API test kits for salt water and cycling.

[RooRogers]

Okay so about 3 1/2 to 4 weeks ago; I purchased the new 32.5 gallon fluval flex for saltwater. As well as Carib Sea live sand (Hawaiian black) and 10 lbs of Carib seas new Life Rock, Big bottle of Dr Tims one and only and a heater. I got the tank all set up. Used RODI water to fill and waited about a week. Salinity is perfect at 1.025. Its been about 3 weeks now and have tested my Ammonia, Nitrite, Naitrate, high range PH every week 2 times a week. On about the 13th day of befinning the cycling process my ammonia spiked 2.0ppm and then went back down to trace levels and nitrites and nitrates havent spiked or changed even a bit..
I do have very trace amounts of Diatoms forming. Whats your input on whats going on as to why my parameters never spiked? What should my next move be?

 

[Cell]

4 weeks in and used bottled bac, I'd say you are good to go.

 

[andrewey]

If you're getting diatoms and it's been a month, you've likely finished cycling. You can test with putting 1-2ppm ammonia and seeing if it can be cleared in 24 hours, but to be honest, it's probably not necessary.

 

[Bosreef]

Throw in some amonia and see if your tank eats it. Have you been feeding the bacteria in that 3 weeks?

Dose your tank to 1 ppm ammonia if its back down to 0 12 hrs later your good to go.

But what others have said your probably cycyled

 

[Bosreef]

If you're getting diatoms and it's been a month, you've likely finished cycling. You can test with putting 1-2ppm ammonia and seeing if it can be cleared in 24 hours, but to be honest, it's probably not necessary.

Beat me

 

[RooRogers]

I threw in a raw shrimp about a week ago which is still at the bottom of the tank and still no spikes in my ammonia.

 

[RooRogers]

So I should proceed to a nice size CUC?

 

[andrewey]

Are your kits expired by any chance? Also, I would pull that shrimp at this point.

 

[RooRogers]

No the kit is brand new. I checked before purchasing

 

[brandon429]

your cycle is 100% done and API wont show you that reliably. change water so you have less algae fuel in it; begin, you are cycled. liferocks alone activate in about 10-15 days underwater, nothing else added. you added extra, so its ubercycled.