Cycle seems to be winding down super fast?

Austin Lee · Nov 28, 2018

So looking at these numbers - ammonia went up, then back down, so did nitrate, and now nitrite looks like t might do the same. Am I crazy? I’m going to start testing every day to get a better read on what’s going on. Any recommendations here?

EmdeReef · Nov 28, 2018

Looks pretty normal for a cycle. Have you been adding any source of ammonia during this time?

Jvesche20 · Nov 28, 2018

New tanks will shoot up then go back down. Pretty normal

Jvesche20 · Nov 28, 2018

If you started to cycle give it about 4 weeks. Still test every week should be good by then

Cfellini91 · Nov 28, 2018

Your nitrates are too high. You want them 0-10. What do you have in your tank? What are feeding? Is it possible something died in there?

Austin Lee · Nov 29, 2018

The only thing I added was live rock, live sand, and a bottle of the instant ocean stuff to kick off the cycle. Brand new tank, no livestock in it. Should I add a new ammonia source?

vic5hands · Nov 29, 2018

That salinity is way to high

Austin Lee · Nov 29, 2018

vic5hands said:
That salinity is way to high

I know, I fixed that after taking this screenshot lol

Cfellini91 · Nov 29, 2018

Austin Lee said:
The only thing I added was live rock, live sand, and a bottle of the instant ocean stuff to kick off the cycle. Brand new tank, no livestock in it. Should I add a new ammonia source?

Gotcha. Give it some more time. Let it cycle some more. And make sure to still do your weekly 20% water change while it cycles. Do you have a protein skimmer set up yet?

Austin Lee · Nov 29, 2018

Cfellini91 said:
Gotcha. Give it some more time. Let it cycle some more. And make sure to still do your weekly 20% water change while it cycles. Do you have a protein skimmer set up yet?

I have one set up, but I have been leaving it off while I cycle. Should I turn it on?

Cfellini91 · Nov 29, 2018

Austin Lee said:
I have one set up, but I have been leaving it off while I cycle. Should I turn it on?

It wouldn’t be a bad idea. It won’t get a lot because you don’t have a lot of nutrients but getting it going and breaking it I’m would be a good start. And make sure to stay on top of WCs! They really become your friend.