I think I’m mid-cycle. What to do next?

[Funwithreefer]

So I managed to over dose ammonia a few days ago and was over 8 ppm. I did a couple water changes to get it down and now I’m at about 2 ppm if I’m reading the color chart correctly. Decided to test everything else too just to see where things were. Looks like I’m at 1 ppm of Nitrite, 8.2 ph and maybe 5 ppm Nitrate. I’ve been cycling for a week now. I tested Nitrites earlier this week and it was clearly 0 and now about 1 ppm.

does this mean that it is starting the cycle? And if so, what should I be doing and when? How high should the nitrites get and should I keep doing small ammonia doses to keep it around 2 or 4 ppm?

 

[DraggingTail]

So I managed to over dose ammonia a few days ago and was over 8 ppm. I did a couple water changes to get it down and now I’m at about 2 ppm if I’m reading the color chart correctly. Decided to test everything else too just to see where things were. Looks like I’m at 1 ppm of Nitrite, 8.2 ph and maybe 5 ppm Nitrate. I’ve been cycling for a week now. I tested Nitrites earlier this week and it was clearly 0 and now about 1 ppm.

does this mean that it is starting the cycle? And if so, what should I be doing and when? How high should the nitrites get and should I keep doing small ammonia doses to keep it around 2 or 4 ppm?

Oh the days of impatience. If I could go back I would save my self so much drama and just let it sit with dead shrimp for months until I have dirty rocks and then add a healthy pod population and go from there. I started with dead shrimp and let it sit for 3 months. No where near long enough if I went back and did it again. I should have thrown in a pound of shrimp and just let it sit until the tank went thru the ugly stage.

But, anyhow, yes you are heading the right direction.
How long has it been since you started?
What did you start with?
Dry rock?
Lights?
Substrate?
Substrate depth?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I'd definitely lay off the ammonia and allow the cycling to continue its course. This process can take 4-8 weeks and sometimes longer so be patient. If you want to speed up the process you can add a bottle of BIOSPIRA or Dr. Time nitrifying bacteria and lightly ghost feed your aquarium 2-3 time weekly. Once your nitrite and ammonia read zero and nitrates are detectable you'll be ready to start adding livestock.

 

[DraggingTail]

So I managed to over dose ammonia a few days ago and was over 8 ppm. I did a couple water changes to get it down and now I’m at about 2 ppm if I’m reading the color chart correctly. Decided to test everything else too just to see where things were. Looks like I’m at 1 ppm of Nitrite, 8.2 ph and maybe 5 ppm Nitrate. I’ve been cycling for a week now. I tested Nitrites earlier this week and it was clearly 0 and now about 1 ppm.

does this mean that it is starting the cycle? And if so, what should I be doing and when? How high should the nitrites get and should I keep doing small ammonia doses to keep it around 2 or 4 ppm?

But, stop with the water changes. This is not needed at this point in the game.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

But, stop with the water changes. This is not needed at this point in the game.

Large water changes will definitely prolong the cycling process but conducting standard 10% water changes bi weekly wouldn't hurt anything.

 

[Funwithreefer]

Oh the days of impatience. If I could go back I would save my self so much drama and just let it sit with dead shrimp for months until I have dirty rocks and then add a healthy pod population and go from there. I started with dead shrimp and let it sit for 3 months. No where near long enough if I went back and did it again. I should have thrown in a pound of shrimp and just let it sit until the tank went thru the ugly stage.

But, anyhow, yes you are heading the right direction.
How long has it been since you started?
What did you start with?
Dry rock?
Lights?
Substrate?
Substrate depth?

yeah the waiting is definitely hard. I filled it a week ago so not very long. I started with live sand and dry live rock. Substrate is maybe 1.5 or 2 inches. I even had extra sand.

 

[Daniel92481]

Do not dose anymore ammonia. Your nitrites should get to 5 ppm after your ammonia levels are 0. You should start to see a diatom bloom if you haven’t already. If you added Dr. Tim’s or some other nitrifying bacteria, it should be about 2-3 weeks before you get the bloom.

 

[Funwithreefer]

I'd definitely lay off the ammonia and allow the cycling to continue its course. This process can take 4-8 weeks and sometimes longer so be patient. If you want to speed up the process you can add a bottle of BIOSPIRA or Dr. Time nitrifying bacteria and lightly ghost feed your aquarium 2-3 time weekly. Once your nitrite and ammonia read zero and nitrates are detectable you'll be ready to start adding livestock.

I’ve been using Seed And earlier this week I decided to throw some API Quick Start in as well.

 

[Funwithreefer]

Large water changes will definitely prolong the cycling process but conducting standard 10% water changes bi weekly wouldn't hurt anything.

gotcha. I only did the couple of water changes because I dosed too much ammonia. Wanted to get it down closer to 2-4 ppm.

 

[Funwithreefer]

Do not dose anymore ammonia. Your nitrites should get to 5 ppm after your ammonia levels are 0. You should start to see a diatom bloom if you haven’t already. If you added Dr. Tim’s or some other nitrifying bacteria, it should be about 2-3 weeks before you get the bloom.

perfect. That’s what I was looking for. I'll just keep testing and watch the magic happen.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I’ve been using Seed And earlier this week I decided to throw some API Quick Start in as well.

Now be patient Trust me your life will be less stressful and the hobby more enjoyable if you give it a couple months before adding livestock. Also get yourself a QT for new fish before adding to your display. Just my helpful suggestion that I learned the hard way.

Good Luck!

 

[Funwithreefer]

Now be patient Trust me your life will be less stressful and the hobby more enjoyable if you give it a couple months before adding livestock. Also get yourself a QT for new fish before adding to your display. Just my helpful suggestion that I learned the hard way.

Good Luck!

Im actually ok waiting and taking it slow. pulling all the pieces to this biological little puzzle has been part of the fun. A QT tank is next on my list to get set up. I’ll be looking for guidance on that too.

 

[DraggingTail]

yeah the waiting is definitely hard. I filled it a week ago so not very long. I started with live sand and dry live rock. Substrate is maybe 1.5 or 2 inches. I even had extra sand.

Like I said. Let is sit for 2 months a least. I would not waste my money on salt doing water changes. Let your nitrates come up. Dose some purple up or kent marine tech if you want to kick start calcareous. However, don't expect purple, mine started with green calcareous and now has switched to purple. But the green looks cool.

Here is some green calcareous pics from a year ago when the tank was 6 months old. I had just added the clowns. Clowns are very hardy and I think they could survive in a bowl full of tick with an aerator.

Here is today.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Im actually ok waiting and taking it slow. pulling all the pieces to this biological little puzzle has been part of the fun. A QT tank is next on my list to get set up. I’ll be looking for guidance on that too.

Awesome! nice job. I am here to help if you have any additional questions.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Like I said. Let is sit for 2 months a least. I would not waste my money on salt doing water changes. Let your nitrates come up. Dose some purple up or kent marine tech if you want to kick start calcareous. However, don't expect purple, mine started with green calcareous and now has switched to purple. But the green looks cool.

Here is some green calcareous pics from a year ago when the tank was 6 months old. I had just added the clowns. Clowns are very hardy and I think they could survive in a bowl full of **** with an aerator.

Here is today.

Beautiful tank BTW!

 

[Funwithreefer]

Beautiful tank BTW!

That looks awesome!

 

[Funwithreefer]

I have a ways to go. I also just noticed that there is a shell in my dry live rock. Also, I was wondering what all the lines and crud on the glass was but I used the magnet cleaner and it cleaned it up nice. Made the water a little cloudy. I think I need to make a regular routine of using it.

 

[BeejReef]

We feel your pain. The cycle is really boring. Your tests look spot on, textbook really.
The one and only Dr. Tim did a very interesting presentation on cycling at the most recent MACNA. It's on BRS's youtube channel. All you could ever really want to know. He'll tell your future for you. I just watched it last night.

IMHO, best thing to do during the cycle is work on everything else... RODI, salt-mix station, qt setup... if you can kill a weekend with each, you'll be just about ready when it's all accomplished