooo! Put the heads in there, quick!!!!
Kidding.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
When your ammonia reaches .75-1ppm take the shrimp out. Wait for the nitrite to spike then stay at a steady zero. Give it a week to be sure the levels are going to stay at zero before adding any livestock.
 
beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
ok just tested:
Salinity: 1.026
ammmonia: .1
nitrite: 4-7 (can't really tell)
nitrate: 100
ph: 8.1
Have 3 large shrimp in ther eand the ammonia is stil goign down.
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
Originally Posted by Beatlesfan
ok just tested:
Salinity: 1.026
ammmonia: .1
nitrite: 4-7 (can't really tell)
nitrate: 100
ph: 8.1
Have 3 large shrimp in ther eand the ammonia is stil goign down.
Dude be PATIENT. Relax. This is the worst part of this hobby. Rush this step and you risk killing everything you will put in there later. Relax. Forget about the tank for a couple of days. Breathe in, breathe out.
 
beatlesfan

beatlesfan

Member
Originally Posted by hot883
Dude be PATIENT. Relax. This is the worst part of this hobby. Rush this step and you risk killing everything you will put in there later. Relax. Forget about the tank for a couple of days. Breathe in, breathe out.
Where's the in-out smily?
Yeah it just surprised me that the ammonia went down. Well I will take it easy for the next few weeks. A thoguht just came to me. I have some pretty week dual 36w lights and was wonderign how long I should keep them on to help growth? Will this even help it because there so weak? Anyways there usually on about 7:00am ESt when the sun comes up and off about 6:30pm ESt when it goes down.
 
hot883

hot883

Active Member
Originally Posted by Beatlesfan
Where's the in-out smily?
Yeah it just surprised me that the ammonia went down. Well I will take it easy for the next few weeks. A thoguht just came to me. I have some pretty week dual 36w lights and was wonderign how long I should keep them on to help growth? Will this even help it because there so weak? Anyways there usually on about 7:00am ESt when the sun comes up and off about 6:30pm ESt when it goes down.
I started with a 55 gallon set up from walmart and the cheapo lights that came with was enough for me for several months.
 
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