Doesn't make sense

[Jason7181]

I am really confused I set up my 90G tank with 30G sump last Friday with 150 lbs of dead rock I bleached and dried and 100 lbs of the bagged live sand. I tested the water for the second day in a row and have 0 ammonia and 4ppm of nitrite and 100+ppm nitrate. I been putting flake fish food in once a day. Has anyone else had this?

 

[firefightered]

Sometimes it takes a little while for the cycle to start. Give it a couple more days and see what you get.

 

[Reef Pets]

Give it time. As stated above sometimes it takes a several days.

 

[Jason7181]

I know give it time but what I'm getting at isn't the ammonia supposed to spike first than the nitrite and nitrate? That's always what I heard but I may be wrong.

 

[firefightered]

Cannt remember sorry. I did remember it did take some time before I started seeing Spikes I just cann't remember which one. I'm still trying to figure out if I'll get another cycle if I add 20 gl. to my system by adding a bigger fuge.

 

[VelasCorals]

I would add something with some fleshly/fatty like a shrimp to get the ammonia spike.

Never heard of anyone using flake food to start a cycle.

 

[LegoZ81]

fishless cycle with ammonia helps prevent loading it with phosphate. you may want to research that to cycle using straight ammonia and see if it is for you. if not you might want to consider running GFO to help prevent algea from getting a strong hold on you. you must fully read and understand this process before doing it though. this has teh ability to cause many problems if not done correctly.