First tank, confused

Christiangates · Mar 9, 2017

Hey guys, new to the hobby but have been researching for up to a year about reef tanks.

My tank
40 breeder
Shadow overflow
20 long sump

So I have been cycling for about a month now. With the api kit, I got my ammonia up to 2, nitrites up to 2 and my nitrate up to 20. That was about 4 days ago. Today I checked and ammonia is at .25, nitrite at 0, and nitrate at 10.
I'm a little confused at why this happened. I understand the process of a cycle and how it works. I did have a feeling that when I added marine pure balls 3 days ago that it could have restarted the cycle. I just want reassurance that that is what it is. Also, my phone is around 7.8-7.9. That was without any lights on the system yet.

Any input greatly appreciated!

Edit: forgot to mention, using all aqua forest products. So right now, their bacteria I've been dosing daily as well as their salt

John Lohsr · Mar 9, 2017

I wouldn'd think that your nitrates would get as high as 20. Did you test multible times and got the same reading? The 10 ppl seems more in line with the cycling process. If amonia and nigites are zero it sounds like the tank is cycled.

John Lohsr · Mar 9, 2017

Sorry autocorect. ppm, nitrites

jeff williams · Mar 9, 2017

Nitrites and nitrates will rise up to a level dependent on how much ammonia you dose. Just don't let nitrites or ammonia exceed 5 ppm if they do, do a water change to lower them it can stall the cycle. And as far as nitrates mine went off the api test card 160 ppm +. This was with a dose of 2 ppm ammonia and I was using tap water that start at 20 ppm nitrate. With the numbers you posted ammonia .25 nitrite 0 and nitrate 20 I would dose again to 1-2 ppm ammonia and keep repeating this process until you can dose 1-2 ppm ammonia and in 24 hrs your ammonia and nitrite are 0 then the tank is cycled do a water change based on how high your nitrates are but I would not exceed a 50 % water change this early in the tank what I would I would do if more than 50% water change is needed to drop your nitrates down I would do 1 50% wait a week and do another. Also don't suck the water off the bottom during these initial changes

Christiangates · Mar 9, 2017

It seemed to be between 10 and 20 but it is for sure 10 today and a little lighter than yesterday.
I'm confused though, because I know a normal cycle ammonia goes up then nitrite goes up while ammonia goes down then nitrate goes up and nitrite starts to go down. When my nitrate started showing, I still had both ammonia and nitrite. They seemed to go up and down in unison

Christiangates · Mar 9, 2017

Jeff, sounds good. I will try that out. Thank you!

GatorScott · Mar 9, 2017

Wow that's a massive powerhead [emoji15]

jeff williams · Mar 9, 2017

Christiangates said:
It seemed to be between 10 and 20 but it is for sure 10 today and a little lighter than yesterday.
I'm confused though, because I know a normal cycle ammonia goes up then nitrite goes up while ammonia goes down then nitrate goes up and nitrite starts to go down. When my nitrate started showing, I still had both ammonia and nitrite. They seemed to go up and down in unison

Ya don't think I worry about them going up and down together that's expected as the ammonia decreases the nitrite can start to increase before the ammonia hits zero same as nitrite to nitrate your cycle is definitely started just keep monitoring all three and like I said when you dose 1-2 ppm ammonia and 24 hrs later you have zero ammonia and nitrite your cycled. One last question what is your ammonia source?