Cycling in 3 weeks?

[Serjrz007]

I started cycling with live rock 3 weeks ago tomorrow. Highest recorded ammonia level was 0.5. Highest nitrite level was 0.50 ppm. It never got as high as I've read it should get. Tested the water today and both read 0.0
Could it have cycled already? I've been told it usually takes 6 weeks. It's my first saltwater aquarium after 5 years of keeping freshwater fish.

 

[hijinks7]

If you used live rock and kept it really wet then you are probably cycled. The benefit of live is you cycle very quickly

 

[Serjrz007]

If you used live rock and kept it really wet then you are probably cycled. The benefit of live is you cycle very quickly

The place I bought it from did keep it wet. However, once I took it home, I waited a couple of days before putting it in the tank. Thanks for the reply, I'm going to do a 20% water change and wait another week before adding a fish.

 

[mike werner]

welcome,i would still wait a few more weeks.

 

[tankstudy]

I started cycling with live rock 3 weeks ago tomorrow. Highest recorded ammonia level was 0.5. Highest nitrite level was 0.50 ppm. It never got as high as I've read it should get. Tested the water today and both read 0.0
Could it have cycled already? I've been told it usually takes 6 weeks. It's my first saltwater aquarium after 5 years of keeping freshwater fish.

Depending on how much bacteria you have it can cycle much faster. I generally can get my cycle done in a few days.

0.5 ppm ammonia isn't very much. Your cycle is complete but at 0.5 ppm ammonia only, you will want to stock stuff very lightly and very slowly. If you want more bacteria, I would suggest getting some known concentration of ammonia and dosing 2 to 4 ppm ammonia. This will give you a very solid bacterial foundation. At those numbers you could stock a little heavier and faster with a higher bacteria concentration.