Cycling Tank

ScottyD36

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So I started cycling my tank on Saturday. I didn't get my ammonia till Wednesday. I didn't get my saltwater test kit till Thursday. I been ghost feeding Since Saturday. On Wednesday I dosed with Dr Tim ammonia. On Thursday Night before bed I did a test reading. My ammonia was at 1.0ppm, Nitrite at 2ppm, and Nitrate at 40 ppm. This is where my question is. Should I dose my ammonia back up to 2.0ppm or should I let it drop down to 0. Then add ammonia up to 2.0 again. I was reading the forum on cycling and I saw that if your tank can cycle out ammonia in a 24 hour span from 2.0 to 0 you tank Is ready to go. I guess what I am asking is if I should let the ammonia drop to zero then rinse and repeating the 2.0 ammonia till I hit the sweet spot of cycling out in 24 hour period.
 
all you need to do is this:

let your current arrangement stew for 10 days, change out the water, you're cycled.

the tedious stuff is one way

the way described above is another, and it works always.

cycles arent something you can stall or mess up, they just happen no matter what because bottle bac are so powerful. ten days plating onto rocks and sand is more than enough time for any brand of bottle bac/thats been tested already in other threads.
 
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What's the size of your tank?

0 Ammonia 0 nitrites equal ready to go in my opinion... though as I keep reminding anyone new to the hobby patience makes perfect. I push this because when you rush you're potentially on your way to livestock death and worst case a restart on your tank which I hate to see for folks. I'm working on tank #3 right now which is biggest we've had and we cycled for a six-seven week period before adding fish, corals was week eight to 9 weeks before coral.
 
Thanks I plan to cycle mine for a few weeks more than needed to make sure I don't have to restart over.
 
whats the plan if your tester misreads, and has you think the cycle is taking longer than it really does, how will u know if thats the case

ten days (or any time longer) is a handy cutoff for that variable too. cycling can't be messed up in 2020, or stalled. even though youtube videos say a cycle can stall, it can't. we're just getting oversold on bottle bac/standard sales angle. Dr Reef has a bottle bac testing thread, shows most brands working as claimed before day 10/its why we like that recurring safe date after using speed cycle boosters.
 
I am just going to go with the whole 2.0 does of ammonia and everything to zero in 24 hour span. then I think ill be ready to go
 

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